Recent content by megwidmer

  1. megwidmer

    One chicken starting to roost outside henhouse- low on pecking order?

    We currently have 12 hens and one rooster- At the end of summer one of the buff orpingtons went missing for about 4 days then mysteriously reappeared after I had accepted that a predator got her. Since then, she often would try to roost in the nest boxes at night, rather then up on the roost...
  2. megwidmer

    Is it possible for a chicken to die from the stress of being chased?

    One of my first ameraucanas did after my dog chased her. He had her in his mouth but was trained to have a soft mouth so although she was alive when I got her back, she died about an hour later, seemingly in shock.
  3. megwidmer

    Neighbor's dog got a chicken- they have chickens, too

    Lobo, 9 year old duck and grouse hunter, reformed?
  4. megwidmer

    Neighbor's dog got a chicken- they have chickens, too

    Papa- I believe that Colorado Livestock laws are similar to what you mentioned above. Chickens are livestock- these dogs are pets. I know many flock tenders who have the reason and right to do so would not hesitate to shoot a dog on their property- but it is something I would never do to...
  5. megwidmer

    Neighbor's dog got a chicken- they have chickens, too

    Yes, the dog did come on my property, but considering all the factors (and things I could do better) and how nicely the neighbor responded, I don't need to press this issue anymore. Sure, it was one of my favorite little pullets, but I bought ten chicks this year knowing that all ten might not...
  6. megwidmer

    Neighbor's dog got a chicken- they have chickens, too

    Mallory, you pretty much hit the nail on the head, there. My husband and I talked about all of that before I went over. This guy was just so nice. Immediately asked what he could do and offered me one of his. Now I knew that was not the answer! We talked chickens for a while and about the...
  7. megwidmer

    Neighbor's dog got a chicken- they have chickens, too

    Also, should I expect that they might offer to give me one of their chickens? Their hens are about 18 months old, like our older birds. Is that presumptuous in this situation?! Thoughts?
  8. megwidmer

    Neighbor's dog got a chicken- they have chickens, too

    Looking for some encouragement to go talk to a neighbor whose dog killed one of my favorite 10 week old buff Orpington pullets this morning. We have a flock of 15 pullets, hens, and a rooster. We also have two chocolate labs that were raised as bird dogs that we had to carefully train to leave...
  9. megwidmer

    Adding 4 weeks olds to my one year old flock

    Thanks- I'm aware that they are still on the young end of what the majority reports to work for integration- and I can definitely see how different size flocks, bird temperaments, ages, flock keeper techniques, etc would affect this experiment. I hope this thread will help other impatient chick...
  10. megwidmer

    Adding 4 weeks olds to my one year old flock

    Update- the babies are now 9 weeks old and my! How they've grown! I kept them apart again until 6-7 weeks and then worked them into the run inside their own brooder (repurposed dog kennel), then out a few hours a day with big birds and obstacle courses of laundry baskets and such to give them...
  11. megwidmer

    Adding 4 weeks olds to my one year old flock

    We were definitely having a honeymoon phase when I wrote original post. Everything was still fine, luckily, but I did go ahead and separate them all again. I had read all the threads I could, but none addressed any success or failure with an earlier integration, so thank you very much for just...
  12. megwidmer

    Adding 4 weeks olds to my one year old flock

    Thank you. I think that is what I needed to hear!
  13. megwidmer

    Adding 4 weeks olds to my one year old flock

    Hello! I've read many threads in introducing new chicks to the flock. In the end we are ready to get these little ones out of the brooder in our mud room and into the coop/run. The 10 chicks are just four weeks old and the existing flock contains four hens and one rooster. I began bringing the...
  14. megwidmer

    I've been lurking for a year and finally ready to introduce myself!

    Ha! Well, I can say with complete certainty that neither of our dogs will harm any more of our chickens or chicks. They have it all worked out. Our rooster went after the neighbor's goofy and curious dog with a vengeance, even though poor Everest was just trying to get into their scraps. It was...
  15. megwidmer

    Thoughts on husking rooster spurs...

    Well, unfortunately there haven't been any replies to my specific question yet, but the issue is going to work itself out. The other girls are starting to get scratched up and bloody from our randy rooster. We just don't have enough hens for him to spread the love around. This is reason #471...
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