Arizona Chickens

[LadyKotaDoria]

I've trained many due just to that fact. They take everything personally and are sensitive. Very loving and man are they fun to watch.

Do you ever take me out in the desert and let them chase Jackrabbits? Great fun.

We have always lived in the country and they chase rabbits nearly everyday. They manage to catch a few too. I can't believe you can train them! They are the most stubborn self directed dogs I've had. They are sweet and cuddly and my little pack found my chicken killer this morning. There was a tall skinny coyote in my horse pasture looking for a fat juicy chicken. They ran it off. The fastest one goes out front and baits the coyote to chase and the others attack from the rear. Tough little dogs.

I would like to see pics of them. I can picture one getting the coyote to chase it, then a pack attack from behind. With a quick, agile hunting dog pack a single coyote would be venerable. I'm sure he will be on guard and not be back (unless very, very hungry and dispirit). I am a little acquainted (formilure {spelling}) with the breed. Sense they are a combination of explosive energy and couch potato, they are not a dog right for my life style. They must be very happy with you. They know they are important and feel they are doing a job with chasing off coyotes and bringing home Bunny's for dinner.

 

[a little chiken]

thank you all for your thoughts. It was so hard coming home and she did not meet us at the gate like she always used to. It is very hard and we talked and Christian has decided he wants a puppy so we can train it from day one. I have been working with a puppy I got to possibly be a service dog for me and she has been going into chicken coops and goat pen when I go to help her get used to them. He wants to do the same thing. I explained to my son that maybe we were meant to get Noel healthy so she could have another chance at a forever home and that sometimes people and and animals only come into our lives for a short time and we dont know why but we have to trust that God knows best. hopefully things start looking up. between my grandad having a stroke last week and this I really could use some positives.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

My late husband had a Great Dane, Cesar, that loved coyotes. For several years after his Grandfather dies he manages a ranch. He spent half his time there. Cesar would go out and find a coyote drag it back to the ranch, drop the pure, tariffed coyote, lay down and wait for it to try to get away. Let it go a few yards, then bring it back. After the second visit, no more coyotes for miles around. Neighboring ranchers also know when Cesar was around. They had on influx of coyotes. Enough that the ranch hands would see territorial coyote fights.

They will learn. It seems Urban and city coyotes do not learn lessons very well.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

lurking to subscribe!

There is a great bunch here.

 

[LadyKotaDoria]

Today has been one of the worse days I have had in a long time. A dog we took in that was abandoned at my kids school last year around Christmas time. she had been shot in her front leg with a pellet gun and had been hit by a car along with being severely emaciated. we have worked on food aggression issues and her fighting with my sons dog. we got her cleaned up, healed and healthy and my oldest son Christian loved this dog. she would even play ball and tackle football with him. A while back we brought home 3 birds from a feed store, stuck them into a crate and we had to go somewhere when we got home the 3 chickens had been killed. we caught her in the area and we worked on rehabilitating her. it seemed it worked, no more issues. Then last night I get some new chickens and put them out in the duck run so that they can all be treated this weekend (a just in case I do with adult birds) and this am 2 of the roosters were fighting. we threw one in a kennel as I had to take my DH and the boys to work and school. 

I get home and the neighbor ran over and said we have a serious issue, your dog got into the garden then into the duck run and started killing chickens, she also ran chickens out so you have some dead in your yard too. then she goes on to say she saw the whole thing and tried to throw rocks to stop it.

it was obvious it just happened. I found 2 cuckoo Marans, 1 Delaware, and 1 BCM along with Rufus my Blue wheaten AM rooster dead in the run. well Rufus was not dead yet he died in my arms (he was one of my favorite roosters) then I found the 6 EE and an Ancona and another cuckoo Marans dead in my yard. none were eaten, no blood just killed. The neighbors said even though I had 5 big dogs in my yard only Noel was killing the chickens the others were barking at her. 

we took Noel to the pound and thankfully there was a rescue there pulling dogs and they are willing to take her in. My son has been crying since I picked him up and frankly so have I. to lose 13 birds and my dog all in one swoop I just don't even know what to do. 

Tragedy, your young son has to go thru the pain of reality. I am glad you understand his pain, consumed by the same painful struggle as you must be. I have seen parents that forget that they have already learned about reality. Children are learning. My mother was damaged by her parent (mother) cold reality lessons she was given as as a kid. Her mother could, and did, kill and fix for dinner mom's pets her dad gave her. Most of all a rabbit her dad made the futile mistake of letting her keep it in the basement away from the food rabbits. {apparently she was afraid her mom might grab her pet by mistake}

I had been given, by a neighbor a dressed rabbit he had shot. I never had rabbit. Mom was so upset. My dad took me to one side and explained my mothers reaction. I did not eat rabbit, ever as a child.

You need to continue giving yourself and your son plenty of hugs, you have done well in reassuring your son that you both give your dog a second chance at life, and while he was with you the best life. Now he has another opportunity to find a home that is more appropriate for him. You can never replace him, but someday, when he is ready he will make another dog very happy. Maybe another dog that had suffered in its life, will be made better because of him, or a puppy as he is thinking right now. Live expectantly, and always with hope.

 

[ctroyer]

Hi! I'm new to BYC chicken and chickens, in general. I moved from Central Tucson to Oro Valley in January and got chicks in February. It's been an adventure!

Is there anyone else from Tucson, AZ here?

Welcome to the site. Lots of Tucson people on here and plenty to learn and everyone helps out. You'll love it.

 

[Papas Chickens]

Wish there were people closer to me so I could trade eggs and chicks with. 7 or 8 more weeks and ill be trying my luck withe breeding Wybars and Blue Laced Wyandottes.

 

[Stynch]

I am originally from western Washington state. My kids are still there and they think I have gone crazy to move to the desert. Thank you for the offer of training tips but I do not think I will be getting another dog anytime soon. I already have my 3 Iggys and my boyfriend has an Iggy/chi cross we rescued off craigslist. Im at my limit without a kennel license.

Welcome from another former Washingtonian. We moved here 10 years ago from Yakima, where we raised really big chickens (ostriches)! We moved here because all our kids had migrated here over the years - I'd love to be someplace with green grass, trees, etc.

 

[Stynch]

Today has been one of the worse days I have had in a long time. A dog we took in that was abandoned at my kids school last year around Christmas time. she had been shot in her front leg with a pellet gun and had been hit by a car along with being severely emaciated. we have worked on food aggression issues and her fighting with my sons dog. we got her cleaned up, healed and healthy and my oldest son Christian loved this dog. she would even play ball and tackle football with him. A while back we brought home 3 birds from a feed store, stuck them into a crate and we had to go somewhere when we got home the 3 chickens had been killed. we caught her in the area and we worked on rehabilitating her. it seemed it worked, no more issues. Then last night I get some new chickens and put them out in the duck run so that they can all be treated this weekend (a just in case I do with adult birds) and this am 2 of the roosters were fighting. we threw one in a kennel as I had to take my DH and the boys to work and school.

I get home and the neighbor ran over and said we have a serious issue, your dog got into the garden then into the duck run and started killing chickens, she also ran chickens out so you have some dead in your yard too. then she goes on to say she saw the whole thing and tried to throw rocks to stop it.

it was obvious it just happened. I found 2 cuckoo Marans, 1 Delaware, and 1 BCM along with Rufus my Blue wheaten AM rooster dead in the run. well Rufus was not dead yet he died in my arms (he was one of my favorite roosters) then I found the 6 EE and an Ancona and another cuckoo Marans dead in my yard. none were eaten, no blood just killed. The neighbors said even though I had 5 big dogs in my yard only Noel was killing the chickens the others were barking at her.

we took Noel to the pound and thankfully there was a rescue there pulling dogs and they are willing to take her in. My son has been crying since I picked him up and frankly so have I. to lose 13 birds and my dog all in one swoop I just don't even know what to do.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine coming home to such a horror. Take a few days, relax, breathe. You don't have to decide anything while you are still shaken up.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Welcome from another former Washingtonian.  We moved here 10 years ago from Yakima, where we raised really big chickens (ostriches)!  We moved here because all our kids had migrated here over the years - I'd love to be someplace with green grass, trees, etc.

I miss grass too. But I do not miss having to mow it 2x weekly, weed it, feed it, and listen to the neighbors do the same and above all I do not miss 9 months of 36 degree weather constant pouring rain and 30mph winds for 9 months out of the year. lol