Australorps breed Thread

[MrsBrooke]

Here they are in all their 'Lorpy glory!

We've discovered chicken math... we set out for three and came back with four!!! Hahaha.

We also seem to have an issue with our high prey drive Aussies. One tried to stick his muzzle through the chain link and almost got a hold of one of the hens. Spanking of a lifetime, let me tell you! We've got e-collars on the way to prevent any mishaps in the future.

Wish us luck!

MrsB

 

[lightchick]

Here they are in all their 'Lorpy glory!

We've discovered chicken math... we set out for three and came back with four!!! Hahaha.

We also seem to have an issue with our high prey drive Aussies. One tried to stick his muzzle through the chain link and almost got a hold of one of the hens. Spanking of a lifetime, let me tell you! We've got e-collars on the way to prevent any mishaps in the future.

Wish us luck!

MrsB

They are so pretty! Good luck with you dogs! Hope your dogs get used to them soon.

 

[ronott1]

Here they are in all their 'Lorpy glory!

We've discovered chicken math... we set out for three and came back with four!!! Hahaha.

We also seem to have an issue with our high prey drive Aussies. One tried to stick his muzzle through the chain link and almost got a hold of one of the hens. Spanking of a lifetime, let me tell you! We've got e-collars on the way to prevent any mishaps in the future.

Wish us luck!

MrsB

They look great!

 

[BethanyS]

Here they are in all their 'Lorpy glory!

We've discovered chicken math... we set out for three and came back with four!!! Hahaha.

We also seem to have an issue with our high prey drive Aussies. One tried to stick his muzzle through the chain link and almost got a hold of one of the hens. Spanking of a lifetime, let me tell you! We've got e-collars on the way to prevent any mishaps in the future.

Wish us luck!

MrsB

don't forget to redirect the dogs attention.if it knows tricks (if not it's a great time to start)keep it busy sitting staying etc while around the chickens also keep LOTS of toys around.Constantly remind the dog what it IS aloud to play with.Step between the dog and the chickens stomp your feet lean forward and look hard into the dogs eyes and say something to the matter of "No those are MY birds!"

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote:
Ive also heard keep them on a leash around the chickens so you have total control

 

[4chickymama]

I did some chicken re-arranging today. I moved my 24 3-week Dixie Rainbows to the grow out pen, and the australorps into the brooder in the chicken coop with my mystery chicken. Then I left to go to town, and when I came back I was told that my dog had escaped his tie out, and had apparently been trying to get to the chickens in the pen BUT FAILED! It seems the pen is secure from him now. I'm still going to keep him tied up when he's outside though. He's mostly an inside dog, so he's not tied up all the time, but it's just an extra precaution in case someone is careless about closing the pen. Usually my neighbor's oldest daughter takes care of all the chicken responsibilities, but she's been sick so the younger daughter has taken over. This morning I found the coop door shut and a line of chickens waiting to use the nest box, and all of the waterers were empty for the chicks, chickens, and ducks. It seems the younger daughter is easily distracted and forgetful, so any extra precautions I can take with the dog will be needed. I think he pulled harder on his harness than usual, stressing out about us driving away, so I will need to crate him when we aren't home instead of leaving him tied out. Anyway, one step closer to getting this all resolved I think.

The Dixie Rainbows, or Pioneers as McMurray calls them, are supposed to be decent meat birds. Has anyone raised them for meat before? Anyway, when they've grown and headed to freezer camp, my Aussies will remain in the pen and attached chicken run rather than running free across the property with our downstairs neighbor's flock. It just seems like it's the best way of keeping two separate flocks so we can each care for our own chickens. I don't know how else I can provide food for my four birds without her 20+ chickens eating it, or how we would know whose eggs were whose.

My Aussies are in that awkward half feathered stage, with just a tinge of green shine on the feathered parts. They are much friendlier than the other chicks, I don't know if that's a breed thing or because they've been in the house with us for the past three weeks. I'll try to get some pics in their new digs tomorrow.

 

[MrsBrooke]

don't forget to redirect the dogs attention.if it knows tricks (if not it's a great time to start)keep it busy sitting staying etc while around the chickens also keep LOTS of toys around.Constantly remind the dog what it IS aloud to play with.Step between the dog and the chickens stomp your feet lean forward and look hard into the dogs eyes and say something to the matter of "No those are MY birds!"

When we got home, we let the dogs out back to see what they would do with the chickens in their run... After a while of staring and barking at them through the fence (we do have hardware cloth all the way around to prevent digging mishaps), they seemed to get bored with them and started playing in their little pool. There is hope! I did place myself between them and shoo them away, but they are very, very persistent.

After doing quite a bit of research, it seems the electric training collar is our best bet for prey-drive correction. Will update!

In the meantime, here are a couple more pictures!







MrsB

 

[cracrzy4chicks]

When we got home, we let the dogs out back to see what they would do with the chickens in their run... After a while of staring and barking at them through the fence (we do have hardware cloth all the way around to prevent digging mishaps), they seemed to get bored with them and started playing in their little pool. There is hope! I did place myself between them and shoo them away, but they are very, very persistent.

After doing quite a bit of research, it seems the electric training collar is our best bet for prey-drive correction. Will update!

In the meantime, here are a couple more pictures!







MrsB

I have a Boxer who would charge and physically slam the fencing to try to get & kill my chickens :-( Verbal corrections, leash correction, physical corrections, trying to distract her.............. nothing worked. She has extremely high pre drive as I'm SURE your dogs are too.. The only thing that worked for her was the e-collar. That was 3 yrs ago, it took almost a year working with her. Now she can be around my chickens. I never leave her unsupervised with them, but if I'm going out to feed them she can come too and behave. Good Luck, it can be done

 

[MrsBrooke]

I have a Boxer who would charge and physically slam the fencing to try to get & kill my chickens :-( Verbal corrections, leash correction, physical corrections, trying to distract her.............. nothing worked. She has extremely high pre drive as I'm SURE your dogs are too.. The only thing that worked for her was the e-collar. That was 3 yrs ago, it took almost a year working with her. Now she can be around my chickens. I never leave her unsupervised with them, but if I'm going out to feed them she can come too and behave. Good Luck, it can be done

Thanks for the response! They don't seem to want to KILL them... just investigate them as curious dogs do sometimes. When we pick up our next four ladies, we will pull a pullet out and introduce them one at a time to her and let them sniff her while correcting any mouthy behavior or fixation.

Come oooooon, E-collar!!!!

MrsB

 

[topdycke]

Here they are in all their 'Lorpy glory!

We've discovered chicken math... we set out for three and came back with four!!! Hahaha.

We also seem to have an issue with our high prey drive Aussies. One tried to stick his muzzle through the chain link and almost got a hold of one of the hens. Spanking of a lifetime, let me tell you! We've got e-collars on the way to prevent any mishaps in the future.

Wish us luck!

MrsB

you might head over to tractor supply and set some stall mats under your run to head off digging under.