Well, this sucks! I waited 6 months for an identifiably sexed Breda "pullet" juvenile but our Ilse turned out an Ichabod when "she" crowed 9 days after arrival. We specifically stated we were willing to wait whatever time was necessary to be shipped a definite pullet and this is what we got! Breeders can't even tell the sexes of their own breeding stock. This guy was shipped at 41/2 months and they're supposed to be identifiable at 12 weeks. Now we've got to re-home him to Riverside where he'll have a forever home and not be someone's dinner! Poor guy arrived a bit underweight, with chewed off leg/toe feathers to the point of bleeding, had cocci, had round worms, and within a couple days showed signs of CRD so he cost another $110 in vet bills and lab tests. The breeder said they'll reimburse but not before giving us a hard time as if all those problems were our fault. Hey I've got the photos, vet bills, and dates to show he arrived this way! I deserve to be reimbursed just for the fact that we were sent a cockerel and not a pullet as ordered. We've plumped him up with health care and a good varied organic diet and he's getting hefty! He is a very fascinating breed - he's curious, looks into the camera lens, eats out of our hand, is unafraid, lets us pick him up and pet him - really delightful - now if only he was a pullet as ordered!
Milan's methods are fantastic IF THEY WORK. My DD & SIL spent $1000's using his methods for the training of their 2 dogs but it didn't work. Without Milan actually taking the dogs to his facility to work on them further it was not possible for DD & SIL to be successful. They hired other trainers that actually came on the property to train and still nothing worked. One of the dogs was finally re-homed and the harder to train dog was kept because no one wanted it. Sometimes some breeds are just not cooperative. Even Milan has had dogs that were impossible to train and keep in the families and had to go to another environment or be kept permanently housed in his own property kennels. We only see Milan's success videos and seldom the failure videos. Usually problem-eating dogs don't re-train and sometimes they do. Just be prepared and don't trust dogs around chickens unless they are specifically bred/trained as flock guardians. There are some flock dogs that are used specifically for poultry and livestock. The family pet usually doesn't qualify but GL!.I have a Rottweiler/ shepherd mix who loves to chase birds in the yard. She is pretty well trained now, but it took a lot of effort on my part. I had her on a long leash and every time she gave those chickens a look of attack I would redirect her by pullling on the leash. It depends on the relationship that you and your dog have. I have learned a lot from Cesar Milan. He has a YouTube video on the dog and chickens. I don't recall the name of it but it's a very informative. It will just require a lot of work from you, But it is well worth it. To this day she protects the chickens when my friends or sons bring their dogs.
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Originally Posted by Crystal Chick
That is awesome! I will look up his video! My dog already killed 2 chicks a couple of months ago and I am fearful of what he will do if he ever gets another chance like that. We have kept him separated from the chickens but I am sure there will come a day that he will find a way to get to them if we don't train him soon. He is a very loving, sweet and obedient dog. I just wasn't sure what to do. Thanks for the info! We will definitely try that!
