Canadians check in here....

[chickcrack]

I haven't gotten my chicks yet. I ve ordered 5 and looking for 2 more. I'm going into this as my chickens are producers and when they stop...well then you know...........................soup

But my boys have now named them the chicks before they have arrived which puts a wrench in my plans....

Chickcrack do your chickens free range?

Lol yes going to be hard to serve pets to your boys! How old are the boys? They must be excited! My chickens free range in my yard. I live in the country so they have an acre yard. Unfortunately I have had 3 taken by coyotes in broad daylight. My instinct each time that happens is to lock them up. Then I have to remind myself of my philosophy. As much as they are pets I want them to be free chickens. They are good about staying in my yard and we are working on completing proper fencing to keep everything else out. It will never be 100% safe but that's the chance I will take. When do your chickens arrive Ajayk? Are you going to free range?

 

[Woobsie]

In my last place mine were totally free range and I lost the occasional one to coyotes or dogs...they just disappeared. Horrible! But now I have a huge fenced in area and been here over a year and havent lost one yet (both in the country). I sympathize with you on losing them to predators. Especially if you arent sure how. Definitely worth it to have a fenced in area if you can but not always as fun!!

 

[Piglet835]

OMG that would be my favorite cousin for life! What a great gift. Is hubby on board with this idea? When I announced that I was getting chickens my boyfriend was giving me the big speech that they can't be pets...you don't name them...they get eaten one day. I said nope that's not going to be how it goes. They will be pets they will have names and they will not be eaten. When I brought the day old chicks home he was helping me transfer them to the brooder and he pulled out a little red head fluff ball and fell in love lol. He named her Jose Wales before the day was over. The big tough guy changed his tunes pretty fast

I have 16 chickens. 6 barred rocks, 4 old English bantams and 6 6week old blue cochins. I just finally got the rest of my garden in last weekend...weird spring!

Hubby is more on board with this idea than I thought he might be. I plan on having a lot more animals when we take his parents farm (222 acres) over. We currently live on it in the original (with a few updates) log house and what I can and can't do isn't totally up to me but up to my father in law.
These wee ones are going to have names and end up as pets. I'm not a very good farm girl that way lol. Not sure what kind of chickens mine are, all these breeds and what not are still a little lost on me... I'm just happy they're CHICKENS and MINE lol

 

[Ajayk]

Lol yes going to be hard to serve pets to your boys! How old are the boys? They must be excited! My chickens free range in my yard. I live in the country so they have an acre yard. Unfortunately I have had 3 taken by coyotes in broad daylight. My instinct each time that happens is to lock them up. Then I have to remind myself of my philosophy. As much as they are pets I want them to be free chickens. They are good about staying in my yard and we are working on completing proper fencing to keep everything else out. It will never be 100% safe but that's the chance I will take. When do your chickens arrive Ajayk? Are you going to free range?

My boys are 9 and 11 and yes they are very excited they picked their chickens out from Freys flyer. So I guess I couldn't serve them their chickens for dinner.

I also have alot coyotes around me. You can hear them loud at night howling. Previous owners of the house used to have chickens and they used a large dog kennel to let them range in during the day but because it didn't have protection from the top he would come home to his chickens being slaughtered. I was hesitant at first to get them because of this and I didn't want it to be traumatic for the the boys.
I have 16 acres so free ranging would be great but I also have a weimaraner which is a bird dog and I'm afraid that she will go at them.
My day Olds arrive June 28 and I think around their coop I will build a much bigger run so they can range out more.

 

[chickcrack]

My boys are 9 and 11 and yes they are very excited they picked their chickens out from Freys flyer. So I guess I couldn't serve them their chickens for dinner.

I also have alot coyotes around me. You can hear them loud at night howling. Previous owners of the house used to have chickens and they used a large dog kennel to let them range in during the day but because it didn't have protection from the top he would come home to his chickens being slaughtered. I was hesitant at first to get them because of this and I didn't want it to be traumatic for the the boys.
I have 16 acres so free ranging would be great but I also have a weimaraner which is a bird dog and I'm afraid that she will go at them.
My day Olds arrive June 28 and I think around their coop I will build a much bigger run so they can range out more.

I have a chocolate lab and a beagle. The beagle didn't live with us when the coyote attacks happened. And I'm thinking that she is the main reason why it hasn't happened in a while. She has a crazy nose on her and barks like crazy at smells. No coyote is going to come in the yard when two dogs are out there. My dogs are really good with the chickens. My cats too. I introduce them to the chicks as soon as I bring them home and make sure they see them often as they are growing so they understand that they belong here. My lab doesnt have a mean bone in his body tho. He will let chickens jump up on him and he just freezes and waits for them to move on lol. That's good and bad because the chickens don't have any fear of strange dogs (or coyotes) that come towards them. What names have your boys picked? I always love hearing chicken names lol

 

[canehdianchick]

We got ours from Rochester Hatchery -- which is located in Alberta as well. There may be some local breeders as well if you join local poultry boards (Sorry if this is answered already I'm late to the party!)

 

[chickcrack]

...

Hubby is more on board with this idea than I thought he might be. I plan on having a lot more animals when we take his parents farm (222 acres) over. We currently live on it in the original (with a few updates) log house and what I can and can't do isn't totally up to me but up to my father in law. 
These wee ones are going to have names and end up as pets. I'm not a very good farm girl that way lol. Not sure what kind of chickens mine are, all these breeds and what not are still a little lost on me... I'm just happy they're CHICKENS and MINE lol

Log house sounds beautiful! That's always been a dream of mine. I was raised on a beef farm as a kid and I'm clearly not a good farm girl either. I have no issues with people that keep animals for food and honestly I wish I could do it. With the state our food industry is in it would be so much healthier. I just can't seem to flip that switch in my head lol. My neighbour suggested that if I got 100 birds I would think differently but I have my doubts lol. I love to eat chicken but there's no way I could visualize "Miss Kitty's" face and dig into that meal. Doesn't matter what breed your chickens are. I have never met one I didn't like! I do have a little 6 week old cockerel that is already starting to give me attitude tho. I'm really hoping he doesn't turn out nasty because I'd love to keep him. This pic was a couple weeks ago

Check out the glare lol

 

[Piglet835]

Quote: It's not really the type of house you conjure up when you think log house, at least for me anyway. I always think of those pretty pricey ones. This one is complete original style logs and all. I agree with you there. I do wish I could raise someone and then eat them but I think I'd be way to into the thoughts of the fun we had and the cuteness that happened in her better days lol. Yea, it looks like you might have your hands full with that one. Love the look! I can't wait till I can deal with fun personalities. I will be telling them all they will be good and play nice with me and eac other cause I'm new

 

[Ajayk]

I have a chocolate lab and a beagle. The beagle didn't live with us when the coyote attacks happened. And I'm thinking that she is the main reason why it hasn't happened in a while. She has a crazy nose on her and barks like crazy at smells. No coyote is going to come in the yard when two dogs are out there. My dogs are really good with the chickens. My cats too. I introduce them to the chicks as soon as I bring them home and make sure they see them often as they are growing so they understand that they belong here. My lab doesnt have a mean bone in his body tho. He will let chickens jump up on him and he just freezes and waits for them to move on lol. That's good and bad because the chickens don't have any fear of strange dogs (or coyotes) that come towards them. What names have your boys picked? I always love hearing chicken names lol

I'm hopi g my dog and the chickens get along but that's gonna be tough.
As for names, my youngest has named his "Cheap cheap" which as you can see is so original. As for my older one he's 11 and undecided as are the many decisions he needs to make just cause he's at that age.

 

[chickcrack]

I'm hopi g my dog and the chickens get along but that's gonna be tough.
As for names, my youngest has named his "Cheap cheap" which as you can see is so original. As for my older one he's 11 and undecided as are the many decisions he needs to make just cause he's at that age.

That's ok my latest ones are 6 weeks old and the last one didn't have a name until a week ago. The Cochin's are Harley (the rooster), Sophie, Lola, Blue, Liza and Millie. My barred rocks are Bitchy, Miss Kitty, Sweetness, Big Momma, Phoebe and Sharon (named after my mom lol). And my banties are Sherman, Little, Weezie and Happy Gilmore. Little used to have a brother and sister and I had let my niece's name them when they hatched. Their names were Pecker and Sticky. It took me a while to figure out that my chicks were sticky little peckers lol. How embarrassing! My niece was 7 at the time.