Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

Your avatar roo is gorgeous by the way. My dogs are definitely a project but I got some very insightful advice (on retrievers here in this thread) yesterday from some people and I am already trying to apply it. I dont see myself getting stuck in pet mode with the chickens but on some level since I took them on I feel responsible for trying to cure them if they have an issue. Most of mine are still very young and some are not even laying yet. The kids have their favorites and it was overkill all we have done for my friends chicken but it was also a bonding event between she and I. So to me it is worth it right now. This thread has been huge for me and I really do think BEEKissed is setting a standard and a culture for people like me who are new to this but committed to it. In my generation no one had chickens growing up and I am 46. Most of the chickeners I know are 15 years younger than me. A lot of them dont have time for a blog research project like this so I tend to disperse the information I found here and it is eventually gonna impact the community, at least a little bit. It is certainly invaluable considering how much PETA stuff is out there and how misleading that is. People are taking on whole flocks that are burned out egg manufacturing chickens. People are at every extreme and at the end of the day the goal maybe could be, and I think this thread and BeeKissed in particular accomplish this beautifully, making sure that people have access to quality info, rational guidance and in the long run chickens will be better cared for and maybe even genetically stronger because of it. - All over the Country which is just amazing. So I know working through the emotional ties and the weak stomachs can be a little redundant and maybe beneath the scope of a seasoned chickener I still think it is extremely valuable to the growing community.

I sure hope you are right!

You have no idea what a struggle it has been to keep this thread focused past all the bleeding hearts on the forum. We really caught it a time or two because we took a certain stance here and it rubs some the wrong way. When I redirect the posts from "oh, the poor babies, my babies, my darlings, and they are like humans to me" kind of comments, it's merely because I really value this tool for newbies out there trying to sort past all the heart strings to get to the meat of chicken husbandry.

It's not that we don't understand that different folks feel different ways about their chickens and there are many threads out there that support the save 'em at all costs crowd but from the beginning I wanted this thread to stand out from all that fluff and be a serious, but humorous, take on just how easy this chicken thing can be if you screw your heads on right. We laugh, we joke and we love on here but at the end of the day this is a teaching tool and a particular kind of one. There are many, many threads out there that support the pet keeping crowd but there's only one real OT thread and we like to keep it honest and clean here.

Can't get too bogged down in arguing who is more compassionate and understanding when it comes to chickens...if you walked into Walt's, Fred's, Al's and my coops..and most of any of the other OTs on this thread...you will most likely find surroundings that are so geared towards chicken comfort that it would surprise you. Folks have always told me that my animals have "the life" and it doesn't have anything to do with the looks of the coop or how much clothing the chickens wear. So, if we seem a little unrelenting at times it's merely because we really want to help keep this thread on point, as much as that can be done on a social forum...which is pretty difficult but sometimes the socializing adds flavor to the pot, ya know?

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Your avatar roo is gorgeous by the way.

Yeah, that's why the decission has been a tough process...he is the one that will be re-homed. Hopefully going back to the friend we got them from. His father is still strutting around, a distinguised ol' man, but obviously able to still do the job. I rarely read other than the OT and this tread anymore. So much food for thought. Just one thing at a time. When I first joined, while we were waiting for our first bunch to arrive (had to finish the coop and all) I was floored by all the "sick Chicken" threads. It almost seemed like you could expect them to all drop dead at any time. I really had second thoughts about what I was getting into. I know better now.

 

[Fred's Hens]

.if you walked into Walt's, Fred's, Al's and my coops..and most of any of the other OTs on this thread...you will most likely find surroundings that are so geared towards chicken comfort that it would surprise you.

Well, through the magic of Youtube, we can arrange a bit of a tour.

 

[Mountain Momma]

I sure hope you are right!

You have no idea what a struggle it has been to keep this thread focused past all the bleeding hearts on the forum. We really caught it a time or two because we took a certain stance here and it rubs some the wrong way. When I redirect the posts from "oh, the poor babies, my babies, my darlings, and they are like humans to me" kind of comments, it's merely because I really value this tool for newbies out there trying to sort past all the heart strings to get to the meat of chicken husbandry.

It's not that we don't understand that different folks feel different ways about their chickens and there are many threads out there that support the save 'em at all costs crowd but from the beginning I wanted this thread to stand out from all that fluff and be a serious, but humorous, take on just how easy this chicken thing can be if you screw your heads on right. We laugh, we joke and we love on here but at the end of the day this is a teaching tool and a particular kind of one. There are many, many threads out there that support the pet keeping crowd but there's only one real OT thread and we like to keep it honest and clean here.

Can't get too bogged down in arguing who is more compassionate and understanding when it comes to chickens...if you walked into Walt's, Fred's, Al's and my coops..and most of any of the other OTs on this thread...you will most likely find surroundings that are so geared towards chicken comfort that it would surprise you. Folks have always told me that my animals have "the life" and it doesn't have anything to do with the looks of the coop or how much clothing the chickens wear. So, if we seem a little unrelenting at times it's merely because we really want to help keep this thread on point, as much as that can be done on a social forum...which is pretty difficult but sometimes the socializing adds flavor to the pot, ya know?

lol. I would have just messaged you with a thumb up but I have used them all up. I may never use the word human with you again though! I think I ma permenantly labled.lol. Have a good day BeeKiss and just so you are warned I was thinking of getting a bee hive next month, cant decide where to put it though, the garage would keep them warmer and so woulld the coop? I'd like to get these tiney knit jackets donr for them first though. How many should I make? lol

 

[Beekissed]

Lovely!!! Even I would want to be a chicken in that barn!

Light, air, cleanliness and healthy, active birds is a joy to see.

Yes, YouTube is amazing...here's a short one of my meaties(50 birds, though you can't see them all because they are so scattered throughout their range in this video) this spring:

 

[Pozees]

x2!

Unfortunately, many, MANY people make the mistake of confusing the term 'smart dog' with 'good dog!' For example, they think 'Oh, border collies are considered the smartest dog there is, I'll get one of those!' and then they get it home, ignore it, don't work with it, don't give it a job to do, and THEN get horribly upset when the dog becomes destructive.

A border collie MUST be given a job to do or it is miserable. If you don't GIVE it work, it will MAKE its own, and that usually involves tearing something up, or tearing out of somewhere one way or another.

Retrievers are a BIT more mellow than BCs, but they are STILL working dogs that are not happy unless they have a job.

Our border collie has 70 acres to romp and 29 chickens to tend, and follows my husband and I everywhere on the property. He chases squirrels and groundhogs and chipmunks, runs off coyotes and coons and such, and patrols the perimeter of the property constantly. And he still wants the frisbee thrown a MINIMUM of about 10 miles worth of times a day!

1) Go ALPHA on their butts and give no quarter until they KNOW who is boss. A lot of folks don't realize it, but this can often include never letting THEM greet someone at the door - as pack leader YOU should answer the door and then if, and ONLY if, you tell them to, are they allowed to approach a visitor and say hello - and they better mind their manners when they do it too! I had to break our Aengus of bowling over guests by shutting him in a different room each time someone came to the door. I would then answer the door, let the folks in, then go get Aengus BY THE COLLAR and bring him out. I did not let go of him as he said hello, I made him sit until released, and then he was made to go DOWN until he got used to them being there and didn't want to jump on them. Also, as a pup he was made to sit while his food dish was filled, and not allowed to eat until properly released from the sit. If he broke the sit on his own, he was made to sit again over and over until properly released before he was allowed to eat. And the command 'kennel up' was to be followed through on IMMEDIATELY or we did it over and over again until it was.


2) Lots and lots of exercise for a working dog is the best cure for almost all other bad behavior.

Love, love LOVE your pups, but remember they need a pack LEADER to be happy, not another pack member. Lay them down often and let them know who is BOSS

Well said.

There are two important reasons to teach your dogs - and it is NEVER too late - to follow your commands, once they understand them, instantly: Saving another life, and saving their own. A dog who instantaneously drops to the ground when you say Down can be stopped from running into the path of an oncoming vehicle, and a dog who learns to go where you point or nod can keep another animal or child from doing the same.

A dog who does not sense the Alpha position is occupied by its human is a worried individual who constantly tries to control and patrol things because he or she feels the human is not doing so. Alpha is in charge of everything - food, activity, shelter, and position in the pack of all other individuals.

As Alpha, when your dogs are milling at your feet you should tell them what to do, and the fastest thing to teach is Sit. Dogs learn this quickly, and almost every dog I've ever worked with has been very motivated by food, a favorite being boiled liver cut into little (1/4-1/2") chunks. I always used to keep chunks in the freezer in little baggies or containers - cooking it stinks up the house (IMO), so only doing it every month or so was easier than every week. Teach it before the milling, so you aren't impatient, then reinforce regularly. I always snap my fingers, place my hand palm down above their heads and slightly behind where standing point of vision is for them, and say Sit. Because of the position of your hand, the hindquarters are naturally headed down anyway. If they actually sit, say Good Dog and give a tiny bit of liver, and if they don't just press down with the other hand on the point of the hips until they do, then reward so they know what you want when you say Sit. It is harder with two at once but it can be done. Once they do it every time, make them hold it longer and longer, and teach them they must hold it until you release them, I used to say Okay, but if you use that word a lot choose another. You can even just say Release.

Once your dogs learn sit, you have a new tool that can reproduce itself as you teach them new words, and they have a JOB - obeying you - which is almost always a dog's favorite job. Pleasing you is what they live for, and when you teach them how, they have a whole different attitude. Once they know you are in control, their anxiety level will go down, and as you teach them more commands they will gain the quiet confidence of a dog who knows what to do and who is in charge.

 

[Beekissed]

lol. I would have just messaged you with a thumb up but I have used them all up. I may never use the word human with you again though! I think I ma permenantly labled.lol. Have a good day BeeKiss and just so you are warned I was thinking of getting a bee hive next month, cant decide where to put it though, the garage would keep them warmer and so woulld the coop? I'd like to get these tiney knit jackets donr for them first though. How many should I make? lol

I can give you a great site on top bar hives wherein they can live a more natural, bee-friendly life...but I doubt the fella has any bee-jackets handy! We really enjoy your posts here...we were getting slogged down and complacent!

 

[fowlman01]

I sure hope you are right!

You have no idea what a struggle it has been to keep this thread focused past all the bleeding hearts on the forum. We really caught it a time or two because we took a certain stance here and it rubs some the wrong way. When I redirect the posts from "oh, the poor babies, my babies, my darlings, and they are like humans to me" kind of comments, it's merely because I really value this tool for newbies out there trying to sort past all the heart strings to get to the meat of chicken husbandry.

It's not that we don't understand that different folks feel different ways about their chickens and there are many threads out there that support the save 'em at all costs crowd but from the beginning I wanted this thread to stand out from all that fluff and be a serious, but humorous, take on just how easy this chicken thing can be if you screw your heads on right. We laugh, we joke and we love on here but at the end of the day this is a teaching tool and a particular kind of one. There are many, many threads out there that support the pet keeping crowd but there's only one real OT thread and we like to keep it honest and clean here.

Can't get too bogged down in arguing who is more compassionate and understanding when it comes to chickens...if you walked into Walt's, Fred's, Al's and my coops..and most of any of the other OTs on this thread...you will most likely find surroundings that are so geared towards chicken comfort that it would surprise you. Folks have always told me that my animals have "the life" and it doesn't have anything to do with the looks of the coop or how much clothing the chickens wear. So, if we seem a little unrelenting at times it's merely because we really want to help keep this thread on point, as much as that can be done on a social forum...which is pretty difficult but sometimes the socializing adds flavor to the pot, ya know?

My chicken set up is like a factory.....it is geared to keep a large amount of birds in the best physical condition they can be. Not all of my birds are on free range because I show some of them and they are white. White chickens don't stay white during the rain here. No curtains, murals or decorator artifacts. The pens are all painted a grape/wine color though cuz I wanted to get in touch with my feminine side like Al does. My wife gives me a hard time about the color, but it makes me feel pretty. I keep a small piano out with the birds so that they can expand their artistic abilities that will hopefully help in the show hall. Any chicken worth it's salt should be able to play a piano.

Re...why cull chickens have special talents. They have special talents so that they can survive. chickens with crossed bills will jump into your feed bucket so that they can get a good shot at some food as an example. It is too hard to pick it up from a feeder with a crossed beak. Hunger will make chickens do many thhngs they normally would not try to do.

Walt

 

[smyers32]

My chicken set up is like a factory.....it is geared to keep a large amount of birds in the best physical condition they can be. Not all of my birds are on free range because I show some of them and they are white. White chickens don't stay white during the rain here. No curtains, murals or decorator artifacts. The pens are all painted a grape/wine color though cuz I wanted to get in touch with my feminine side like Al does. My wife gives me a hard time about the color, but it makes me feel pretty. I keep a small piano out with the birds so that they can expand their artistic abilities that will hopefully help in the show hall. Any chicken worth it's salt should be able to play a piano.

Re...why cull chickens have special talents. They have special talents so that they can survive. chickens with crossed bills will jump into your feed bucket so that they can get a good shot at some food as an example. It is too hard to pick it up from a feeder with a crossed beak. Hunger will make chickens do many thhngs they normally would not try to do.

Walt

 

[Beekissed]

My chicken set up is like a factory.....it is geared to keep a large amount of birds in the best physical condition they can be. Not all of my birds are on free range because I show some of them and they are white. White chickens don't stay white during the rain here. No curtains, murals or decorator artifacts. The pens are all painted a grape/wine color though cuz I wanted to get in touch with my feminine side like Al does. My wife gives me a hard time about the color, but it makes me feel pretty. I keep a small piano out with the birds so that they can expand their artistic abilities that will hopefully help in the show hall. Any chicken worth it's salt should be able to play a piano.

Re...why cull chickens have special talents. They have special talents so that they can survive. chickens with crossed bills will jump into your feed bucket so that they can get a good shot at some food as an example. It is too hard to pick it up from a feeder with a crossed beak. Hunger will make chickens do many thhngs they normally would not try to do.

Walt

Just great, Walt...you made me cry down my leg again....