Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

I have been letting the chickens run around In Our yard during the day. For the first few weeks, I would lock the doggie door and only let them out for a couple hours. And during this time I would take the dogs out on a leash to get them used to the chickens. They were behaving so well. So a week ago I decided to see how they were off leash. They did awesome! Didn't chase the chickens or anything. So the past couple days I have let the chickens have free range of the yard and the dog door unlocked. And no problems. Well today, at 6pm. I went out to check on everybody and my dog was chewing on a carcas of one of the smaller chickens. No head. No blood anywhere. And I don't see a bunch of feathers anywhere. Could it have been my dog who killed it? I'd hate to have to lock them up when the chickens are out. They've done so well the past few weeks! Btw my dogs are Pomeranian chihuahua and Pomeranian dachshund ( the one chewing on the dead chicken ) and I didn't notice any other harm to the chicken other than her head was gone. And I can't find the head or any blood anywhere

My concern is that once he has connected that delicious taste with the feathery things, there may be a problem.

Our dachshunds haven't caused problems (yet), but I don't go off an leave everyone out, either. Our new puppy (60 lbs) is in the process of being acclimated to the chickens. So far so good. Yesterday he was chasing one that inadvertently didn't get put in with the others, but he didn't seem to be trying to catch it, just chase it. We yelled at him and he was REALLY sorry. We still have some work to do with Red.

I'd allow supervised visits if I were you just to see what will happen. Your dog may still be fine with the chickens, but I'm not sure I'd trust them completely.

 

[okjenyp]

Thanks guys. I tried to avoid them getting a taste for fresh meat. When we butchered our Cornish x, the dogs were locked inside until everything was cleaned up. When I had my cats, they liked to chase the cats and play. They all slept together as well. I did a thorough sweep of the yard after all the animals were locked up and found some bloody feathers and some chunks of blood. It's so sad. And she was my bird that was having a problem growing big girl feathers.

she was 10 weeks old

 

[Trish44]

Thanks guys. I tried to avoid them getting a taste for fresh meat. When we butchered our Cornish x, the dogs were locked inside until everything was cleaned up. When I had my cats, they liked to chase the cats and play. They all slept together as well. I did a thorough sweep of the yard after all the animals were locked up and found some bloody feathers and some chunks of blood. It's so sad. And she was my bird that was having a problem growing big girl feathers. she was 10 weeks old

I'm sorry for your loss. I agree with the others, I suspect your dog did the damage. I wouldn't leave them unsupervised with the birds at all. I know terriers are notorious for chasing & killing birds. I have a tiny 6 pound Yorkie & I can't trust her at all with birds. If one of my chicks gets loose from the brooders she is right after it.

Today was just running all day long & the rest of the week doesn't look much better. I just want some free time to work on my hoop coop but it doesn't look like I will have any till Saturday. It's been so cool out again, it's just crazy after 90s & 100s. How in the world can our birds acclimate to this weather, it's hard enough for us to acclimate.

 

[chicken danz]

okjenyp, if it makes you feel better that chick sure had a cockerel shape to it. I don't remember where you said you got them, but the incidence of chicks being sexed wrong is pretty common. Also the slow feathering gene is more common in cockerels than pullets. Just sayin'.
I have a couple of monsters here. I have a bin in the house I start turkey poults in. A couple of my midget white poults have imprinted on me I guess. As long as they are eating and drinking they are fine but when they are ready to take a nap they jump out of the bin and go screaming through the house until they find me.I just pick them up and they fall asleep on my lap. I cover them with my hand or my shirt and it's lights out. They are adorable but how do you deal with a couple of needy turkeys? They should go out to the brooder but I have too many birds in there already.
I am selling about 90 chicks today so maybe I'll find some room some where. Unfortunately none of the ones I am selling are coming out of the brooder house. I really need to get some of these I plan to keep out into their own house and run, but I am out of room for the time being. I need more pens. Like I don't have enough to take care for as it is!!!! I have so much going on right now with the birds and family I feel like I am being pulled in 20 different directions.
It's going to be a job to gather all those birds and get them boxed up to go. Some of them are pretty large. But it should sure help the feed bill. I have new chicks hatching today as well.

 

[okjenyp]

Yeah that chick was definitely ugly. I think they said it was supposed to be a buff Orpington. But it looked so pitiful with just a few feathers. My husband referred to it as the radiation chicken!! Anyways rooster or hen, I try to take as best care for them as I can. And now everyone is mad at me because they don't get free range of the yard any more. Right now they are enjoying their morning foraging. And the dogs are locked inside. Here in a couple hours when the chickens take their late morning siesta, I will lock them up and let the dogs out. This sux. But if it keeps my chickens alive then that's what I'll do. And danz, I got them from atwoods. She was a rebate chicken! They had a special for buy 6 chicks and get a rebate back for what you paid.i think next year I may try to buy chicks from some of you guys. But this is my first year and I am definitely learning a ton.
On a happier note. A lady is giving me a ton of her clippings from her willow tree and I am going to attempt to make one of those living willow shelters for the chickens pen

 

[chicken danz]

That sounds like a neat project. Chickens and birds in general are definitely a learning process. I can't stress enough though that all of them are great. I kind of became a chicken snob of sorts but that is because I want to make some money rather than just spend it. Plus I love the awesome unique big birds. But most of my layers for eating eggs are birds I crossed for the best laying ability. They all have their merits.
When I first got on BYC I was kind of offended by some of the attitudes people had about birds. I try not to be that person. Some of my favorite birds are mutts. Sometimes I wish I was back to a mixed flock. It's a lot less work than keeping separate pens for every breed and color, plus the expensive birds don't get many opportunities to free range.

 

[Trish44]

Yeah that chick was definitely ugly. I think they said it was supposed to be a buff Orpington. But it looked so pitiful with just a few feathers. My husband referred to it as the radiation chicken!! Anyways rooster or hen, I try to take as best care for them as I can. And now everyone is mad at me because they don't get free range of the yard any more. Right now they are enjoying their morning foraging. And the dogs are locked inside. Here in a couple hours when the chickens take their late morning siesta, I will lock them up and let the dogs out. This sux. But if it keeps my chickens alive then that's what I'll do. And danz, I got them from atwoods. She was a rebate chicken! They had a special for buy 6 chicks and get a rebate back for what you paid.i think next year I may try to buy chicks from some of you guys. But this is my first year and I am definitely learning a ton.
On a happier note. A lady is giving me a ton of her clippings from her willow tree and I am going to attempt to make one of those living willow shelters for the chickens pen

The first year I had chickens again I got them from hatcheries & I tried out a lot of different breeds. I have found over time which ones I really like & which I really don't, so this year I decided for replacements for older hens I would just get either hatching eggs from breeders or chicks from breeders & not mess with hatcheries at all. You will find out which breeds you really like after you have them awhile & which are the best layers & then maybe next time you can just get the ones that are your favorites.

 

[zigzag45]

@KsKingBee - nice to see you checkin. I'd wondered where you guys had gone.

Need help.... seems like this is my third or fourth runny poo posts. One of my newer birds (8 weeks old or so - a Danz bird, white orp) has runny poo. I keep thinking it will go away. Free ranging in my yard, probiotics sprinkled on their food (powder from TSC), nothing helps. These birds are too stuck up to enjoy treats, so they're not eating anything but grower feed and what they find in the yard.

Last time I fought this, with my previous group, one of you suggested that the dairy treats I was giving them (butter milk and keifer) might be causing the problem and that was spot on. But, that's not the issue this time.

Thoughts?

 

[sharol]

okjenyp:

I got to thinking about your dog and the chick. I haven't let the dogs around the chickens until they were fully feathered and beginning to get some size on them. Your problem may not be as serious as we all seem to think. My dogs are way too interested in the smaller chicks, but has the hens mature, they develop some respect (of course my yelling at them if they even look at the hens/pullets sideways seems to help, too). Your dog may not have connected the little guy with the birds he wasn't to touch.

 

[okjenyp]

Sharol, that could make sense. Cuz why did they single this one out. Maybe they were tired of looking at her raggedy non feathered. I've had one of my roosters pop the dogs on the butt a few times and the dogs run away.

I saw someone post pics on another site for a living willow shelter for their chickens. So I made one today. I pray it roots and survives. If not I will have a wicker igloo in the chicken run.

I know. It looks pitiful. But I did what I could with what I had. Lol. The chickens love it. I just hope they don't distroy it too bad