Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

I don't think I'd have a problem shooting that particular dog. He showed up where he lives now as a stray and has been a pain in my side ever since. He is NOT breeding my dog! I may still pen her because I don't want him to get even the slightest opportunity. It takes 63 days to "incubate" pups. Her last litter was born on the 64th day after I saw them tie the first time. They tied for about 5 days in a row. So I'm thinking New Years eve puppies. Should be ready to go to homes about March 1st.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, so will the pups have a GP daddy or do you think the lab got to her?

If they will be full blood GP I would be interested also.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
X2. Maybe one for me and one for a friend.

 

[Ivywoods]

Since we are on the subject of GP's, here is a picture of Buddy shortly after we got him. In the original deal, if we wanted one, we had to take FIVE! Mom, Dad and 3 pups. The mom was not socialized to people and they could not catch her, (another good arguement for socializing your dogs as well as letting them bond to their livestock!) so we ended up with Buddy and the three pups. In this picture, the white pup I am petting was the one that was deaf and went on to be a human seach and rescue dog. The other pup is Sophie, the one we kept and the mother of our youngest dog, Runt. I'm not sure where the other pup was during this photo shoot. And of course, Buddy. Isn't he beautiful? I just fell in love with him as soon as I saw him.

 

[Trish44]

IVY, those are some beautiful dogs! I love Buddy's ears! He's the one that is getting old now right?

 

[Ivywoods]

Yes, Buddy is getting old. We don't even know how old, since he was an adult when we got him. He is not the largest dog around, but I think that is because he was pretty much left to fend for himself as well as care for his goats. I don't think the people he came from even fed him. He sure knew his job, though, and even though he loves attention he is still very much a livestock guardian.

 

[Trish44]

Well your comment about socializing the GPs hits home with me & I feel like you need to do that as well as bonding them to your animals or birds. There are as I said before strong opinions about that, but I don't know how else you can catch your dog when you need to if you haven't gotten them bonded to you as well. Just like you said, when the people went to try to catch their female to re-home her they couldn't. I don't want to have a dog I can't ever catch or touch, I'm sorry, I know some people don't agree with that for an LGD, but those people usually have huge ranches where the dogs stay with the sheep or goats out in the fields & aren't up by the house. In my situation the chicken coop is right next to our garage & just across the driveway from our house, so any time we come outside the dog is going to be right there if she's doing her job. The chickens see me every time I come out of the front door & come running to see what treats I might have for them, it's really funny!

 

[Tarja]

Ok Orpingtons or Brahmas. What about Cochins who I like the fluff on, but do the foot feathers get insanely filthy? What about Plymouth Rocks, they have pretty colors also. Think we want yard art vs fancy, and no bantams.

 

[Trish44]

The Barred Plymouth Rocks are very good layers, but a little more bossy, as in they want to be on top of the pecking order. Mine let all the other hens know that they are the top hens. I have two young Partridge Rock hens though & they seem more docile & are happy being lower on the pecking order. These two are still young & haven't laid yet, so I can't speak for how they are at laying. I know that the Australorps are a good backyard layer & are docile also. I have a couple of these too, but they too are too young yet to lay. They're black with a shiny green sheen to their feathers.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote:
If you aren't planning on breeding or selling hatching eggs, you may as well get a mix of breeds. I have a home flock for eating eggs that is one of everything!

I like seeing the varied chooks in my yard, and each has its own lovely characteristics.