Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

About the puppies, maybe it is a good thing for them to have a healthy respect for the chickens. I don't know enough about the breed to know, but my dogs have been fine with my girls since they got pecked by one of them. Even the little Doxy who tried to kill my EE now has a desire to avoid all the chickens. My GLW chest bumped her and pecked her on the rump pretty hard a couple of months ago, and since then she has avoided contact with all of them. She will be in the yard with them, but not trying to attack them anymore.

 

[Trish44]

Sharol, I agree the pups should have respect for the chickens, that is what they came here to guard after all, but they weren't doing anything to warrant the attack from the rooster. I just think he wanted to show them that he wasn't going to take any nonsense from them. We'll see how it all comes out, I'm not ready yet to get rid of the rooster. I just hope this was just a warning for the pups & not a sign of what is to come. Hopefully they will all be able to get along without any other problems. It was a good lesson for them I guess. I will have some more new pics of the pups later when I can get them on my computer.

 

[sharol]

OH, yes. Those little puppies are adorable fuzz balls. You make me want a LGD myself.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish do you have some young pullets or even younger cockerels that you can introduce to the pups. Like let them run in the yard or a kennel together? You certainly don't want them fearing the chickens nor do you want them to turn aggressive to them. My pups and chickens were eating from the same pan at 3 weeks so they bonded to them really quickly. At some point one of them may get overly aggressive playing with a chicken. If that happens just firmly tell them NO and make sure they stop. That's what I love about the GP's. They learn very fast.
Hawkeye I'm glad you chose to go to the vet. I do hope your birds gets well. I would be a bit disgusted at the breeder however. She should know and treat for mites. And she should also know that shipping stress can reduce their immunity to illness. That is one reason why I have repeatedly refused to ship birds across the country. I can guarantee health when it leaves here but have no power over what happens along the way. If the virus or bacteria were present but not active when she shipped them, then the weakened immune system would allow them to become ill. She should really do a little preventative medicine before she ends up with sick stock herself.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Quote:
TRUE! So basically these birds had something dormant? Then the stress made it come to the surface? That just makes a lot of sense, and that is kind of what the vet said today, too. Vet said to bring them back in 3 days. What if the others get as sick as Zorro? Should I just start injecting them, too? They are on the Doxycycline in water, and Zorro is just on the Baytril now. I had to separate them out-- so he couldn't drink the same water with the meds. I went to Atwoods and bought one of those cage rabbit feeders-- the kind that hooks on the side of the wire cage? I put his feed it in, and set his clear water on the floor. He's not happy. He can see his girls, and he keeps trying to talk to them. But I set up the cage divider.

It's just as well, since he was trying to breed BOTH of them. And I still think the splash might be a little cockerel-- would he try to breed another cockerel??? Zorro doesn't need to do that since they are all ill. Crazy bird, he has left them alone for the most part (I've been watching-- and he's still young), but I saw him on top of the "It" when I got home just now from Atwoods buying the extra feeders, etc. I guess he's feeling a bit better. This morning, I wasn't even sure he'd make it! But, he needed to be separated from them anyway, so he won't stress them out. BTW- could that be an indicator that the other splash is a pullet?? Or will he just try to breed ANYthing? I feel soooo much better after having seen the vet. I'll be glad to return in 3 days and see where we stand.

Trish-- I know nothing about large dogs and especially that breed! I really like Danz's idea of letting them be around younger birds-- or more laid back birds for them to get used to. I would hate for them to become aggressive with them because of the rooster. They are sooooo adorable! I just want to cuddle them!

 

[chicken danz]

I think I'd see how Zorro did with the meds. If he is ok in 24 hours or so I would start injecting the other two. What did the vet say about them? I can't say for sure that the bacteria or virus was present before the birds were shipped, but when their immune system became weak from shipping stress, it opened them up to whatever they were exposed to. I may be wrong but I think it would be unlikely they picked it up during shipping. Others might disagree.
I have this bin of new chicks in here even though I keep saying I don't want any more in the house. It sure is nice to just watch them. I have so missed my birds while I've been stoved up.

 

[tntblake]

Hey Hawkeye where did you take Zorro? I would like to know where you took him so I have one I can go to if the need ever arises. My vet doesn't treat birds.

 

[Ivywoods]

Hawkeye-Your Zorro might try to breed another male, but I can't imagine that any self-respecting rooster would let him do that to them.

Glad you found a good vet. It sounds like it hit Zorro pretty hard. It's hard to say if it was something dormant or just something they caught along the way, but it sounds like you are on your way to being a good chicken vet yourself. I'm sure it's not how you wanted to learn, though.

I would NOT give them a bath right now. It might be pretty stressful for them. Wait until they are pretty much over this before you do, especially if they have not been bathed before. They really do relax and enjoy it after they realize you are not going to boil them alive or something. Nevertheless, I think it does stress them a bit, and then there is the matter of keeping warm and getting dry.

Trish-I agree with Chicken Danz. It is hard to tell how the pup will react if the rooster is allowed to keep beating up on her. I would want them to be in with chickens they can cuddle up to and be comfortable with. If they are afraid or the rooster continues to be aggressive it is hard to tell if she might decide that the chicken is a "foe" rather than "friend." I wouldn't worry about Jasmine being more timid. They are such cautious, wary dogs. I think it's a good indicator of their natural instincts.

I've watched my dogs get head butted, stepped on and generally abused by our goats. It doesn't bother them a bit, however, they are adult dogs. When we get another dog I intend to put it right in with some of our baby goats and some chickens so they get aquainted right away. Oh, yes. I agree with the leash training, too. Just think what it's like getting a 100 lb dog into a car and to the vet for treatment or neutering when you can't even get a leash on them. It ain't easy, I can tell you first hand. They seem to naturally fight a leash more than any other dog I've had, so start early and frequently to get them used to it.

Checoukan-your text message totally confused me. My roosters all walk whichever way they please. As I said, if they were smart they'd be walking south for the winter, though.

The cast iron rooster doesn't walk at all. He just hangs there.... but he FACES right.

 

[msjfrizzle]

Quote:
Hi Keckels and welcome!

I've been super busy, so just reading posts and not responding, but I got curious about your town. I emailed them to ask about chickens, and it's not good. Keep those chicks under wraps!!
Here's the reply:

From: City of Scott City [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 4:55 PM
Subject: Fw: Scott City Website
Hi Jill,
City of Scott City code 5-4A-1 B states that it is unlawful for any person to rear or keep any fowl including chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, guinea or other domestic fowl in the City. Livestock & swine are also unlawful to rear or keep in the City.
Let me know if you have any further questions.
Brenda K. Davis, MMC
City Clerk
City of Scott City
221 W. 5th
Scott City, KS 67871
620-872-5322
[email protected]
www.scottcityks.org

 

[Trish44]

IVY, I will let the pups out with the chickens again tomorrow in the yard & see what happens. I will have to make a decision about that rooster I guess if he continues beating up on my pups. I'm hoping he just wanted to warn them & will leave them alone now. I agree, I don't want them to be afraid of the chickens. They were already with chickens at the ranch, so they're used to them, but not a rowdy teenage rooster I guess. Lily really took it a lot better than Jasmine, but then as I said she is the more outgoing one. Jasmine finally came out of the doghouse this evening & was playing with Lily, so she seems fine. We'll just play it by ear tomorrow & see what happens.