Consolidated Kansas

[sharol]

Rene, do you ever retire older, experienced roosters when the breeding cycle passes them by? I have 11 hens, and I would like to have a rooster in the spring, but I want an experienced, older, gentle guy who will be nice to the hens and to me. I really don't want a teenager. Breed isn't important since i have no intention of hatching eggs. I just want a roo that will help protect the flock and keep the girls company (and mediate their spats).

Sharol

 

[ChooksChick]

Rene, do you ever retire older, experienced roosters when the breeding cycle passes them by? I have 11 hens, and I would like to have a rooster in the spring, but I want an experienced, older, gentle guy who will be nice to the hens and to me. I really don't want a teenager. Breed isn't important since i have no intention of hatching eggs. I just want a roo that will help protect the flock and keep the girls company (and mediate their spats).

Sharol

Absolutely! And I'm always looking for good homes for the lovely guys, desperate for a way to have one less mouth to feed and let the guy have a place to go to be happy and not dinner.

What kind of girls have you got again? I ask because birds of a feather...ya know!!

 

[sharol]

I have a mixed flock -- 5 EE's, 2 Delawares, a Campine, a Welsumer, a GLW, and a BO. They are all pretty tame and friendly. half of them are 15 months old or so, and the other half are almost a year (in March). I'd like to add a roo in the spring after the weather gets better since my isolation area isn't as warm as the coop would be, and I'd like to keep him in the tractor for a while until they got acquainted through the wires.

Sharol

Absolutely! And I'm always looking for good homes for the lovely guys, desperate for a way to have one less mouth to feed and let the guy have a place to go to be happy and not dinner.

What kind of girls have you got again? I ask because birds of a feather...ya know!!

 

[chicken danz]

Renee, A couple of my previous pups are house dogs. One of them lets their dog out to patrol the chicken/ duck pens but keeps them at night. The other does the opposite. Lets them out at night and keeps them in by day. If you have a fenced yard I think you'd be ok with a dog in town but like Ivy said you want them to bond with the birds as well. You'd be fine I think if the dog was out with the chickens a lot while you were there. But if you intend to make it a house pet and then later put it out with just the birds where there won't be any human contact, it really wouldn't be fair to the dog. I think Candace might be the one to answer the question about how to handle one that will be all alone with a flock. I don't know if any I've sold have not been used as guardians and protectors both. You could always get one now for dual duty and maybe get another later to be a sole protector alone or breed the one you have for another pup. If you got a boy you could ask for a stud fee of one pup from someone who had a female or if you got a female you could have her bred later. I guess you could have one for a pet and one for a guard dog. Just remember as a pet they need lots of attention and things to keep them busy.

 

[chicken danz]

I meant to say guardians and pets both. Not guardians and protectors. Duh!

 

[Trish44]

chooks, here is Candace's web site link if you want to contact her with your questions about the LGDs, I'm sure she would be glad to either email or chat by phone: http://bar6diamondranch.com/lgds.html. She doesn't care if you buy a puppy from her or not, she is glad to help.

Well I went to bed earlier than usual last night & had a horrible night. When I went to lay down then I couldn't breathe, so I had to try to prop myself up in bed & that didn't even work very well. I kept DH awake so much that he was run off to the couch for a lot of the night. I'm still coughing my head off today & I think I may be starting to get a sinus infection out of all of it. I am getting so tired of coughing I could scream. The coughing causes other complications also as you ladies can imagine, a leaky bladder & coughing don't mix well, embarrassing. I almost told DH today I was staying home this weekend, but then he doesn't want to go without me. I hate to go & give this crud to his family, but I don't want him to miss his mother's 90th birthday either, who know how many more if any she will have. This whole thing is turning out bad all the way around, I just heard from my son & he's coming in late Sat. night & now I will miss seeing him & my granddaughter. We haven't seen her since Christmas. He has a crazy work schedule, so he said he couldn't come a different weekend, ack. I wanted to be here when he loaded his stuff out of the garage too. Then I'm supposed to be picking up rabbits this weekend too. Oh why do things have to be so complicated? I wish I could clone myself & be in both places at once, wouldn't that be nice.

Better try to get moving if I'm going to get anything done today between the coughing fits. I have to take my little dogs to the Vet for boarding & run errands after that, so I better get my behind moving. I would rather just be in bed, but that's not going to happen today.

 

[chicken danz]

Trish I sure wouldn't go to visit your 90yo MIL. When you get that age the immune system is so fragile. If she caught what you have it could go into pneumonia rather quickly at her age. I'd tell your DH you want to support him but don't want to chance infecting her or the rest of the family with the bug. That is just being sensible. Suggest he go ahead and go because we never know when we are going to loose our elder parents. Every moment is precious. You should be taking care of getting well yourself not trying to do a million things for other people.
Yeah I know you ask for my advise but I gave it any way. It would be best for everyone involved.

 

[chicken danz]

This new forum kind of stinks. I am used to typing and sending and then editing what I wrote if I see I missed a word or something. Doesn't seem to be an easy way to do that now.

 

[Trish44]

Danz, I know I shouldn't be going at all, I just don't know how to convince my DH to go without me. He already is upset my son is coming this weekend & he will miss seeing our granddaughter. I may try again when he comes back from the gym & see if I can go at it from the angle of protecting his mother from getting sick, maybe he will listen to that better. He didn't want me to stay here just to be here when my son & granddaughter comes, but I agree I shouldn't go & expose his mother to what I have. She doesn't have the defenses to fight off things at that age like other people do. I just hope he sees it that way. I sure would like to stay here & just spend a day laying around instead of having to ride in the car for 5 hours straight coughing & blowing my nose & then again coming back another 5 hours plus time to go on the side trip. He did say he would pick up the rabbits for me if I don't go, so maybe he would do that. If they're honest they could pack them up for me & send them with him. I hope they don't try to give us all bucks, I just have to pray they will be honest & send what I ask for.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I have an emergency!!

This bird was in my front yard. I just let my dog out and she tried to get this bird. Don't worry-- my dog didnt' end up touching her-- I yelled at her and ran after her. I grabbed the bird and brought the bird in. What is this?? A pigeon?? And why is it laying in my yard? Does it probably have a disease??? What should I be looking for? I can't just put it back outside to freeze, I would feel bad about that. I gave it a dropper full of water with sugar. It's not wheezing... But it's feet feel VERY cold. Ideas???? Do you think this is a pet? It seemed happy to be held, but then again.... it's probably really sick, and doesn't care, right???