Hi
Our family is new to raising chickens. We purchased 5 adorable baby chicks from our local farm supply: 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Light Burhma, and 1 Americuana. Rosy, Penny, Ginger, Henny, and Pansy respectively. We have since added a Buff Cochin to our flock, her name is Buffy. Unfortunately Pansy ended up being a Fast Freddy so we have replaced him with another Americuana named Sunshine.
They are all 9 weeks old and have transitioned well to their outdoor coop and run. I greet them every morning at 6 am to open the vents to their coop as well as their door and supply them with fresh water. A few times a day they have access to our backyard which is well contained by a masonry wall, although they are very clever in sticking to just the perimeter walls which are all under cover and full of delicious bugs I'm sure.
Though I am not a bird person in any way, I have found that I absolutely love my little girls and will spend an inordinate amount of time watching them and fretting over them.
However, my biggest challenge right now is training our 2 female dogs to co-exist with our flock. We have a 2 year old Catahoula/McNab (Moxy) as well as a 4 year old Cocker Spaniel/Poodle (Olive). Both are well trained with the "leave it command" but I'm afraid that if I take them off leash while the girls are free roaming they will run and possibly attack the flock, especially Moxy, and conveniently fail to hear my commands. I'm currently taking the advice of a friend/local farmer and using a shock collar for both dogs. I walk them (on leash) repeatedly past the flock while they are in the run as well as outside roaming and use the leave it command. Olive is very respectful at this point and is showing no interested. However, Moxy is completely afraid of the coop as well as the birds because of the collar. Once the collar is removed she is full of, well,
Moxy.
I should also note that I have 2 small children that we are also teaching. Our concern is that one child might forget the girls are roaming and let out a dog, hence the co-existing. Currently, while the girls are roaming I place a sign on the back door that reads the chickens are out and place the dogs in the kennel. And I also let them roam whenever we leave the house since the dogs are inside while we are gone.
What has successfully worked with you?
Our family is new to raising chickens. We purchased 5 adorable baby chicks from our local farm supply: 2 Barred Rocks, 1 Rhode Island Red, 1 Light Burhma, and 1 Americuana. Rosy, Penny, Ginger, Henny, and Pansy respectively. We have since added a Buff Cochin to our flock, her name is Buffy. Unfortunately Pansy ended up being a Fast Freddy so we have replaced him with another Americuana named Sunshine.
They are all 9 weeks old and have transitioned well to their outdoor coop and run. I greet them every morning at 6 am to open the vents to their coop as well as their door and supply them with fresh water. A few times a day they have access to our backyard which is well contained by a masonry wall, although they are very clever in sticking to just the perimeter walls which are all under cover and full of delicious bugs I'm sure.
Though I am not a bird person in any way, I have found that I absolutely love my little girls and will spend an inordinate amount of time watching them and fretting over them.
However, my biggest challenge right now is training our 2 female dogs to co-exist with our flock. We have a 2 year old Catahoula/McNab (Moxy) as well as a 4 year old Cocker Spaniel/Poodle (Olive). Both are well trained with the "leave it command" but I'm afraid that if I take them off leash while the girls are free roaming they will run and possibly attack the flock, especially Moxy, and conveniently fail to hear my commands. I'm currently taking the advice of a friend/local farmer and using a shock collar for both dogs. I walk them (on leash) repeatedly past the flock while they are in the run as well as outside roaming and use the leave it command. Olive is very respectful at this point and is showing no interested. However, Moxy is completely afraid of the coop as well as the birds because of the collar. Once the collar is removed she is full of, well,
Moxy.
I should also note that I have 2 small children that we are also teaching. Our concern is that one child might forget the girls are roaming and let out a dog, hence the co-existing. Currently, while the girls are roaming I place a sign on the back door that reads the chickens are out and place the dogs in the kennel. And I also let them roam whenever we leave the house since the dogs are inside while we are gone.
What has successfully worked with you?
Glad you are enjoying the chicks, they are fascinating pets.
from Ohio. So glad you joined. Good luck 
