Icelandic Chickens

[daisychick]

Mary, I have a non-icelandic question but it does have to do with chickens

Have your donkeys ever went after your chickens in any way?? I have a mini-donkey and she is just 1 year old. She has been great around the chickens and my 2 geese. I was hoping she would help keep predators out of the area around the barn and I think she is doing that. Today we had a terrible incident though. We were all hanging out with all the critters and the geese were standing by us and wandering around. All of a sudden donkey went charging after the geese and stomped with both front feet onto my gander's back!!!! Luckily with lots of yelling we stopped her and the goose seems to be ok. Now I am terrified to let the geese free range!!! UGHHHHH! She hurt the thing she is supposed to protect. If that would of been a chicken it would of been dead because of size difference. Have you ever seen your donkey's get onery with your chickens?????

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
When we first introduced the donkeys to the chickens the mini donkey would chase them. She never tried to stomp but she did give chase. It usually had to do with food. So we put up a corral around the side of the barn with the chicken pop door. That is the only place I feed or give treats to the chickens. The donkeys can't get in but the chickens can easily run under if they need to get into their coop. This has eliminating the chasing. I think most important is speed. The Icelandics can out run Miss Diana.
Here is how we did the corral. We just stole three panels from our round pen.

I know how horrifying it is because she did the same thing when we first introduced the baby goats. She actually did try to stomp one. So we introduce new animals slowy through a fence for awhile before letting them meet in person. That seems to be working well.

I am glad your incident didn't end in tragedy.

 

[daisychick]

Thanks for the quick response Mary

. The donkey and horse share one side of a fence with the chickens so they have been slowly introduced. But the geese just get introduced when we are around. Having a "safety zone" is a good idea. Maybe when we free range we can put up horse panels just like that and the chickens can run if they have to. I think you are right and it is a speed issue, the geese just waddle and the donkey can catch them no problem. I guess I will just have to be super careful from now on. I do know that Rosana the donkey will keep things out of the pasture fence. She chases off dogs etc so that part makes me happy and willing to keep her around. Foxes are the #1 predator I have had in the past and we have not seen one since getting Rosana. If only I can get her to protect the geese instead of trying to stomp them.

 

[The Sheriff]

Good luck Chandra. My goal is to have 40 Icelandic chickens free ranging peacefully with three giant emus, a mammoth donkey, a mini donkey and two Tennessee Fainting Goats. Not too much to ask is it?

 

[AK Michelle]

I've been thinking Livestock Guardian DOGS but many of them say "not suitable for free ranging poultry" and I appreciate the honesty. Maybe I need to change my thinking and get a donkey instead. How cold tolerant are Emus? Kidding

 

[daisychick]

No of course not Mary.

But seriously I really hope it works, because that would be the greatest "herd" ever put together.

 

[Camelot Farms]

Escapees Part II

These little ones are naughty, naughty, naughty.

Tonight DS started chores without me, before I could get to the barn, he was back holding one very cold, muddy, icelandic chick. Apparently, he rescued it from the PEAFOWL PEN!!
Poor little thing left the Silkie pen and mama, traveled outside the barn, across the yard through 4 barn cats and the free range flock and into the Peafowl pen. *sigh*

Gave him a quick shower in the sink. Toweled him off, tucked him into the brooder for a quick heat up and then back to mama.

Tomorrow, I am going to have to empty out a breeder pen and out mama and the chicks in there for a week or two until they grow a little bit.

Silly chicks!

 

[daisychick]

Quote:
I though about a LGD before I got the donkey, but I was so scared about actually finding a trained one that would not eat my chickens. I know they exist, but they were trained with other chickens and by another owner, so how do you test them out on your own flock??

Sounded too risky to me.

 

[AK Michelle]

Yesterday when the kids were telling me my millie had flown over the fence and asking about trying to catch her I told them "she comes when called, her name is Jukie, just call her and hold out your arms and she'll come to you". They looked at me like I had three heads, but it wasn't 2 minutes and they were back with her in their arms. She was muddy and shaken but otherwise unharmed.

Then, when it was all over I came inside and showed my friend the Icelandics. She's seen them before and she has had a number of different pet birds over the years, parrots, canaries and the like. She was amazed when I opened the brooder and so many flew out to perch on me.

I'm hoping that their flying ability will help them stay safe from ground predators like it did for Jukie yesterday.

 

[The Sheriff]

Kim, you need to get things under control at your place. Who is running the show?

Oh, I forgot my DH has been out several times today chasing Icelandic chicks back in under the gate. Nevermind.