"Louisiana "La-yers" Peeps"

[LemonMeringue]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I can't wait for the chicks to arrive... should be here any day now.

Along with my chicks, my grandfather will be getting 6 SLW, 3 BO, 3 Speckled Sussex, 5 Black Australorp, 5 Golden Buff, and 2 Roos; a Barred Rock and a New Hampshire Red.

Like i said, I am new to chickens, but my grandfather has raised them all his life. I just recently completed his coop... 10x10 with four nest boxes and 25 foot of roosts. will post pics as soon as i can.

Currently we have the brooder sitting in the middle of the coop, on top of two sawhorses. i was wondering if anyone has had problems with the heat or what... will post pics of this as well. I am asking because he wants to keep the brooder outside with the heat lamp, and draft-proof it. i just don't want to end up with overheated chicks.

One more question... does anyone have their chickens co mingling with dogs. My fiance would like for our puppy to basically live with the chickens (and ducks in the future lol) for protection. We have many coyotes in the area and I feel this is a good idea as well. just wondering how I should introduce the puppy to the chicks

We have 3 dogs. We have raised chicks up to full grown and even brought in full grown hens. Our dogs accept all the chickens and the bunny as family. Sometimes the young pullets have a little attitude and give a fake charge at one of the dogs or cat if they get "too close". Its pretty funny to see them scuttle out of the chickens way. All of our dogs defend our yard against many threats. Coons, snakes, cats that are not part of the family, opossum, squirrel and box turtle (yes, the dogs think its a threat!, lol) But I know not all dogs are this way and ours are on the smaller side. We also just have a large yard and not a big property. Is it in some dogs nature to just chase and eat chickens? I am not sure. I think if they are raised together that would probably help. One time many years ago we got a little Chihuahua (full grown) sweet little dog. It chased down a hen that was twice its size and was chewing on its leg when I got to it! We had to rehome the dog because it just would not stop! It was sneaky and would wait and watch until we were not watching, then give chase.

 

[PandBPullets]

What kind of dogs do you have? We currently have two 3 month old mixed puppies. 1/2 Border Collie 1/4 Lab 1/4 Bull Mastiff. The girl has been showing herding instinct since she was 8 weeks old, which I kinda see possibly being a problem. As soon as we can, we plan on introducing them and the chicks, with constant supervision of course.

Can't wait on the chicks to get here........

 

[WickeeChickee]

Hello. Just wanted to drop a quick note to let any interested parties know I am selling my entire flock of layer hens/pullets due to my medical issues

. I'm upset beyond words but it's doctor's orders. I'm in St. Tammany; I have 6 BO layers 18 months old, and 3 Australorp pullets almost 3 months old. Asking $120 for whole flock.

 

[Ron Skekel]

What kind of dogs do you have? We currently have two 3 month old mixed puppies. 1/2 Border Collie 1/4 Lab 1/4 Bull Mastiff. The girl has been showing herding instinct since she was 8 weeks old, which I kinda see possibly being a problem.  As soon as we can, we plan on introducing them and the chicks, with constant supervision of course.

Can't wait on the chicks to get here........ 

It depends on the drive of the dog. I have German Shepard's . Our last one I kept on her for a month after that I could leave her out with the flock and leave the house never hurt one. One day she saw me shoeing them off the side walks. I don't like poo on the sidewalks. Then she would keep them off the sidewalks . Now I have two that are two years old breed for shutzhund both have extreme pray drive. I think I'll have them chicken trained in about three more months. From puppies it's more of a challenge but well worth time and effort. Pam

 

[KimmyIsRad]

I had a super productive day today! Part of that productivity included contacting a carpenter to give me an estimate on a chicken coop. I'm currently searching for plans to send to him. Getting closer! Can't wait to see the chickens at Kuntry's farm Sunday.

 

[forgetful]

So I'm getting 6 Royal Palm poults in the mail with an order of 6 RIRs around Wednesday/Thursday, and I'm nervous.

I've heard turkeys are much more delicate than chicks, and I don't want to lose any. Anyone have any advice? I was planning on putting them in my outdoor brooder with the chicks. The brooder is wooden, with mesh sides and a wooden door, and the back is pushed against the corner of my house on a wall. The floor is divided in three, with two sides made of wood and the center of mesh. There is a heat lamp to one side, and I can put a blanket over the other side that is towards the corner to block any breezes. Typically, all the chicks brooded in it even from day one, don't get chilled during the day. Only on cool nights, and a blanket over the sir normally solves the problem. Will the turkeys need anything more than that? What kind of special treatment do they need? I know they need a higher protein feed, and I'm scratching my head on how to give it to only them and not the chicks.

 

[topdog24]

Dogs are the same natured as chickens, some are docile and some are monsterous terrors, our Shi Tzu would tackle a grizzly just for the fun of it, unfortunately it tangled with a car and lost, our boxer, 1 &1/2 yrs might kill one playing with it,but no on purpose, he see's me spending most of my time with the chicks, so he knows they are important to me, he watch's out for other animals that come around, he weights about 90 lb so he is intimidating to about anything or anybody that comes around.

 

[PrimroseMom1]

So I'm getting 6 Royal Palm poults in the mail with an order of 6 RIRs around Wednesday/Thursday, and I'm nervous. :/  I've heard turkeys are much more delicate than chicks, and I don't want to lose any. Anyone have any advice? I was planning on putting them in my outdoor brooder with the chicks. The brooder is wooden, with mesh sides and a wooden door, and the back is pushed against the corner of my house on a wall. The floor is divided in three, with two sides made of wood and the center of mesh. There is a heat lamp to one side, and I can put a blanket over the other side that is towards the corner to block any breezes. Typically, all the chicks brooded in it even from day one, don't get chilled during the day. Only on cool nights, and a blanket over the sir normally solves the problem. Will the turkeys need anything more than that? What kind of special treatment do they need? I know they need a higher protein feed, and I'm scratching my head on how to give it to only them and not the chicks.

Kuntrygirl has turkies and has raised from eggs. She can probably answer any questions you might have b

 

[PrimroseMom1]

Dogs are the same natured as chickens, some are docile and some are monsterous terrors, our Shi Tzu would tackle a grizzly just for the fun of it, unfortunately it tangled with a car and lost, our boxer, 1 &1/2 yrs might kill one playing with it,but no on purpose, he see's me spending most of my time with the chicks, so he knows they are important to me, he watch's out for other animals that come around, he weights about 90 lb so he is intimidating to about anything or anybody that comes around.

I have two small sweet dogs.

I "trained" them to be with my chickens when the chicks were small. I was holding one of the babies and my dog was sitting calmly next to me when suddenly he bit the chicks head. The chick died. I just don't trust dogs around chicks, but I do know it can happen. Angel's dog is fine with the chickens, but more dogs kill them than sit calmly with them. I think it may be the dog's nature and some dogs will hurt or chase them no matter what. I'm not saying don't try, just be super cautious. My sweet little dog bit that chick's head without warning. It really surprised me. I keep them separated now.

 

[topdog24]

Back in the day when i was growing up, our dogs and chickens were both free range, our dogs never bothered our chickens, they would on occasion eat the eggs out of the lower nest box's, that was cured with a couple of eggs doused with cyane pepper. Now days that would be called animal cruelty i guess, things have really changed in the last 50 years and not all for the best, but thats for another time and another place or page.


I have two small sweet dogs.


I "trained" them to be with my chickens when the chicks were small. I was holding one of the babies and my dog was sitting calmly next to me when suddenly he bit the chicks head. The chick died. I just don't trust dogs around chicks, but I do know it can happen. Angel's dog is fine with the chickens, but more dogs kill them than sit calmly with them. I think it may be the dog's nature and some dogs will hurt or chase them no matter what. I'm not saying don't try, just be super cautious. My sweet little dog bit that chick's head without warning. It really surprised me. I keep them separated now.