Mahonri's 3rd Annual, BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[cowchick11]

Punked Eggs!!! they are awesome! AK M.

I will candle either tonight or tomorrow. Depends if anyone will write for me while I candle. Contest are looking good, I'll have to see what I have for the calendar!

 

[Cynthia12]

Ok Spangled...if you see this in your reply post...

don't hit the submit button...if you see this in your reply post...

HIT the reply button..

this..

Don't ~ this..

~ do.. this don't ~

this do ~

this don't ~

this do ~

this don't ~

No, wait...this..oh well, ya got it??

 

[Razadia]

I'm gone for the day and yall act crazy without me. I won't be on much tomorrow if at all. I have a first bday party to go to and lots of swimming to do.

 

[SherrieT]

Had to toss another BC Marans egg. Another stinker. That is the 2nd one from the same breeder. Makes me wonder how old these eggs were

 

[AK Michelle]

A K Michelle, I talked to a breeder about Great Pyr pups today, and she told me that they might eat my chickens... What do you think? My dogs are great with the chooks, even the baby chicks, I would think a new pup brought into our mix would mimic their behavior.

It is possible, Guardian dogs start out as puppies. Puppies play with things, even animals they are supposed to be guarding. My pups are never allowed to be alone with the birds, the older one is just 8 months old. Although he can be mature, he still is basically a rowdy teenager and will pounce on things just because he can. that's not a problem if he pounces on a ball or sticks, it's a big problem if he pounces on a bird.

Both the dogs come in the barn, in the people area only, and have no interest whatsoever in the birds. Which I take as a good sign. I have gotten baby chicks out and held them for "Inspection" all the while telling them to be easy and that the chicks are mine. The dogs are desensitized to all the flapping and squawking, but get very interested when the flock is upset. I moved a silkie hen out of the layer pen into a breeding pen with the silkie roo. About 15 minutes later she started squawking, not the egg song, but a "hey, I can't get out, I'm not where I belong, where is everyone? Help Me.." type squawk. This got the whole barn screaming right along with her. It was almost like a panic sound. The dogs, although outside, were right at the door trying to figure out what was wrong inside the barn. I'm sure they were a little confused as the birds were panicked but we told them everything was ok. 10 minutes later it all stopped, everyone relaxed the silkie either got over it or forgot why she was upset.

My point is, these dogs are smart, they want to protect, but they need to be taught who to protect and how to behave. My dogs get lessons in come, sit, stay and leave it. They know what it means when I say STOP and the big one has proven he understands what a threat is and how to handle it. But he is still just a big kid.

When I brought home the 2nd pup, he puts his mouth all over her. He knows he is not supposed to mouth or chew on me, my clothes, my tools, or my birds. But it doesn't stop him from biting and chewing on the new puppy. I worried at first, but the breeder said not to. She said they will do that and she will stop him. And she does. When she's had enough of being a chew toy she gets all burly, which is crazy funny since her whole body is the size of his head. but he teaches her too. When she attacks him he falls over like a wounded soldier and lets her go for the kill. He has soooooo much hair she could never damage him, but it's hysterical to watch. He is a big gentle bear with her but the same type of play would kill a chicken.

I will take my time with these dogs. I will continue to train them. They have strict rules. They are not allowed play or rough house in the barn. They are not allowed to put their mouths on any one, or any thing, except dog toys and each other. If they do it is corrected fast and definite. They are allowed to see and smell the birds all the time, through a fence. And that is how it will be until I know they can be trusted. Probably not till they are 16 months old. If I had sheep or goats it would probably be sooner, as the sheep and goats would fight back, and correct a pushy dog.

Since I only have birds, I worked with the breeders in both instances to get dogs with temperaments that are suited to guarding birds. Now I need to do my part and raise them right, teach them to be good guardians. If you have other dogs that do not harm your birds that will help, as these dogs are super smart and learn by watching. Dogs learn much from us, we are the leader of their pack. We can make them or break them.

Part of my research was reading a book that I bought online. It had lots of info on how to train LGDs and some great info on how to correct some problem behaviors as the author works with rehabing the rescues that were left on their own, with little or no supervision and ended up killing the animals they were to be caring for.

Sorry for the long post. I love my LGDs and I believe, for me, they will be a terrific solution. But they are a lot of work in the beginning if you want to have a fail safe program in the end.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Gooooood morning, hatchers.

 

[AK Michelle]

SCG is up already and I'm hoping I can go to bed soon... Just waiting for BFF to come get her toddler who is taking up my whole bed

 

[superchemicalgirl]

SCG is up already and I'm hoping I can go to bed soon... Just waiting for BFF to come get her toddler who is taking up my whole bed

I'm only up cause I have to go to work.

Your eggs, they're rock stars!

Imagine that's one of the first things I saw today.... It's gunna be a GOOD day.

 

[featherz]

Gooooood morning, hatchers.

Good morning!!! Got up at 4ish, as usual and been bustling around. Did a quick candle and pulled one more shipped egg as a quitter, but the rest are still going strong...!

 

[PollyC]

Good morning. Just finished bottled feeding the two baby piglets so now I can have a cup of coffee. It is chilly this morning, my man just took off with a friend for the first day of open water fishing on their favorite lake. I would have gone but I am going to the local chicken swap this morning. As of last night I have 10 new chcikies , hoping I get more but will settle for the 10 if that is to be. Everyone have a great day.