Maine

[buckabucka]

I would be discouraged too, suzMEchicks!

It does not seem right that you can't keep chickens because the neighbors can't control their dog. You could ask them for compensation, but that doesn't solve your problem. I worry about the neighborhood dogs here, too, but repeat offenders would make me act a lot less neighborly.

 

[lazy gardener]

We just got our first egg from one of our leg horns this morning!exciting stuff!

Congrats on your leghorn egg. How old is she? My RCBL are 16 weeks old now, and at least one of them is showing a lot of growth and red in wattles and comb .

Congrats on the first egg! Always exciting.

I recently moved my 10+ week old chicks to a sectioned off area in the coop. My intention was to put half the chicks in with one flock, and half with the other. I put the first lavender Ameraucana pullet in the pen, and the Ameraucana rooster did a little dance at her. I was walking away to get another pullet, when suddenly the rooster went ballistic, charging the chicken wire pen over and over. The pullet was trying to fight back, and I was worried he would kill her. He would not let up, and I had to kick him outdoors, to retrieve the little pullet. The rooster never shows any aggression towards me, but he seemed to think this little pullet was a serious invader.

I decided to put the pullet in the pen with the Basque rooster. He also did a little dance, but that was it. Every time I came in with another pullet, I had to shove it under some chicken wire, so the pullet would squawk. The basque rooster would come running at me, to protect the bird. He never touched me (I think he knows better), but he was very protective of these new pullets, so I'm letting his flock keep all of them. Unfortunately, I think I'll be doing in this Basque rooster to make room for the golden cuckoo. I could make room for another flock, technically, but I'm already overrun here.

If you really want to have the Ameraucana rooster with the Ameraucana chicks, perhaps you could leave them with the basque until they reach sexual maturity, then move the Ameraucana roo in with them, so he'll be entering new territory, You could give him a mature hen to focus his attention on at the same time.

I don't know if anyone would remember my troubles with the dogs in my neighborhood. I used to let my chickens free range but the dog next door had gotten lose and attacked them 4 times. So I put up a fence for them. Basically to keep them out of trouble. A 75 foot square area . The dog officer had gone to warn them and things have been fine for a couple months. I just left for vacation this morning. My husband is watching the chickens for a week. I call this afternoon to check in and I immediately know something is wrong. The dog on the other side escaped the electric fence and dug under my chickens enclosure and got 2 of them and scared the others so they didnt come home for a long time. He says the black (sexlink) has no tail feathers. It's down to the nub but no blood. I hope they don't start pecking at her. The RIR got shocked he said but later she perked up. I wasnt even gone a day yet. I'm discouraged.

I would be more than discouraged. I'd be livid. I'd be seeking compensation, as well as filing a complaint with ACO and a police report. Can you run an electric wire around your run? Run it about 4" above the ground, and perhaps an other one or two 8" apart above that one. You can get a charger that will run off household current or off a "car" battery.

 

[suzMEchicks]

My first thiught is Im getting 3 noisy roosters ! My problem is I'm gone. First day of vacation. I would go home but I have paid for a lot of things already. I will have to deal with it next week. I am going to everyone' who has a dog in this neighborhood and we are going to have a serious talk. If that doesnt work there will be hell to pay. I'm mad now. I just feel bad for my girls and Im not there. Yes. I guess I'll have to beef up the fortress !!!!

 

[lazy gardener]

If only I'd had this conversation with you before today. All of my roosters have gone to freezer camp, otherwise, I surely could have provided some very noisy specimens of "manhood" for you. As of today, I have one rooster left, and he'd better be on his best behavior!!!!! He's seen what happens to the naughty boys!

 

[MustardTiger]

I would certainly let all your neighbors aware of the LAW regarding their dogs attacking your chickens. If it happens again Id call animal control. If they catch the dog there are large fines the owner would have to pay to get them out of the pound. I would also ask for compensation for your birds. It is their responsibility to pay for them under the law.

My neighbours dog has attacked my chickens twice. Only once did it ever end in a fatality. I would not hesitate to call AC on those dogs.

 

[The100AcreWood]

@lazy gardener they are 16 weeks! I have 3 more leghorn that looks quite ready and I have 3 red stars that I'd guess would be soon too they started squatting and they've developed quite fast.

 

[buckabucka]

Thanks LG, for the advice about moving the Ameraucana roo around. I may do that, but I'm also mulling over the idea of replacing him. I have a young lavender cockerel. I'm waiting until he is bigger to judge his character.

The adult lavender is excellent with people, but sometimes he is too rough with the hens. Normally, when a hen escapes over the fence and I have to catch them and throw them back, most of my roosters will give the hen a disciplinary peck on the head. DH caught a hen and watched this guy jump on her and peck her head until her comb started to bleed. She was fine, but it seemed excessive.

He is very defensive and beat up the Basque roo through the fence (the previous now deceased lavender never did that). We hung a visual barrier which fixed things, but yesterday he managed to break through some deer fence outdoors and have at it with the Basque again. I found them before any real damage was done.

I think a defensive rooster is good, but I'm starting to get annoyed with this guy. I'm going to have lots of rooster decisions to make come fall.....

 

[The100AcreWood]

While on the topic of roosters- we have been considering adding one to the flock. However, we also keep our guineas with the hens in the coop. Do you think that would end in a problem? We have 4 guineas and 6 hens. We have room for a roo for sure. Also, any breed better than another as far as they go? (This is our first year with chickens!)

 

[suzMEchicks]

LOL about rooster freezer camp! My husband says the black chicken that lost her tail is not up with the others and not eating and drinking as far as he can see. Probably in shock. I told him to let the others out so she can rest if she wants to be alone. This neighbor is not a thoughtless jerk like the ones on the other side. Her dog jumped past the electric fence. Springer spaniel . She loves my chickens and always bring them apples and heads of cabbage etc. she feels really bad. I'm sorryy husband has the possibility of dealing with a dead chicken. On a positive note, upper state NY is very pretty.

 

[The100AcreWood]

I have another question while I'm thinking of it! We had our leg horn lay her(and our!) First egg yesterday. They are all on finisher food (we just bought a huge bag for them and and the guineas.) Do we need to swap to layer even though some ate not laying and oyster shells? I know know the laying girl will need them but what if the others get into it as well? Thank you! Still a newbie here!