Master question thread

[mcbrown7513]

I just bought a 7 by 100 foot roll of it at Tractor Supply Company. As to where I bought my flock: the first 4 were bought from a breeder, the roos I got from a friend at church (for free), the rest came from a lady I used to buy eggs from. Asking around will lead to many different sources. Just make sure they are reputable people. Many folks try to get rid of sick or injured birds to people New to chickens..

 

[mcbrown7513]

Around $20 at TSC. Sure other hardware stores would carry it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I just bought a 7 by 100 foot roll of it at Tractor Supply Company. As to where I bought my flock: the first 4 were bought from a breeder, the roos I got from a friend at church (for free), the rest came from a lady I used to buy eggs from. Asking around will lead to many different sources. Just make sure they are reputable people. Many folks try to get rid of sick or injured birds to people New to chickens..

I'll have to look around then! a quick Google search revealed Lowe's, Home Depot, and on amazon, but I'm sure TSC would too since you got it there. Although, Google also revealed a couple BYC threads and it seems like people think rodents and predators can get through? For the garage it probably wouldn't really matter much but idk if the mice could chew right through? But oh wow, seems like you got them from varied places then seems like tons of people , maybe even most, give away roos for free or very cheap. I guess because there's so many and most people want pullets and get roos on accident. But yeah, I've heard quite a few horror stories here about CL. It's sad I got my chicks from a hatchery and probably will in the future but I may eventually buy from a breeder and/or BYC person. Eventually I'd love to try hatching myu own chicks or buying day olds and putting them under a broody but that won't be for a long time probably

 

[ShrekDawg]

Around $20 at TSC. Sure other hardware stores would carry it.

Think I might have seen similar stuff before, will have to look around. you have any problems with predators or rodents or anything?

 

[mcbrown7513]

My 2 dogs are well trained. They keep the larger ground predators away, or eat them. I have found many carcasses from their midnight hunts. I tought them that the chickens are not food. Small critters, like nice, just seem to stay away. Had one chicken snake show up about a month ago. The dogs alerted me and I killed it. As for Ariel predators, so far none. And the flock have plenty of over-head cover for protection. My pups are priceless for flock guarding.

 

[ShrekDawg]

wow, they sound like amazing dogs!! Are they LGD breeds or just smart? I'll have to train my own dog He hasn't met them yet, waiting until they're a bit bigger. I think he konws they are there though as he has smelled their litter and supplies brought in from garage and has followed my brother upstairs once but door was shut yet he seems to show no interest. Maybe he just has never seen a chicken before so doesn't know that it is something interesting. Or maybe he had chickens on his farm he came from as a pup and still remembers lol He loves to just go lay out in the yard and he barks at many many things, basically everything now to the point of annoyance (people walking by, neighbors making too much noise, etc.) so I think he would be useful. However he does chase the cat but I attribute that to lack of exercise as he hasn't really gotten any. Plus he's a bit food guardy with her but not us (well, he used to be with bones but he doesn't get those anymore plus we have worked with him a lot) only because we were pretty stupid and used to, and sometimes still do a lot, tell him the cat is nearby or the cat is gonna get his food to get him to come. He quickly learned though that it was a cruel trick so now he usually doesn't bother when we say it unless we make it seem urgent but he will still chase her away when she is near his food or just eat really fast. We're working on that. Well, not yet but we're going to. He also sometimes just chases her for fun. But again, I attribute that to both lack of exercise and lack of mental stimulation. I was doing training, both tricks and new obedience/manners stuff we didn't do, or puzzle toys and feeders, etc. etc. but haven't done any of that or exercise lately. he is a very very intelligent dog so he really needs something to do. He loves to lay outside and that seems to sometimes wear him out as it's a"job" but, again, he barks and often gets brought in. He really needs more though anyways. BUT. He's gotten really good and now will often just do a half trot thing rather than full chase to be like "ooohhh a kitty" and then I say "leave her alone" or something to that effect and he does and often comes to me or leaves the room so that is good. He knows he isn't supposed to, he's just bored out of his mind. I need to get better about exercise but he often sleeps all day so it seems he doesn't need it but he really does. He goes crazy at night often lately. I've been playing with him at night now though and making him run around, playingg tug, etc. so that helps but I'd like to start walks again. I think with the proper exercise and with time he would get bored with the chickens. Not sure about them free ranging though but I think I would supervise it or try within the run first to allow him to get bored and some training to take place (maybe get some steak or raw meat or something or play with him to help teach him that I am much much more rewarding and interesting than any chicken) before I let them loose. That would be good anyway to teach them where home is. I do worry though that with the Lab side he may be too interested. We will see though. It would have been great to get them when he was a puppy but oh well. but anyway, sorry, I'm rambling now haha

 

[mcbrown7513]

The best time to train him is now. He will adjust just fine, the chicks need exposure now though. Try putting your pup on a lead and just sit with him near the chicks. When they go outside, do the same thing but take him(?) around their run (or range area) to train this is where they belong. If one goes too far the dog should herd the chick back to it's area. Remember patience and repetitiveness is your friend when training the dog. When he shows no reaction to the chicks, take one and put it right under his nose. Treat the pup when he does what you want. Consistently expect and treat the wanted action. Being a smart dog it won't take long. It will also give him a "job". Very important for working breed dogs. He will often "patrol" his block's territory, getting excersise.

 

[aart]

wow, they sound like amazing dogs!! Are they LGD breeds or just smart? I'll have to train my own dog He hasn't met them yet, waiting until they're a bit bigger. I think he konws they are there though as he has smelled their litter and supplies brought in from garage and has followed my brother upstairs once but door was shut yet he seems to show no interest. Maybe he just has never seen a chicken before so doesn't know that it is something interesting. Or maybe he had chickens on his farm he came from as a pup and still remembers lol He loves to just go lay out in the yard and he barks at many many things, basically everything now to the point of annoyance (people walking by, neighbors making too much noise, etc.) so I think he would be useful. However he does chase the cat but I attribute that to lack of exercise as he hasn't really gotten any. Plus he's a bit food guardy with her but not us (well, he used to be with bones but he doesn't get those anymore plus we have worked with him a lot) only because we were pretty stupid and used to, and sometimes still do a lot, tell him the cat is nearby or the cat is gonna get his food to get him to come. He quickly learned though that it was a cruel trick so now he usually doesn't bother when we say it unless we make it seem urgent but he will still chase her away when she is near his food or just eat really fast. We're working on that. Well, not yet but we're going to. He also sometimes just chases her for fun. But again, I attribute that to both lack of exercise and lack of mental stimulation. I was doing training, both tricks and new obedience/manners stuff we didn't do, or puzzle toys and feeders, etc. etc. but haven't done any of that or exercise lately. he is a very very intelligent dog so he really needs something to do. He loves to lay outside and that seems to sometimes wear him out as it's a"job" but, again, he barks and often gets brought in. He really needs more though anyways. BUT. He's gotten really good and now will often just do a half trot thing rather than full chase to be like "ooohhh a kitty" and then I say "leave her alone" or something to that effect and he does and often comes to me or leaves the room so that is good. He knows he isn't supposed to, he's just bored out of his mind. I need to get better about exercise but he often sleeps all day so it seems he doesn't need it but he really does. He goes crazy at night often lately. I've been playing with him at night now though and making him run around, playingg tug, etc. so that helps but I'd like to start walks again. I think with the proper exercise and with time he would get bored with the chickens. Not sure about them free ranging though but I think I would supervise it or try within the run first to allow him to get bored and some training to take place (maybe get some steak or raw meat or something or play with him to help teach him that I am much much more rewarding and interesting than any chicken) before I let them loose. That would be good anyway to teach them where home is. I do worry though that with the Lab side he may be too interested. We will see though. It would have been great to get them when he was a puppy but oh well. but anyway, sorry, I'm rambling now haha

Just curious, tho your sentence structure is pretty good you use no paragraph breaks in your lengthy writings, which I find very difficult to read.....
.....do you also speak without taking a breath? Truly curious, and not meaning to be snarky, but maybe teasing a bit.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The best time to train him is now. He will adjust just fine, the chicks need exposure now though. Try putting your pup on a lead and just sit with him near the chicks. When they go outside, do the same thing but take him(?) around their run (or range area) to train this is where they belong. If one goes too far the dog should herd the chick back to it's area. Remember patience and repetitiveness is your friend when training the dog. When he shows no reaction to the chicks, take one and put it right under his nose. Treat the pup when he does what you want. Consistently expect and treat the wanted action. Being a smart dog it won't take long. It will also give him a "job". Very important for working breed dogs. He will often "patrol" his block's territory, getting excersise.

Yeah, I figured before I got them that it would be best to do it while they were still little so he could get used to them while they grow and be bored by the time they go outside but then now that I have them I'm so scared he's going to hurt them. I will try the leash thing though and plenty of treats. But so since you mention him herding them back, I'm assuming you mean that I should try letting him actually get close? Because I was so nervous I was going to try him seeing them through the barricade. But I guess he should get used to touching them too. Maybe I'll see how it goes with him just seeing them first then let him in. I figured he might like the job aspect though. and if he's too rough with chickens then maybe next year I'll add goats. unfortunately though we only have around 3 acres (I think it's technically 2.7) and a bunch is woods so there's not tons of room to patrol. We used to just let him loose but he always ran off so now he's been on a long rope since last year. It goes to most of the yard and he likes to lay down on a hill or in the dirt and watch everything but he can't get to most of the edges. He does try to patrol though, especially when there have been animals overnight. I may start taking him on a normal walking leash or our 50 foot hiking one (I call it.hiking but really it's just for the cranberry bogs or pond, etc., anywhere that's not a normal road) and letting him patrol in addition to the walks. I think that would make him happy especially since the animals tend to go where he can't reach. But when he picks up a predator, which doesn't happen too often but has lately, usually in the morning, he runs all over the place, pacing back and forth, tracking and backtracking, running around, etc., very agitated but excited I guess. And usually marks over it. He definitely acts more like the Pyrenees side, besides loving everyone and being playful, and it's very interesting. Anyway, he can't patrol on his own since the yard isn't fenced. But I think taking him on a patrol morning and possibly night of at least the yard and maybe the woods as well as a normal walk might be.fun for him. Might actually let him do his job instead of feeling so limited. And will try allowing him to meet the chicks.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Just curious,  tho your sentence structure is pretty good you use no paragraph breaks in your lengthy writings, which I find very difficult to read.....
.....do you also speak without taking a breath? Truly curious, and not meaning to be snarky, but maybe teasing a bit.

It's okay, I knew what you meant!

Sorry for.making it hard to read though. :/

Actually, I do tend to talk really fast once I get excited/onto a topic lol and I talk a while xD

I think my problem with both writing and speaking is that I simply constantly think of new stuff and rather than finishing what I was saying and then adding it, I just add it right there. Which leads to confusion and problems. This is evidenced by the fact that I do sometimes put paragraphs in if I think about it or it's distinct enough yet in this case I didn't and was jumping all over the place because I thought of stuff to add and then I guess lost my place. My other problem is I don't proofread. I just type what I think as I think it which also causes problems. Rereading what I wrote just now after you said that, it became clear what you were talking about and what I mentioned with the.jumping all over. It also became clear where tue paragraphs should be. So perhaps the answer is to just slow down, breathe, and proofread things before I post them.

But yes, sometimes I forget to breathe when I tell stories.

And usually they're long.... You.got 5 hours?

(Okay, not near that long but you get the idea i'm sure)