So, my dog got the last batch of chicks, at 4 weeks old . . . what a waste, 25 layin chicks, 10 cornishx, and 3 poults.
Tomoro I finish my new chainlink chicken yard, which is huge . . . bigger than some peoples backyards(my buddy is a little jealous).
I aint letting the dog get these chickens this time, he can gnaw on that fence till his teeth fall out . . .
Last weekend, day after the slaughter, my buddies mom went and bought me more chicks, she got me some BRs, RIRs, EEs, and Dels.
She also ordered us some heritage poults, royal palms and blue slates, and 4 BB poults to round it out.
So BAM, instant flock again . . .
But I was missin my welsummers, I want some dark eggs.
All the hatcheries are sold out till May, so I figured I would have to go without . . .
But yesterday, on my way home from work I decided to stop in to the feed store close to my house and see what they had, they ended up having welsummers!!!
So, I bought 8 . . .
Then today, while acquiring my new batch of 20 cornishx at the far feed store, I noticed they had 4 cuckoo maran chicks left in a bin.
Well, they looked so lonely I took them home as well, along with 2 BB poults.
So, one week after the "Great Chicken Massacre of '10", I have my exact flock back right now, with the addition of 10 more cornishx, and the marans!
And there are still, I think, 6 or 10 more poults coming hopefully this week!
There is No Way that my dog can get thru this fence, it goes from the house to the property-line-fence in chainlink with 2x6 across the bottom, 1.25" poultry stapled, 5' high, and will have a heavy duty door.
I left the posts long, just in case I need to add some chicken wire for added height.
I also have a row of bricks cemented along the outside bottom, just in case my jack russell tries to dig in.
I was able to use the part of my yard with sprinklers, so hopefully its big enough keep some grass growing this summer.
There is not gonna be a top or cover to this chicken yard, there is just no way its too big.
I live in the city(well cityish part of the county) and with all the trees and houses around, a hawk would have a hard time spotting the chickens.
I do think I will build a small lean-to/shade area in the middle just in case, then they can run under it.
But I really dont think hawks will be a problem.
I have seen a coon here 1x, and my JRT had it on its back by its throat, I kicked it across the yard,and have never seen any more animals back there since, even the squirrels stay in the trees.
I dont know if most people can fully appreciate the desire of a JRT to kill, especially when hes always been trained and encouraged to do so, it gives a whole new meaning to the word "determined" . . .
My dog dont mess around, but neither do I.
The shock collar has a fresh battery, and 3 backups . . .
I shall get some pics of the new chicken yard tomoro, hopefully after the door is built and the coop in place.
Anyways,
The point of my story, is that I learned a hard lesson, I of all people under-estimated my own dog, and wont let it happen again.
I had to buy all my chickens twice, thats once too many if you ask me.
I am very very glad I happened upon the welsummers and marans, that makes me really happy.
I am even getting some heritage turkeys out of all this!
Half of the 36 layin hens, all the heritage turkeys, and maybe the BB turkeys are going to my buddies moms coop up the road in Auburn, as she has no restriction on anything, I cant have all those chickens and dont think turkeys are a good idea here long-term, maybe the BBs for their short lives would be ok.
The 20 cornishx will be gone b4 anyone knows they were here at all, except for my full freezer and grubbin BBQs this summer. . .
Thats my story, Im just happy about my new flock, and excited about my new fence . . .
Tomoro I finish my new chainlink chicken yard, which is huge . . . bigger than some peoples backyards(my buddy is a little jealous).
I aint letting the dog get these chickens this time, he can gnaw on that fence till his teeth fall out . . .
Last weekend, day after the slaughter, my buddies mom went and bought me more chicks, she got me some BRs, RIRs, EEs, and Dels.
She also ordered us some heritage poults, royal palms and blue slates, and 4 BB poults to round it out.
So BAM, instant flock again . . .
But I was missin my welsummers, I want some dark eggs.
All the hatcheries are sold out till May, so I figured I would have to go without . . .
But yesterday, on my way home from work I decided to stop in to the feed store close to my house and see what they had, they ended up having welsummers!!!
So, I bought 8 . . .
Then today, while acquiring my new batch of 20 cornishx at the far feed store, I noticed they had 4 cuckoo maran chicks left in a bin.
Well, they looked so lonely I took them home as well, along with 2 BB poults.
So, one week after the "Great Chicken Massacre of '10", I have my exact flock back right now, with the addition of 10 more cornishx, and the marans!
And there are still, I think, 6 or 10 more poults coming hopefully this week!
There is No Way that my dog can get thru this fence, it goes from the house to the property-line-fence in chainlink with 2x6 across the bottom, 1.25" poultry stapled, 5' high, and will have a heavy duty door.
I left the posts long, just in case I need to add some chicken wire for added height.
I also have a row of bricks cemented along the outside bottom, just in case my jack russell tries to dig in.
I was able to use the part of my yard with sprinklers, so hopefully its big enough keep some grass growing this summer.
There is not gonna be a top or cover to this chicken yard, there is just no way its too big.
I live in the city(well cityish part of the county) and with all the trees and houses around, a hawk would have a hard time spotting the chickens.
I do think I will build a small lean-to/shade area in the middle just in case, then they can run under it.
But I really dont think hawks will be a problem.
I have seen a coon here 1x, and my JRT had it on its back by its throat, I kicked it across the yard,and have never seen any more animals back there since, even the squirrels stay in the trees.
I dont know if most people can fully appreciate the desire of a JRT to kill, especially when hes always been trained and encouraged to do so, it gives a whole new meaning to the word "determined" . . .
My dog dont mess around, but neither do I.
The shock collar has a fresh battery, and 3 backups . . .
I shall get some pics of the new chicken yard tomoro, hopefully after the door is built and the coop in place.
Anyways,
The point of my story, is that I learned a hard lesson, I of all people under-estimated my own dog, and wont let it happen again.
I had to buy all my chickens twice, thats once too many if you ask me.
I am very very glad I happened upon the welsummers and marans, that makes me really happy.
I am even getting some heritage turkeys out of all this!
Half of the 36 layin hens, all the heritage turkeys, and maybe the BB turkeys are going to my buddies moms coop up the road in Auburn, as she has no restriction on anything, I cant have all those chickens and dont think turkeys are a good idea here long-term, maybe the BBs for their short lives would be ok.
The 20 cornishx will be gone b4 anyone knows they were here at all, except for my full freezer and grubbin BBQs this summer. . .
Thats my story, Im just happy about my new flock, and excited about my new fence . . .
