Newbie with a Question

[newtxchick]

Hi I joined about a year ago, but we're finally getting some chickens!

A few questions:

1) whats your favorite egg laying breed (how many a week)
2) do you vaccinate?
3) how do your dogs do with chickens? we will have a chicken tractor but we have a year old lab and my husband is actually worried his hunting dog will be "ruined". I think I read they should do fine.......but curious on feedback

We're getting 3 red star sex links slightly older (ready to lay in about a month), and then 3 barred rocks.

Would love any input on those breeds and others!

Built our own coop and my kids are ready to help out!

 

[alaskanchickens]

Sex links are good producers! We have 6 Black sex links and even in mid winter in Alaska we will get 4-5 eggs a day from them. We have a lab who is bird crazy but she knows the difference between chickens and grouse. My husband takes her out a lot less than he used to, shes 9 now, and she will sit shaking waiting for the gun to go off and the release to go get the bird. With the chickens she will literally let them walk on her when she's laying in the sun. Every dog is different though so I would keep an eye out. Maybe a few extra hunts around the time you get the chickens will help. We have quite a few different breeds so I really can't tell you a favorite, I like them all! The sex links are by far though, some of our best layers followed closely by Buff orpingtons and then Easter eggers.

 

[Mrs. K]

My son in law's hunting lab, thinks he has gone to bird paradise when he comes to the ranch. He barks and barks at them, but unless I go down to the hen house, he seems to leave them alone. I do have to keep them penned up when he comes.

My Australian Shepard has never bothered them, but not sure if that is a good thing. For the last year, I have had terrible predator loss, and think it is a coyote...... sometimes wonder if the girls ignore the coyote, thinking it is the dog.... until it is too late.

MK

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Red Stars and Barred Rocks are the way to go! I worm my flock twice a year. They say to work often like every other month but id onto and I never have problems. I have a German Shepard who is fine with the chickens, you just have to train them.