OHio ~ Come on Buckeyes, let me know your out there!

[Marengoite]

Your rooster killed a CROW!?? Wow! That is impressive! This may sound morbid, but I would have loved to have seen him in action...what a good boy!

I'm still trying to figure out the best fit for me when it comes to guard duty. I have alot of bold coyotes and tons of raccoons. No losses yet (Praise God) and I want my stats to stay that way! I tried a puppy that was sure to grow into an awesome LGD but quickly learned that my judgment was poor on that one - gave her away to be a pampered family dog...so now I'm hedging between llama (my property is entirely fenced in) or a REAL LGD...although the thoughts of maybe losing a chicken or two in the training process does not appeal to me. Any ideas??

Oh! Best starter-chickens? Silkies, of course! And I just happen to have a PLETHORA of chicks/eggs available!

For layers I just love my Buff Orp - gentle, loves attention and consistently lays monster brown eggs. Barred Rock for the same reason...and you have to have a few EE for a dash of color...

Have you considered goats? Some of them can be a handful for a coyote, plus you have the added benefit of meat and free landscaping.

 

[mandelyn]

I was up at the last Ceasar's Creek swap of the season to sell some birds, and I bought two beautiful pullets that are HUGE! The seller was super friendly in a BYC way, I wonder who they were? So if you sold a Black Star and a Dekaulb Amberlink last Sunday, Hi!

Small crowd up there, I would have thought there would be more action with it being the last one and feed prices going up. I went to one of the earlier ones a couple years ago and it was jammed. Just as well, I was there to sell. But then I sold out fast and couldn't stand going home empty. Darn chicken math!

My German Shepherds have been great guards. The girl will eat a chicken if left with them, but we have no coons, cats, coyote, or fox cruising our yard. No deer either, though deer jump the fences a couple of houses down where there is a lack of dogs. The poor wildlife, we're urban but have most everything.

Donkeys are good for chasing out coyote.

 

[mstricer]

Do any of you guys sell eggs and what are you charging? We were charging 1.50 per dozen, 1.25 each for two dozen or more. Originally, people were looking at us like they thought that was expensive. Now, people are beginning to ask us for eggs, and they're looking at us like they think that's cheap. Ohio is notoriously cheap, so what d'ya think?

I'm in West Salem, most eggs are around 2$ a dozen. I sell mine for 2.50 at work. I do more hatching then selling of eating eggs. I would raise your price. Just explain to them the price of feed has gone up, and that they will pay more in the store for the same egg. Look at the prices at Walmart, most free ranged eggs are 4 to 5$ dozen.

 

[JulB]

The tsc store in medina is having a animal/ tack swap this Saturday from 9-3. Might try to get there.

 

[mstricer]

Quote: Here is my puppy, I am training her to guard our chickens, she has not killed any of my birds, she is always on leash when outside. She does chase our 3 turkeys, but I think they secretly like it, they keep coming bake. She does think chicks are squecky toys still, but we are working on it. What my Pyr does, along with others I've heard of, is practically molest the birds with her nose. (She gooses people to, not good, at little over 5 months she is at least 70 lbs this picture is a little older but you get the picture

 

[Nsampsel]

The tsc store in medina is having a animal/ tack swap this Saturday from 9-3. Might try to get there.

The TSC in Coshocton is having their Animal Swap the same day same time.

 

[blessedchick]

Here is my puppy, I am training her to guard our chickens, she has not killed any of my birds, she is always on leash when outside. She does chase our 3 turkeys, but I think they secretly like it, they keep coming bake. She does think chicks are squecky toys still, but we are working on it. What my Pyr does, along with others I've heard of, is practically molest the birds with her nose. (She gooses people to, not good, at little over 5 months she is at least 70 lbs this picture is a little older but you get the picture

What a beautiful pup! I'm still so nervous about getting a dog since I have so many chicks...I have a friend who raises llamas and she is going to bring one over for me to "test drive". It will be interesting to see what my horses think of it since they are even petrified of deer. I know when a deer has leapt into the pasture 'cuz the horses are plastered to the gate! I will let everyone know if this llama venture works out...

 

[mstricer]

Thank you. Yes you have to watch the chicks. They like to stick their noses right up the bottoms ans sniff the poop out of them. I always have her leashed up when around them.

 

[MightyMaran]

I am in Gallia County Ohio. I am new to chickens, only have 3 hens and 1 rooster so far. I am looking to expand my flock with some Buff Orphingtons next year. I currently have a Black Copper Maran Rooster, 2 Black Copper Maran hens, and 1 Splash. When I got them, the Splash had the feathers missing on her back from being with to many roosters, the feathers are almost fully back in on her. I have read about molting in chickens, I am not sure when they molt but the rooster has started loosing his tail feathers ( I am going to try to post pictures of what I am talking about ). When do chickens molt in Ohio? I have looked for mites both when I got the chickens and when I noticed the rooster loosing some of his tail feathers and when mitzy started showing some thinning in feathers just above her tail feathers.

 

[ketcham]

Not sure when chickens molt,,,seen some rough looking chickens at a neighbors house...not sure what the deal was...mite,rooster or molting...still to much of a newbie...Never got this far last year...Mine got whack by coons in mid July...8 and 1 died a day later.Now I have 15 well fed and fat hens that are doing great!!! Getting 13 to 14 eggs a day.Yesterday went 15 for 15!!!!! So Iknow I have no slackers in the group!!! Winter is going to be interesting!!!! I have bushes to keep the north winds down,,,high trees to the west...Coop faces east....high ventilation,,door to get in and out..West has a 18 inch wire opening at the top,,,going tocut that to a smaller opening for winter...What kind of water heater and is it in the coop or outside????? Rather it be outside,,,cut down on the 'girls" making a mess inside.Straw inside on floor ,,pine shavings in laying boxes.Remarks???? Thanks ,,,,Kevin