***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

True5, Leave the egg in the hatcher. I put eggs in a modified egg carton. I cut a small hole in the bottom of the cups so air flow is not impeded. I then set the eggs narrow end down just like in the turner. The carton can be cut in to a 2 x 3 (6 cell). This keeps the air cell on top and the eggs don't get rolled around like footballs by the chicks that hatch first.
Since the egg may have a little more liquid than the others, if the chick opens the air hole and is rolled, the fluid could seep into the air cell and drown the chick. In an upright position, the chick has a fighting chance.

 

[greenbeetle]

Hope everyone stays safe if you have to get out in this mess, it is freezing rain here in Broken Arrow...

 

[cathiesue]

Snow started a few minutes ago up here in Collinsville. Stay safe.

 

[NanaKat]

Freezing mix here....started about 3:30 this morning. That dry front sure tossed the prediction around. Waiting to see what happens.
We are going out to cube feed the cows when it slows down a bit.
Stay warm everyone.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

HELP!!!! DOG PROBLEMS

I have a 2 year old Great Pyranese black Lab mix. It's taken months but we've trained him that the chickens belong and he watches them very carefully. Keeps the cats away, keeps hawks away. He's quite attentive. Most of the time he is laying out there and the dumb chickens are crawling all over him. He lets them eat his food and there favorite place is in his dog house. But sometimes, out of the blue he will start chasing them. Twice he has gotten one. He doesn't injure them. Just catches them, holds them down. Yesterday he did this and grabbed it and held it in his mouth. I had to open his jaws to let the chicken out. It wasn't hurt and after it rejoined the group I can't tell which one he got. I don't know what is setting him off. This particular time the chicken was outside the fence. Maybe he was trying to get it to go back in. Idk. I can chain him up when they are out but the crazy chicken won't stay out of his house and food. For that matter they basically walk into his mouth. Help! Any suggestions?

I don't know much about LGD or GP in particular but I've had lots of Labs and lab mixes. It takes labs quite awhile to get out of the puppy stage. This sounds to me like playing behavior, and can be trained out of him with time and patience. There is a LGD thread here on BYC!

 

[miohippus]

x2

 

[mskitn]

So true!

I would never leave him chained up. I love him to death. I just meant when I let the chickens out for awhile each day.

 

[mskitn]

I don't know much about LGD or GP in particular but I've had lots of Labs and lab mixes.  It takes labs quite awhile to get out of the puppy stage.  This sounds to me like playing behavior, and can be trained out of him with time and patience.  There is a LGD thread here on BYC!

Thanks, his behavior is very playful. We will just keep working with him. I don't want to separate him completely because he seems to see them as his job. He is very protective. Until he gets that look in his eye, like oooo a toy!

 

[Chickenfan4life]

Quote: We had to renovate our fence after a lawnmower accident >.<, so our dogs got used to "tie-outs" which are cables staked in the ground set a distance from each other so they don't get tangled. This was just so they could potty without us holding their leashes the whole time.

Anyways, the dogs were out for about 20 minutes on tie-outs, then brought back inside. They did just fine.

I have a problem with dogs who live on chains. It's sad.

 

[mskitn]

I

I have a GP mix that watches over my flock and sometimes she'll put one between her paws and start licking it.  Yuk.  Her biggest problem is running off if she gets a chance to get out and won't call back and just forgets her job.  I don't have any suggestions, except if u don't want her with the chickens, find somewhere else to put her.  Chaining one up is never an option for me.  They become resentful and mre aggressive and since they are pack animals and u take them from their pack whatever it is, family kids, chickens, etc, it is just plain cruel.  I am not sorry if I have offended anyone about chaining dogs.  How would you like it 24/7.  Why have a dog?  It's just cruel and breaks my heart when I see them out all the time with no contact except to e fed.

would never leave him chained. I said when the chickens were out. You know for a bit each day. I can't leave them out and him out and have him accidentally kill one. I'm afraid he would start killing the neighborhood chickens. Then he would get shot. I needed advice not scolding. Thanks anyway.