San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[dfdesigns]

That's a good point. Whatever we get, it will have to be a puppy.

Chicken chat: My little blue and black Ameraucanas are over 8 weeks now... should I be able to start telling gender? It does look like two of them are starting to sport more of a comb than the others... Also, I started off with two of them looking visually blue, but now only one looks blue. Is this normal?

In my two remaining broody chicks, both were out of my clean-faced EE's green eggs. One is a little flashier (but still partridge colored) and has a three row pea comb coming in. The other is a pullet; I'm pretty sure. Due to their speckled coloring, I'm thinking the daddy is my Speckled Sussex roo.

I will probably be looking to rehome a few boys soon - the EE/SS boy (8 weeks), a black Am roo (if indeed I have two) and the established SS roo. (I'd like to keep one black or blue AM roo in his place.) If anybody has any interest, please let me know. I'll try to get some current pictures soon.

Dana

 

[CoastalChick]

Dana,
Sorry about the loss of your hens!
My husband (who grew up in an area of NM w/lots of coyotes) suggested getting 2 female - sisters? - blue heeler crosses if there are any at the shelter. Because they are smaller the coyotes will leave them alone if there are 2 of them. The hair length will depend on what other breed/s they were crossed with & they are good at keeping track of their pack/flock/herd/family. Just thought I'd put it out there - 2 is probably more than you wanted & who knows what the shelter will have? Good luck with the search for the perfect dog!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I've heard that the Blue and Black Ameraucanas are REALLY hard to sex... good luck!

 

[perchie.girl]

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Believe it or not Rottweilers are pretty good in all those categories. As long as you get a well bred one. Historically they were bred as an all purpose dog Mainly for herding. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rottweiler They were used also as cart dogs to haul meat for butchers.

I had a horse trainer friend who had her rottie at the ranch with her all the time. Katie was friendly to everyone but not overly so. When Sue put her on her personal tack room porch and told her to stay OMG dont touch the porch door. She would first stand and stare then if you got closer she would give you a warning bark. I asked Sue if she was guard dog trained and she said this: "When I got her as a puppy I asked the vet about that. He said Obedience only Guard dog training is like putting bullets in the gun. They naturally protect their pack Which includes all your family and pets."

Sue then went on to say is that one time her cat had kittens One day Katie was on the living room floor licking something between her paws. And there was a two week old kitten with all its fur combed backwards. She would go and get a kitten and "clean it up" I guess momma cat wasnt doing her job.... LOL. She had to lock the door to the bedroom. Her kids at the time were six and seven years old.

Edited to add:

I think I just convinced myself on my own next dog... Either a Rottie or Rottie cross (depending on what its crossed with)

 

[chef glenn]

Wow, now I don't have horses but that sounds like the perfect dog!

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[WhiteMountainsRanch]

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That's Maya to a tea!

 

[flower]

I have friend who has four rotties and they are great family dogs. I don't know about shedding though. But I have the very worst type for shedding. german shepherd. I would not recommend a dog that is bred for herding because they always want to round up the chickens. I'm not kidding I had a catolian once and she loved to herd them into a bunch. Thank you very much but the chickens do not want to go pecking when the dogs is seriously grouping them together.

I wanted to mention that if you do look at rescue dogs, avoid a place in Devore, Ca like a plague. She takes in Great Pyrenees and you will get sick of heart if you go there. I did. She has too many large dogs to care for them and the place is filthy including the dogs.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

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I don't remember the name but I do remember reading a few articles about this one "rescue" place here in So Cal that was taking in large dogs under the guise of a "rescue" and "adopting" them out for purebred dog prices, they were a scam, I don't know if they are still in business though.

 

[dfdesigns]

Thank you guys for not minding me going off on a majorly off-topic dog discussion! I really do appreciate all the input.

Are Blue Heelers at all related to Aussies? Aussies are so great with horses, but OH so hairy. Smart little dogs!

If Rotties are good, I wonder if Boxers would be as well? I do love Boxers. We always had them when I was growing up, but we lived at the beach (without chickens) and my horse was boarded. The one thing that gives me pause is my parent's dog... she is half Dalmatian and half Boxer - a better small game hunter I've never seen. She would love nothing more than to eat my chickens! They got her as a two year old rescue, so I have no idea what she would have been like if raised with chicks. On the flip side, my parents have zero squirrels or rabbits raiding their gardens...

Dana

 

[SunValleySeramas]

Boxers are the most stable of the group, super playful and goofey dogs, Rotties are somewhat unpradictable depending on the bloodlines and the breeder you get them from, there are acceptions to the breed. For he most part the rott is a guard dog, they take their job seriously. Queensland heelers and australian cattle dogs are the same dog, some will say teo different breeds but it is like compairing a valencia orange with a navel orange They tend to be pretty unstable individules that are true to one person, not always the best with kids, lots of energy. Australian shepherds are wonderful family dogs and do well with livestock and children. I was a trainer at petsmart for 3 years and have worked with hundreds of dogs, i was also the assistant trainer at my schutzhund club in ramona for 6 years, training under the guidance of retired sargent Thom payne who started the san diego K9 unit for the police department. All breeds have acceptions to them, it depends on the time that you wish to put in to the foundation on the animal. you cannot train prey drive out of a dog it would be cruel.. Just having a dog barking in a yard most of the time is enough to tell the coyotes to stay away someone else livs there, a coyote will not pust its luck they have to hunt to survive and by getting in a fight could possibly stop them from feeding themselves. If you do decide to go to a breeder for a dog, please make sure they are reputable, and have dont the health clearences on the dogs you can get eyes certified, hips, elbows, this will give you a good idea of what the dog you gets future holds in it health wise... I know you did not ask but i tought i would say it.. Good luck