Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Whoops]

So I'm thinking about getting some chicks online for the first time any breeds I should look into

I am new at chickens, but, Welsummers are my favorite of what I have had so far. Easter Eggers are a necessity for the pretty eggs. Everyone that sees my Barred Rock comments on how pretty she is. It depends on what you are getting chickens for: do you want pretty ornamental exotic ones? Tame, easily handled ones? Productive ones? Colorful eggs? Are you showing or breeding? Do you want to get into conserving a rare or heritage breed? Standard or Bantam?
Different ones are better for different things. Or, you could go my route and just get one of each.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Something is going on in the broody coop. Five BR's roost tightly together on one end of the roost and the five Delawares roost tightly together on the other end. I think gangs are forming.

Oooooo... Rumble at OK's! Now I'm humming tunes from West Side Story! Keep us posted.

Since I have the variety pack flock, they have to make do with a similar buddy. The buff orp, buff EE, and golden comet hang out together. Likewise the BR, blk Australorp, and SLWyandotte. But when it comes to roosting, all alliances are off and overall dominance prevails to claim that top roost.

 

[lindz8504]

I am beyond mad! I am going to go ahead and say that some of these pictures may be upsetting!!! I looked out the window and saw the huskies back and there was a beagle with them.... I saw feathers, so I knew that someone was already gone. I hurried down there and one of the huskies took off behind the building and back around then across the yard into the woods on the other side toward their house. The other husky and the beagle took off up the hill into the woods behind our house. I was trying to do a head count and figure out how many were gone. I found 2 dead, and several gone or hiding..... Then, I look up and here comes the one back down the hill. I actually was able to call her to me! UGH!!!! If I could shoot hubby's shotgun.......... I was able to get ahold of her collar, but she started struggling and growled, so I didn't want to get dog bit, and I let go. She took off across the yard and up the driveway toward her house.... Everyone but Phoebe has been accounted for... I am hoping she shows up soon.... Anyway, when Hubby gets home, we are going to go talk to the neighbors and show them the pictures.

 

[chickenlindz]

So sorry Lindz! People can be so stupid sometimes!!!

Let us know how it goes.

My chickens are officially the stupidest chickens ever!!!

6 of them came into the run for the first time today. Then after dinner the 5 EE were out and weren't going back in so I could close the pop door. After investigation I saw that the two silkies were sleeping in the opening and Phyllis was sleeping on the ramp. So I had to pick 8 of them up and shove them back through the door for the night!!!! Lol!

 

[cheeka]

I'm so sorry lindz, you know you have our support! such a shame.

I took some time out this afternoon and let the birds out, all of them. had to break up a few rooster squabbles, but it was good. and when all was said and done, the little white rock of the Foster group went home with the Dome Dwellers. nobody seemed to notice, so I left her in there. she was happy on one of the front roosts. she was being bothered by Foster roosters anyway, and I don't want her to lose feathers, she's showing signs of wear... she was quite happily ranging with Peach, the 4 Cochins and Silkie - Big Bossy Tiger didn't chase her away - she's thick as thieves with Silkie... so I'm not anticipating a problem come morning.

3 Eggs today. 2 super jumbo blue and 1 of Veronica's medium brown. several birds are laying irregularly, it's a great start!

 

[lindz8504]

I called the owners to tell them what had happened. She got pretty pissy about it. She first tried to say that her dogs were home all day. I replied that I had pictures of her dogs here... I told her it was around noon, and she was like "Wasn't it raining?" I told her yes, it has rained all day... Like her dogs would melt in the rain and couldn't possibly have been here.

Then when I told her that one came right up to me, she was like "They wouldn't do that. They are skittish." Then the part that really got me was when she told me that she had to let her dogs run for 2 hours every day because of their breed, and she couldn't keep them penned up all the time, so I should keep my chickens up in a pen so her dogs could run. When I told her they were in a pen, but could fly out, she had the nerve to tell me to clip their wings.

And she brought up that Zauk (the G.Dane) came over to her house when her dog was in heat.... He didn't bother anything though, and definitely didn't kill anything. She proceeded to tell me that she would have to have her husband call me, because she couldn't deal with this anymore!

I am going to borrow my mom's .22, and start some target practice.... I am also going to call Animal control Monday morning and make a report. I want to make sure that I have pictures and proof in case this gets nasty..... The first time I called A.C. a couple of months ago, they told me to shoot the dogs if they were damaging our livestock.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I called the owners to tell them what had happened. She got pretty pissy about it. She first tried to say that her dogs were home all day. I replied that I had pictures of her dogs here... I told her it was around noon, and she was like "Wasn't it raining?" I told her yes, it has rained all day... Like her dogs would melt in the rain and couldn't possibly have been here.

Then when I told her that one came right up to me, she was like "They wouldn't do that. They are skittish." Then the part that really got me was when she told me that she had to let her dogs run for 2 hours every day because of their breed, and she couldn't keep them penned up all the time, so I should keep my chickens up in a pen so her dogs could run. When I told her they were in a pen, but could fly out, she had the nerve to tell me to clip their wings.

And she brought up that Zauk (the G.Dane) came over to her house when her dog was in heat.... He didn't bother anything though, and definitely didn't kill anything. She proceeded to tell me that she would have to have her husband call me, because she couldn't deal with this anymore!

I am going to borrow my mom's .22, and start some target practice.... I am also going to call Animal control Monday morning and make a report. I want to make sure that I have pictures and proof in case this gets nasty..... The first time I called A.C. a couple of months ago, they told me to shoot the dogs if they were damaging our livestock.

Horrible, I am soo very sorry.
They are trespassing that's strike one. and killing your livestock. strike two. Irresponsible neighbors strike 3.
I would be VERY nasty right back to them, and threaten them with being sued. Money makes people rethink things.
I get very nasty with owners real quick, after doing Animal control 5 years myself and seeing a lot of attacks on people, and livestock.
Hand them the poor chickens the dogs killed! If you shoot it, call the police, make a report then tell her come remove the carcass!
I know I sound cold, but stray dogs are just dangerous. 22 rifle is very easy to shoot, and will do the job.
I have shot dogs and cats both here, after losing our bottle baby goat several years ago.
I know here in indiana the cops and animal control fully support killing a nuisance/dangerous dog.
If you are persistent, the cops will put a stop to them.
And now that its growled at you, I would be much more concerned.

 

[Whoops]

I called the owners to tell them what had happened. She got pretty pissy about it. She first tried to say that her dogs were home all day. I replied that I had pictures of her dogs here... I told her it was around noon, and she was like "Wasn't it raining?" I told her yes, it has rained all day... Like her dogs would melt in the rain and couldn't possibly have been here.

Then when I told her that one came right up to me, she was like "They wouldn't do that. They are skittish." Then the part that really got me was when she told me that she had to let her dogs run for 2 hours every day because of their breed, and she couldn't keep them penned up all the time, so I should keep my chickens up in a pen so her dogs could run. When I told her they were in a pen, but could fly out, she had the nerve to tell me to clip their wings.

And she brought up that Zauk (the G.Dane) came over to her house when her dog was in heat.... He didn't bother anything though, and definitely didn't kill anything. She proceeded to tell me that she would have to have her husband call me, because she couldn't deal with this anymore!

I am going to borrow my mom's .22, and start some target practice.... I am also going to call Animal control Monday morning and make a report. I want to make sure that I have pictures and proof in case this gets nasty..... The first time I called A.C. a couple of months ago, they told me to shoot the dogs if they were damaging our livestock.

I am so sorry - that is awful.

If you are afraid to handle them, try live trapping them. Call animal control to pick them up. $$ talks. Right now, it's convenient for her to just open the back door and let them run free. So, make it inconvenient and expensive.

Send her a bill for the chickens the dogs killed. And send her a bill for 1/2 the cost of a fencing estimate. Heck, send her a bill for the gun and ammunition and game camera. Maybe she or her husband will start thinking with their wallets.

Too bad the dogs are skittish - you could catch them and dye them blue and pink next time you saw them on your property and maybe shave their tails. Makes a point. How do the other neighbors feel about it? She might think it's okay to sweep it under the rug and ignore it if she thinks it's just between the two of you, but if the other neighbors band with you, it might make more of an impact.

Again, I am so sorry about your poor chickens.

 

[lindz8504]

I am so sorry - that is awful.

If you are afraid to handle them, try live trapping them. Call animal control to pick them up. $$ talks. Right now, it's convenient for her to just open the back door and let them run free. So, make it inconvenient and expensive.

Send her a bill for the chickens the dogs killed. And send her a bill for 1/2 the cost of a fencing estimate. Heck, send her a bill for the gun and ammunition and game camera. Maybe she or her husband will start thinking with their wallets.

Too bad the dogs are skittish - you could catch them and dye them blue and pink next time you saw them on your property and maybe shave their tails. Makes a point. How do the other neighbors feel about it? She might think it's okay to sweep it under the rug and ignore it if she thinks it's just between the two of you, but if the other neighbors band with you, it might make more of an impact.

Again, I am so sorry about your poor chickens.

I was surprised that I even got ahold of her. If I had, had a leash it wouldn't have bothered me, but I just had ahold of her collar, and I knew if she decided to snap, she was going to be getting my bare wrist.... Dogs normally don't bother me too much... (We have 3 and one is 150 lbs!)
I know that the dog has killed another neighbors chickens except for one.... The first round of chickens they killed for me cost them $150, although it took them over a month to get me the money. We live in a very rural area, and she is about 1/4 mile away, across the main road, and up another gravel road. We own 6 acres, and there are about 5.5-6 acres on either side of us that is wooded (we hope to buy it eventually). So basically these dogs are running roughly a 3 mile circuit....

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: What would anger me most is you can't "replace" a pet. I am pretty attached to most of my birds.
We all are or we wouldn't be on a chicken forum

I hope this gets resolved for you, likely it will soon.
Someone will "solve it" or the dogs will be injured or killed, strays usually don't last long.
How long have you been fighting with it? I know you posted it before, but my brain is old lol.