Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[lindz8504]

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.

Umm... August I think was when they killed the first ones.... They killed all my cochins except for Clarabelle and she was broody, and the chicks hatched in early Sept.... They did good for a couple of months and we didn't see them at all. Then we started seeing them again in Dec...

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

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!

My quail even started laying again

2 eggs! I had moved my main breeders into the garage with the sub zero temps.
All 12 of them are happy as clams, The have more light, and warmth.
They don't take a lot of room, and just fun little guys all around.
the girls eggs are now bigger than my seramas! Speckles, the oldest hen, is my favorite.
She will perch on my hand when I reach in, like "whatcha got mom!"
Will have to get a picture of her. She is a golden coturnix, pretty girl.
The play football over mealies just like the chickens, only high speed

We also got 3 chicken eggs (1 a bantam. OEGB) and one duck egg.
6 eggs today

WE LAID 6!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote:
Sounds like she has just started letting them out then, the "ouch" of paying you must have worn off.
What a shame. Did the other neighbor go after them?

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Sorry about the loss Lindz. I am on your side. However if you start shooting dogs expect them to do the same thing when your dogs go on their property. Just something to think about because they will be bitter and waiting for the opportunity. You may end up with a big vet bill and it won't be easy for the kids to deal with a wounded or a dead dog. I know you are angry and hurt and my angry reaction would be the same. But make the decision when you are calm and have thought thru it. I am a deer hunter and I know the hardest thing about killing a deer is having to make a follow up shot on a animal that is screaming in pain because of a shot that was not well placed the first time. You may put yourself in that situation. I hope you are stronger than me if you do. I would select a different weapon than a .22 if it was me. A shotgun loaded with 00 buckshot would be my choice for a clean quick kill on a dog. I hope you can find a peaceful solution where no kids lose their dogs on either side of this situation. Again I am on your side and understand your feelings. The law is on your side as well. However we will NEVER rid the world of the predators that kill our chickens. Dogs are just one of those predators. If you solve the dog problem it will be something else next time. Free range presents that problem and nothing we can do to will rid the world of all wild predators. The part I hate most about keeping chickens is not being able to free range them. However I justify it by giving my birds a long predator free life. I have never lost a bird to predators. I am sure Roger will live to be at least 20 years old, eat three thousand dollars worth of feed, and lay over three dozen eggs in her lifetime. Gotta love the knuckleheads.........allthis4eggs Good luck

 

[cheeka]

I would be concerned about retaliation too... but keep a leash handy for any next time. if one came up to you before, it will do it again. clip it, lock it up and make animal control come and get it. they will have to pay to get the dog back, and prove that it has all its shots and license... if they don't, it's more fines plus they have to get it all done before they can have the dog back. at least that's how it works around here... and they still have to pay you to cover your losses. hit them in the wallet. but still, target practice is smart for other kinds of predators.

I ended the day with 8 Eggs! I can finally eat some myself! since Autumn, they've all gone to impatient customers that have had to wait in line for weeks to get their dozen

go to www.soupsonline.com and look for Cooke Tavern. order the Potato Leek. then order the Pumpkin Lentil. then order any of the others as I'm sure they are fantastic... but get the Potato Leek. cheaper to get them from soupsonline than directly from Cooke Tavern by 50 cents a bag. can't stop eating... so good.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Looks like after 19 weeks I have either heritage BR's or Delaware's laying eggs. One tiny pullet egg yesterday and one today. I am betting Delaware due to my understanding of the BR reproductive system and the relationship to snack food ratio vs egg production combined with peer pressure of adult birds of the same breed on pullets aimed at increasing snack food volume from the "supplier" aka "the dummy who puts up with their BS". Does that make sense?

 

[lindz8504]

I got 8 eggs this morning in a sticky nest, so originally there was 9! I was surprised that I got that many, but I only got 5 comet eggs, which makes me think that I probably lost one of my best layers, and I have one not laying.... I also caught a opossum in the live trap.... Hubby let it go.

I meant to get a picture, but it was raining, and I forgot...

It was fairly small, and it had been digging where we buried the chickens from yesterday. I am hoping that it was traumatized enough that it won't be back. I will definitely be glad when I get my mom's .22 so I can take care of the "critters" myself and not depend on Hubby. It is a rainy mucky mess around here, and it actually stormed here today with thunder and everything..... Isn't that supposed to mean snow is coming?

On the up side, I have been looking online for ideas on the layout of the new coop! Hubby is letting me have the new building for the chickens! I am going to have 8x12 for the coop with a small feed area. I am hoping to build a chicken wire wall to separate the feed room from the "coop", and put the nest boxes along this wall with access without having to actually go into the coop area. I like the way this looks.... so hoping to do something similar with some tweaking to our setup. And definitely not white!

photo from : http://lh3.ggpht.com/-s2ldU2j4HM8/T.../yard%2520and%2520coop%2520029%255B6%255D.jpg

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Glad to get done with the chick starter and have everybody on layer when I finish the last bag of starter. Now to start the merge with the other flock.

 

[lindz8504]

Glad to get done with the chick starter and have everybody on layer when I finish the last bag of starter. Now to start the merge with the other flock.

Have they shared a fence already? I can't remember

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Quote: They have a fence between them that separates them. I would like to get these younger birds with the main flock of layers and my rooster. RK Broody, Little BO (handicapped). and Big Broody BO will probably be kept separated from Roger and her gang of thugs. However space is limited and thugs will not be tolerated. Roger will lose a spot in the pecking order and may end up in the broody coop/ retirement home/ heaven. Or she may end up Roger and dumplins.