Sigh. Might have to think about just BUYING eggs!

[EweSheep]

Well it is part of learning and still can do some research on securing the coops while you have your existing birds. I would not tell folks to take a break from owning any unless they chose to do so.

I've lost birds myself and I didn't take a break with my existing two girls I had, instead, I got more after I repaired the door of my coop after a pit bull dog got into the coop. Yep, the pitt took the door OFF from its hinges...that dog was not seen again!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

dogs...trust...hmmmm...two words that don't go together sometimes. I have a boxer, friendly, full of life and energy...and she sees my chickens every day. well I had some roosters free ranging (had too many), and I go out there one day and one rooster is running and yelling his head off and my boxer is hot on his heels, she had pull all his tail feathers out. Well she was scolded and then she was fine....or so I thought. About a month later, I come home and let her out and she after my back is turned is dragging another one across the yard. Well she got a total scolding and whipping...and now she is fine...however the roosters dont' venture into the back yard anymore now...I have 3 acres and the back yard is fenced in and they came into the yard and I guess she didn't approve of it.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Why did your birds die in 100 degree heat? Were they in the shade? Look in the various forums to see what people do in hot weather to keep their birds alive. For the sake of the birds, read as much as you can. Good luck.

 

[BWKatz]

Maybe u could try 4 birds first and work up to 30. Just a suggestion . OH and rwead read read. U can never learn enough.

 

[cracking up]

I was thinking the same thing about the heat. Any time you make changes you have to check on them often in the beginning. It took a while for the chicks to show stress before they all died and an hour for the dog to kill all of the others. Eventually you learn what the birds can tolerate but you need to make changes slowly and pay a lot of attention in the beginning. Everything needs food, water and shade. My young chicks and ducks were on the lawn with a hose slowly running and towels covering the shelter all day through 104 degree weather. I checked on them often and made changes if they were showing any stress. Glad you found a home for the basset but be aware that your other dog will need supervision for a while at least. Good luck and it really is easy if you do the ground work.

 

[MOChickenz]

Yep, I obviously have quite a bit to learn. I have spent a ridiculous amount of time researching this stuff, but obviously the wrong stuff.

 

[MMPoultryFarms]

Quote:
Ditto !!!!

ditto x2

 

[phaethona]

I'm in MO too(kc), and hopefully we're done with heat waves

till next year, but this summer my girls just arrived at laying age(so maybe they're more tolerant). I let them out to range earlier in the morning so they have time to eat before it heats up, and then they hide under my back deck to cool off. Also, I have 2 small fans in their coop(its not a huge coop, just big enough for 10 birds) I took 6 old milk jugs, filled them with water, put them in the deep freeze, and I'd bring 3 frozen jugs out in the morning on a plastic tray and aim the fans to bounce air off of them, a few hours later I'd switch them out. chicken air conditioning! probably sounds silly, but it really worked

now, with 30 chickens, that might not be feasible, but it certainly doesn't hurt to get creative with your solutions.

as for the dogs, until we can train dogs not to be dogs, we'll have to keep an eye on them, some will attack, some don't care.

stinks you had to lose so many birds, but at least it can be a learning experience.

 

[cracking up]

That's whats great about the boards. When you can read about mistakes we have all made and learn from them somehow it's easier than wading through books and web sites and trying to pick out what applies to you. By posting your mistakes you are helping others who will learn from it. Not only that but you will hear from others who are doing the same thing in your area and how they handle it.

 

[Royd]

Put a long leash on the dog, let it have a go at the chickens, then, immediately, do a serious beatdown on the dog. It's worked for three of my dogs.