Silkie thread!

[aoxa]

You can't go into your run? That seems strange.. It's normal - they are most likely not ramp trained, and this is why they are staying out in the run.

You have to keep boosting them in until they get the hang of it. You don't want them spending nights outdoors. Very unsafe.

 

[chickendales]

You can't go into your run? That seems strange.. It's normal - they are most likely not ramp trained, and this is why they are staying out in the run.
You have to keep boosting them in until they get the hang of it. You don't want them spending nights outdoors. Very unsafe.

and how are you going to collect eggs if u cant getin your run

 

[aoxa]

and how are you going to collect eggs if u cant getin your run

That and clean it, provide fresh food and water and get to any bird that is injured.

 

[ajdeitz]

this is a picture of my coop. we are planning on building a bigger, more efficient one in the spring. I'm going to figure out a way to get into the run part so i can teach them to go up the ramp...do you recommend when we build the new one to not have ramps? I'm so worried about them being out in the run at night. I was able to chase them up the ramp last night so they were in the enclosed part. We also have a ramp coming out from the little door that you see...because I let them out to free range when I get home from work for a couple of hours. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

 

[aoxa]

this is a picture of my coop. we are planning on building a bigger, more efficient one in the spring. I'm going to figure out a way to get into the run part so i can teach them to go up the ramp...do you recommend when we build the new one to not have ramps? I'm so worried about them being out in the run at night. I was able to chase them up the ramp last night so they were in the enclosed part. We also have a ramp coming out from the little door that you see...because I let them out to free range when I get home from work for a couple of hours. Any suggestions are much appreciated!

How do you let them out to free range if they can't get up the ramp, and you can't get in the run?

Sorry, not trying to sound accusing :S I just figured, you could get at them the same way. The ramp looks very steep. You could make a door rather easily in that run. The wire is not good enough to keep the predators from sticking their hands in and basically eating your chickens while they sleep. I'm talking raccoons here.

Silkies will look terrible wet too. If you had hardware cloth, I'd say leave them in there and put a tarp over the top, but those holes in the wire are too large to leave them out at night.

 

[ajdeitz]

They are able to come out the door in the front from the enclosed area...we have a ramp built on there it just wasn't on in the picture I posted. My two original girls don't sleep outside in the run area....they go in to the enclosed box area and sleep at night. They are able to go up and down the ramps with no problems it is just the two other ones I just got that are about two months older than my original ones. They are a lot fuller and their eyes are covered for the most part...so I think that is part of the reason they don't know how to go up the ramp and they are in a totally new place? I just want to do whatever I need to do to keep them safe & healthy!!

 

[PNWGirl]

Lord someone stop me from taking out an innocent dog with a bad owner.

I can't seem to catch a break thankfully every-fluffy-body is alright since my DH adopted a $10 Lab/Dalmatian. He just earned his keep today!

Hubby and I are sitting in the living room watching a movie when our Daly/lab Dizzy starts freaking out, barking at the window, pointing doing anything to get our attention, we go over to see what the commotion was about. We get over in time to see my SG roo, LFB, being chased and caught by the neighbors dog. I shout startling the dog to release the bird (Thank god!) and he runs under our stock trailer...

I grab the dog by what ever I can and throw him in the trailer and start hunting for my scattered flock. Mind you it was raining when the attack happened, so of the birds we found right off the bat, they were pathetic, shaking and my other roo, Mustachio, was in shock, breathing hard and not moving much, same with my non-bearded hen, Momma. Of the 11 birds I have, we found 6 right away, both roos, Momma, Lucy, Thelma and either Snow Pea or Whatamess (They look very similar when wet...) thanks to the help of my basset hound, Delilah and Dizzy.

Around dark, they all came out of the wood work (STS), so I know they are alive, 10 went back to the coop, the only hen on the lamb is my black hen, Psyco... (she acts really crazy if you get near/touch her...)

My question is, would you call animal control on the dog? The neighbor doesn't speak a lick of English and I know no Spanish so there is a huge language barrier there. I have had issues with this dog crossing the road near a blind hill with a speed limit of 45mph where everyone goes 50-60... I have chased it back to its yard almost daily. The neighbor seems to "collect" strays, there are at least 3 big dogs and 2 small that are always out side and try to come over to our yard. Today was the straw that broke the camels back though because it chased and caught my birds.

What would you all do, its all I can do to keep myself from "culling" it?

Again, thanks for your input. And here is a photo of Dizzy, my wonder pup who helped save my birds.

Yep, your new Rescue earned his place!!

I would, absolutely, get Animal Control involved. This will only benefit you.

It sounds like you have attempted to talk to your neighbors about this or other dogs before, even though they claim to not speak English does not mean that they don't understand every word that you said. If you lie about not knowing (after shooting) the dog and they talk to Animal Control, your word will carry less weight, in the future, as you will be caught out in a lie. Do not get me wrong, you have every right to defend your stock but you are better off taking the high road in this.

The reason I say this is due to your statement that they are collecting dogs. Once dogs know of easy pickings, they keep coming back to it and the next time might be with more of their 'pack mates' with them. Then your chickens will not stand a chance as a pack of dogs is just like a pack of wolves (except wolves eat what they kill and dogs just kill) You need to begin now, with Animal Control, so your first incident is established with them going forward.

I am, heavily, involved with Rescue so I understand completely about your concern for the dog(s) and going into a kill shelter. However, do not let your love of animals stop you from using the system to protect yours. YOU are not responsible, THEY are and they, obviously, do not care for their animals enough to keep them home and off their neighbors properties killing livestock.

If you want to help, after the animals are seized (when that happens), find out the breeds and contact local Rescue groups, for the breeds. Then the Rescue can go into the shelter and pull the dogs. I know as I do it all the time. Shelters are more than happy to release dogs to Rescue groups.

Sheila

 

[chickendales]

They are able to come out the door in the front from the enclosed area...we have a ramp built on there it just wasn't on in the picture I posted. My two original girls don't sleep outside in the run area....they go in to the enclosed box area and sleep at night. They are able to go up and down the ramps with no problems it is just the two other ones I just got that are about two months older than my original ones. They are a lot fuller and their eyes are covered for the most part...so I think that is part of the reason they don't know how to go up the ramp and they are in a totally new place? I just want to do whatever I need to do to keep them safe & healthy!!

i would build door for front of that coop

 

[aoxa]

They are able to come out the door in the front from the enclosed area...we have a ramp built on there it just wasn't on in the picture I posted. My two original girls don't sleep outside in the run area....they go in to the enclosed box area and sleep at night. They are able to go up and down the ramps with no problems it is just the two other ones I just got that are about two months older than my original ones. They are a lot fuller and their eyes are covered for the most part...so I think that is part of the reason they don't know how to go up the ramp and they are in a totally new place? I just want to do whatever I need to do to keep them safe & healthy!!

That makes sense, and I know you do want to keep them safe I would definitely figure out a way to get at them and put them in at bedtime.

Silkies can be very 'blond' and I'm sure other chickens tell 'silkie jokes'. They can't see well, and this is where the majority of their issues lie. Mine don't have a ramp and go in the barn at night, so I don't have to deal with ramp issues now, but at one point I did, and it took a lot of encouragement to teach them how to use it. Eventually they got the hang of it.

 

[ajdeitz]

Thank you for all of your suggestions! They are definately very "blond" sometimes but they always give you a good laugh & are so sweet! I'm going to work on a door for the run tonight and I'll try and work with them on going up the ramp! When I do the new coop I don't think I'll be using the ramps...seems like that is the easier way to go for chickens! Thanks again!!!