Southern NY, Dutchess county and below

[Messipaw]

I am so sorry for your loss. HUGS

I am so sorry.

 

[Harborview Hens]

Warmheart,

So sorry about your lovely girl. you gave her the best life that she could possibly have had and for that may you find some peace. She was lucky to have been yours..


Cheeky chick,

The problem is not keeping the chickens in.....but keeping other predators out. That is why Invisible Fencing for dogs doesn't really work. It keeps your dogs on the property but does nothing to keep other dogs from coming onto your property. I've been a boxer owner for over 20 years and although have never found one to attack other animals, I know that if a boxer gets fixated on something...it is less likely to give it up especially when it is right next door. Had that boxer been raised with chickens...it might have been a totally different story. Surdy fencing is one alternative. Another is to desensitize the boxer to the chickens by bringing it over on leash. Letting it smell them and giving treats for calm behavior. However, depending on the dog, this may not be possible. In the long run, it is the responsibility of the owners to keep the dog on leash and off your property.

Hope your situation works out.:/

Irene

 

[Harborview Hens]

Warmheart,

So sorry about your lovely girl. you gave her the best life that she could possibly have had and for that may you find some peace. She was lucky to have been yours..


Cheeky chick,

The problem is not keeping the chickens in.....but keeping other predators out. That is why Invisible Fencing for dogs doesn't really work. It keeps your dogs on the property but does nothing to keep other dogs from coming onto your property. I've been a boxer owner for over 20 years and although have never found one to attack other animals, I know that if a boxer gets fixated on something...it is less likely to give it up especially when it is right next door. Had that boxer been raised with chickens...it might have been a totally different story. Surdy fencing is one alternative. Another is to desensitize the boxer to the chickens by bringing it over on leash. Letting it smell them and giving treats for calm behavior. However, depending on the dog, this may not be possible. In the long run, it is the responsibility of the owners to keep the dog on leash and off your property.

Hope your situation works out.:/

Irene

 

[mammo6]

Sorry to hear that this beautiful weekend didn't bring everybody full joy. As I watch my new chicks quickly grow and change over night I am already worrying about them getting sick or something worse. Not knowing what I'm doing then reading these sad stories from seasoned flocksters makes me wonder if I'll do OK.
My weekend consisted of working on the coop. Got the nesting boxes built and replaced half the roof made of found doors with that clear ribbed PVC material. I figured it would give plenty of light and yet the other side still has the doors for shade since that is my south side. I did this because there are no windows but figured there's plenty of venting from the separation between roof and sides of coop due to beams of the roof.
As usual, a question. The roosts...I read that 2x4's layed flat is best for roosts but I have 2x2 strips. Will these be OK to help with the whole "help with the frost bite" thing I've read about? They seem good sized, but I'm worrying about everything at this point. Here's what it looks like so far. Not the fanciest thing in the world, but I hope they'll be happy.

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Warmheart,

So sorry about your lovely girl. you gave her the best life that she could possibly have had and for that may you find some peace. She was lucky to have been yours..


Cheeky chick,

The problem is not keeping the chickens in.....but keeping other predators out. That is why Invisible Fencing for dogs doesn't really work. It keeps your dogs on the property but does nothing to keep other dogs from coming onto your property. I've been a boxer owner for over 20 years and although have never found one to attack other animals, I know that if a boxer gets fixated on something...it is less likely to give it up especially when it is right next door. Had that boxer been raised with chickens...it might have been a totally different story. Surdy fencing is one alternative. Another is to desensitize the boxer to the chickens by bringing it over on leash. Letting it smell them and giving treats for calm behavior. However, depending on the dog, this may not be possible. In the long run, it is the responsibility of the owners to keep the dog on leash and off your property.

Hope your situation works out.

Irene

Actually, that property has an invisible fence, and the dog that lived there before, never once, NOT ONCE, crossed the wire. He was a good dog, although I was happy to see him leave since he barked all night. This dog was on a leash with his owners as they were walking him. I walk my dogs as well, and I can completely get how it happened, although my dog is off leash trained and velcro, so you could possibly parade cats piggybacking squirrels and she would whine, but go nowhere. My Shepherd is always on a leash outside, since it's the law. We are in an area of NO fences at all, and everyone has a dog. My friends Lab/pit comes to visit all the time. She's a good dog, ignores the girls and looks for treats. I have a mini golden doodle on another side, Rocky is TINY, and really sweet. He's terrified of the chickens, as are the neighborhood cats. On the other side of me, there's Daisy, the terrier mutt who's pretty much walked and kept inside-she's a nice dog, but no doubt would love a good chase. The Boxer was playing with the chickens, according to my friends boyfriend. I think the mouthful of feathers slowed him down, and him banging on the window gave her a chance to escape. I adore boxers, another one, Duke lived there years ago, and I was very close with him. My Dobe and Corso played with him and his Bulldog sidekick, Diesel.
If we put a fence up, the chickens won't tempt any other dogs. There's nothing I can do to make sure this guy keeps his dog on the leash, only his word. Of course, affording a fence is another story. For now they will remain in the pen, until I figure out what I can do to keep them safe.
Desensitizing the dog is not really an option since I don't think the girls would allow him anywhere near them-the stress would not be good for them. The man acted responsibly, by coming right over and copping to it. He didn't have to-I wasn't home.
Thanks, I've been up half the night thinking and stressing what to do about this. I'll have to talk to my husband. I can't wait for first light to go check on them.

 

[magsrags]

Today was an interesting day. Good then horror, then relief that it had a happy ending.

My sons game was a great one. We lost, but my son got a few really great hits and hit that home plate 3 times. He also got to catch in the last inning, so he was thrilled. We then raced to the Ducks game-as we were coming off of the LIE, I noticed smoke in the distance, from about where the stadium is. Hmmm, as I drove closer, the smoke plume got wider and wider and blacker and blacker. So when we had to turn off of Lowell onto Eastview to get there, there were lights and there it was-right on the corner! A fully engulfed house. SO, we got detoured, the EMT's were rude and no help, and I have no clue about Central Islip as far as directions. Finally we saw a nice man in his driveway, with his ice cream truck. I asked him how to get around the area to the other side of the stadium, he gave me great directions and we got there-at the top of the 3rd, which was fine with me-games are long. The Ducks lost, but we had fun, ate cotton candy and pop corn, and I saw a few of my friends from football (small world, huh?)

So, as we left, the road was still closed and I had to go back around, and I found my way to the LIE. My phone buzzed at me, it was a voicemail from my tenant, she's actually more of a dear friend that lives in my spare apartment. She said my neighbors Boxer got into the yard and he got one of my girls, but her boyfriend saw what was going on, and jumped up and banged on the door before getting it open and the dog ran away-the chicken (who they though was dead,) go up and ran away too. My daughter called her back and asked what color the chicken was, and she said beige. I got all upset-my Buff Orp, Lovey is tan and she's the mama of the new babies from New Jersey. The ride home was silent, the people who own the boxer just moved in right before the Blizzard, and the dog is a nice dog-never barks, always wagging at me and Mac when we walk to the bus. I was upset at the thought of having to knock on their door and telling them what happened.

So, we got home, and the only chickens we could find were May, who was on top of the coop, and the babies, who were under a bush and peeping and peeping. so we got them into the coop, and searched for the rest. we found Flower almost immediately, Diva came out when I called her name, and then I found Merriweather under a Bush in the front of the house. She ran right to me, and let me pick her up-she is never THAT friendly. Miss Boots was still in her nest box/bed, so now we started searching for Lovey and Ducky. I was ready to cry, my sons were climbing through the brush desperately trying to find Lovey because they know how attached I am to my girls, and she's really special. There were tons of feathers outside my back door! Definitely Loveys feathers.
Finally, my tenant/friend, came out and we were talking about the silkies, and my daughter heard something, and there was Lovey, hiding behind the airconditioning unit. She has a HUGE bald spot on her back, but she came right to me to be picked up. Clucked and clucked, I checked her over and she's FINE! No skin broken, just feathers pulled out. We put her back in the coop with her babies, and they were all happily reunited. Duckey finally came out when I called her, and everyone is present and accounted for. Flower looks a little stressed, but I'm hoping she'll be ok. I just checked on them and all are perched, cuddled and happy. Ugh. I'm so stressed I think a glass of wine will be in order as soon as the cherubs go to bed.

Thank god for happy endings, I couldn''t have asked for a better outcome. OH, and my neighbor came right over and apologized profusely-the dog broke off the leash when he saw the girls, and he will be getting a better leash and walk in the other direction. I will be discussing a fence-just on one side to keep the girls in the back. They stay only on my property, but I don't want them in the front anymore, as a temptation for anyone else's dogs.

What a day!

Phew, that sure was a DAY Rosie. Happily your birds are OK.
Tall fences make for good neighbors as the saying goes................

 

[magsrags]

What a beautiful...........gorgeous weekend! We got tons done around here. Even a beach walk yesterday.

Cement pad for a new shed...trenches dug, pavers in getting ready for a new driveway after this old one gets ripped out this week. It was nice having all my men working side by side.
And a fence company coming tomorrow so we can see some designs for a nice oak fence for some privacy from the road.
Life is good..

And my seeds are sprouting!

 

[smkchick]

Wow, Rosie. That was some roller coaster of a day! My Shirley had a near death experience also and was dropped to the bottom of the pecking order after it. But thankfully Lovey was okay. And it sounds like the neighbor did the right thing, which is a good thing for a neighbor to do.

My backyard is completely fenced, so I have to admit I rarely worry about the girls. Clara is more interested in being one of the flock than chasing them.

I think I have chicken fever: I was scanning my facebook posts and passed one about gun control and read "background checks" as "backyard chicks". I need help...

 

[magsrags]

Wow, Rosie. That was some roller coaster of a day! My Shirley had a near death experience also and was dropped to the bottom of the pecking order after it. But thankfully Lovey was okay. And it sounds like the neighbor did the right thing, which is a good thing for a neighbor to do.

My backyard is completely fenced, so I have to admit I rarely worry about the girls. Clara is more interested in being one of the flock than chasing them.

I think I have chicken fever: I was scanning my facebook posts and passed one about gun control and read "background checks" as "backyard chicks". I need help...

 

[Cheeky Chick]

Wow, Rosie. That was some roller coaster of a day! My Shirley had a near death experience also and was dropped to the bottom of the pecking order after it. But thankfully Lovey was okay. And it sounds like the neighbor did the right thing, which is a good thing for a neighbor to do.

My backyard is completely fenced, so I have to admit I rarely worry about the girls. Clara is more interested in being one of the flock than chasing them.

I think I have chicken fever: I was scanning my facebook posts and passed one about gun control and read "background checks" as "backyard chicks". I need help...

I totally have the fever too. I've been scanning around for Quail or partridge chicks. Because I need more to do. I must have lost my mind, but Quail eggs are supposed to be nutritious and delicious. Plus they're prolific, so that would be fun...I think. (These are the stories I tell myself so I don't feel crazy)

I'm really glad he approached me, and apologized right away. The girls all seem no worse for the wear, except the unsightly bald spot on Loveys back, but I can live with it. She's got the babies under her and she's a happy girl.

In my area, there's no tall fences. One neighbor has "ranch" fencing, which wouldn't keep ANYTHING out.

So, I'm going to talk to Danny about chain link or something similar.