The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[h2oratt]

Oh, maybe it could be run just next to the actual fence, then, right on the outside of it next to the pasture.  The dog would have to touch it before it even reached the livestock fencing. That might work. I'm thinking that span across is less than 300' (we didn't take the fence all the say to the rocky, dirt road on the high side of the property-it's up on the bank for ease of installation). Thanks, maybe we can look into that, then.


ETA: You know, it really irks me. We put the perimeter fence around just over 2 of the acres. When we built every predator-proof coop, we attached pens with dig barriers to every one of those. When we put up the big barn at the end of last year, we put a very roomy fenced area around that, too, with two gates. And now, we're even talking about more fencing, possibly electric stuff, a bigger expense, especially with a solar charger. I'm so sick of going to all this expense to keep my livestock safe from illegally roaming dogs while their SELFISH owners just don't give a flying fig...that is, until you SHOOT their darlings amidst the bodies of your beloved animals. It's just disgusting!
 

I took the walkie-talkie and a big walking stick and walked around most of our property, went down the mountain to a cow pasture,  then back up the mountain, looking for any sign of those dogs. Nothing. I can't really see the residences around me very well as they are all quite hidden up dirt roads at different levels, but heard and saw no dogs, nothing at all. One day, I'll find where they live.

Is it legal to shoot them? That's what I would do.

 

[speckledhen]

Is it legal to shoot them? That's what I would do.

It's legal to kill them in defense of property, yourself or someone else and/or if they are damaging/ injuring livestock. Well, since chickens are legally considered property, I can defend them, but I doubt I could get away with shooting them in the pasture just because they are on my land. If they get into the perimeter and are trying to get into the barn pen, that's a different story. Of course, if no one knows what happened, well....

 

[Wyatt0224]

I hope everything works out best for the dogs and above all else your chickens but what happens, happens. Do you or your husband carry a gun with you at all while your outside doing chores?

 

[1muttsfan]

I have heard paintballs make excellent deterrents for roaming dogs. Plus it gives the owners a heads-up that their dogs maybe have been where they should not be.

 

[speckledhen]

I hope everything works out best for the dogs and above all else your chickens but what happens, happens. Do you or your husband carry a gun with you at all while your outside doing chores?

Not all the time, but lately, we've had the shotgun at the ready and close to the barn in the morning. Guess it's a good time to develop a new habit.

I have heard paintballs make excellent deterrents for roaming dogs. Plus it gives the owners a heads-up that their dogs maybe have been where they should not be.

I've said that in the past, then people began saying you can't do that, it's cruel, or the law may say it is. They might consider it such (I don't), but they most likely will have no idea who "paint-balled" the dog anyway. To me, it's what you said, it's a warning that the dog was somewhere it wasn't wanted and they need to keep it home or the next time, it won't be paint. It's better than a verbal warning, IMO. Unfortunately, we don't own a paintball gun.

Seems every time you turn around, you're spending more money to keep from having to give some bad neighbor's dog a lead sleeping pill. The money here is running out for this type of expense. As it is, we need to hire someone to bush hog the side fence line inside the fence by the power line easement which has grown up into thorny brambles and poison ivy and all sorts of other vegetation.

 

[h2oratt]

Here is my half salmonfavorelle half choc Orpington cockerel. He has feathered feet and the extra toes. He is going to be beautiful. The reason his feathers are are all roughed up is we are having huge wind gusts today. I just thought you might like to see this strange cross.

 

[speckledhen]

Here is my half salmonfavorelle half choc Orpington cockerel. He has feathered feet and the extra toes. He is going to be beautiful. The reason his feathers are are all roughed up is we are having huge wind gusts today. I just thought you might like to see this strange cross.

Wow, he looks remarkably like one of Atlas's mixed brothers, Maverick. Mav went to live with one of my best friend's elderly neighbors in Kentucky. Some of the crosses are pretty darn cool!



My favorite crosses were my Blue Orp over Buff Brahma.


ETA: DH was walking down beside the barn pen, me inside. He was going to pick up something he'd left on a tree stump, when I heard a thud and he called my name. I looked over to see him rolling onto his back. Apparently, he'd stepped on a rock or something that rolled under his foot (he has some numbness in one foot due to his disc issues anyway), and he went down hard on his bad knee, wrenching his back and hip. I ran out of the pen and around to where he was to help him get up and see if he broke anything before noticing that my old Delaware hen, Georgie, had run over to the fence when he fell. Usually, that type of chaotic movement would drive a chicken away, but she was trying to get to him, which I found rather interesting, as well as endearing. She stayed next to the fence watching him until he got up and spoke to her. She adores him, uses his shoulder for a perch like an 8 lb parrot. These old gals are very protective of him, especially the ones who intervene when the Tiny Terrorist attacks him.

Georgie will be 8 years old in February, my only remaining Delaware.

 

[1muttsfan]

That's sweet. And I hope Tom is not too bad off.

 

[speckledhen]

That's sweet. And I hope Tom is not too bad off.

He wrenched his entire body pretty badly so tomorrow, he'll be very stiff, I'm sure. I've hit the dirt around here quite a few times myself; of course, the worst was my shattered ankle almost 7 years ago (I think that's right, time flies). I am so happy it doesn't appear he broke anything! That would be much, much worse.

 

[h2oratt]

Wow that is a beautiful cross.

I hope your husband isn't too sore. I fall about every three months. Luckily I haven't broken anything but I am pretty sore for a few days.
Georgie sounds like quite a hen.