The Front Porch Swing

[Beekissed]

Bee....can you help me again? Got a 3 gallon bucket, four poultry nipples and no idea where to install them.....for your little chicks I noticed they were on the bottom, but for the bigger ones you had a cup on the side. My girls are pretty good size, but would I still put them on the bottom?

The type you have bought need to be on the bottom for gravity flow from a bucket. Your birds will use them just fine, just hang your bucket high enough that they have to reach up to access them.

I think the chicks prefer the small red nipples on a bottom mount and the adults prefer the cup nipple, but chicks or juveniles started on the red nipples seem to be able to use them fine all the way into adulthood.

Don't offer them any other water but the bucket and then just tick those nipple posts to make a pecking noise and let them see the water coming out. Leave a drop of water hanging off the nipple post and they will get the idea.

Look at these big meaty birds still trying to crowd into the bucket they used as chicks, even though they have a big 5 gal. bucket with the same nipples on it just next door in the coop.

 

[Blooie]

The type you have bought need to be on the bottom for gravity flow from a bucket. Your birds will use them just fine, just hang your bucket high enough that they have to reach up to access them.

I think the chicks prefer the small red nipples on a bottom mount and the adults prefer the cup nipple, but chicks or juveniles started on the red nipples seem to be able to use them fine all the way into adulthood.

Don't offer them any other water but the bucket and then just tick those nipple posts to make a pecking noise and let them see the water coming out. Leave a drop of water hanging off the nipple post and they will get the idea.

Look at these big meaty birds still trying to crowd into the bucket they used as chicks, even though they have a big 5 gal. bucket with the same nipples on it just next door in the coop.

Oh, thank you thank you thank you.......BRB

 

[Triple Willow]

I have a chance at getting a 3 yr old male GP dog for free and I'm praying about it.  We don't really NEED such a dog and he is still intact, which is not the greatest, but Mother has approved if I want him and Jake is really lonely and would love a companion.  We already have an extra collar or two for the electric containment system, so that would be no problem. 

I need to pray about this and see if this is something out of my own heart, or if this is of the Holy Spirit.  It will hinge answer from the Holy Spirit on it,on the dog's temperament and if he is still available when we get back from visiting Dad this week. 

I guess the guy said about 4 people have really wanted him and said they would take him and then never showed up to get him nor called again.  He said he is currently tied up because they can't keep him at home...they have 112 acres and cattle but they can't keep him on their property.  Says he has been around chickens. 

I am hoping for an answer to a similar situation. I need a LGD because of stray dogs mainly but also for other predators. I know where Great P. X Anatolian pups are available but if I wait I'm sure pure Great P. pups will be available. I really like the looks of the Great P. X Anatolian but I worry about temperament. I just want to make the right decision. I am praying for an answer too.

 

[Beekissed]

Sounds promising! Praying for you!

Thank you! It may not seem like such a big deal to other folks who get a dog like it's nothing, but I just don't acquire dogs very often and when I do they are with me for their lifetime. I'm not a person who collects animals on a whim and usually the dog comes to me, through some weird way, and it's like God has sent me the dog for a reason. I can't explain it any better than that but I've not owned very many dogs in my life and didn't even get our first dog until I was in my 30s. I see them as a big commitment and not to be taken lightly.

So, this is a big deal for me and especially for my Mom...she's not a fan of dogs just for the sake of having dogs...and I really appreciate the prayers for this.

 

[Beekissed]

I am hoping for an answer to a similar situation. I need a LGD because of stray dogs mainly but also for other predators. I know where Great P. X Anatolian pups are available but if I wait I'm sure pure Great P. pups will be available. I really like the looks of the Great P. X Anatolian but I worry about temperament. I just want to make the right decision. I am praying for an answer too.

TW, if I had a choice, I'd pick that cross. That's a great cross and the Ani's are not a dog with a bad temperament, they are just very serious about their job. And in your climate, the cross might yield a dog with less fur that can tolerate the heat there better, as well as a dog that may not wander off so easily, as GPs are prone to do.

For either breed you will want to establish dominance right away and put some serious work into training until it can be trusted around the livestock and are well socialized. I think where people run into trouble with Anatolians is they fail to socialize them...just turn them into a field and expect them to work.

Both the GP and the Anatolian are breeds for dominant owners, not passive, so this is something to consider if you are normally a passive dog owner and have trouble establishing a pack leadership role. They are smart and will dominate you and your home if they know you are too passive to gain their attention and respect.

 

[Blooie]

Okay, Ken is putting the waterer together for me at the moment. Hope this works!! I'm not worried about the issues Bee and TW are having over new dogs - I have total faith in both of you that you'll do what's right for you, your families, and the dogs. So there! (oh, and I'll add a prayer just in case)

I was going to post the pictures I took of what we got done on Motel Chix today, then I took a little time and scrolled back a few pages, where I saw Luv's setup. Um, let's just say I'm doner 'n I was yesterday and leave it at that. What an amazing build you have! We just have a coop. But we worked awfully hard, under some pretty nasty conditions, so I'm pretty proud of what we've accomplished.

We decided not to put in the pop door and the nest boxes yet, although I left those spots unprimed and unpainted. Sometimes when your face is right in something you initially don't see a problem, you know? Well, when we took a step back tonight as we were cleaning up, we noticed that we may have an issue with where the ramp comes in for the chickens. It might be way too close to the opening for the nest boxes. So we figured that we'd wait and see if there's any adjustments we want to make to that before we actually make the cuts. I can always prime and paint those two areas later if we decided to relocate one or the other. Does that make sense, or should I have just gone ahead and cut them and made the best of it? Besides, for the first week or so we're going to just keep them in the coop, so they get acclimated, and the run isn't constructed yet......I was a little hesitant to have the pop door in place before the run is secured. No point taking any chances with unfriendly critters snooping around just yet. Ken had some other things he didn't like so we spent the later part of the afternoon making the changes he wanted and I do like it better.

We hung the heat lamp tonight just before we came inside to eat, and the outdoor temp is 38 but it's staying right around 60 under the light. We had it in a different spot at first, because I thought the chickens would be happier in a corner, but DUH, that's right where the roost went. So we moved it to the very center of the coop and I think that might work better after we get the litter put down tomorrow morning. We're using a bare earth floor, so we'll leave the areas around the sides of the coop litter-free for a few days so they can explore the dead grasses and take a refreshing dust bath where the dirt is bare. We'll paint the outside as soon as we have a few consistent dry, halfway warm days. Won't be near as difficult to paint that - don't have 9 gazillion studs and rafters to paint!

But it's ready enough for chicks. I am so grateful to all of your for your encouragement, your humor and your patience while I whined about getting this done. It's as finished as it's going to be right now...

 

[Triple Willow]

Personally I believe I would love them but I have read some bad things about Anatolians. My biggest fear is a dog of mine attacking somebody. I would really hate that unless it was an intruder. But a big dog like that could do a lot of damage and probably even kill somebody pretty easily.

I can't remember ever not having a dog or two. My grandfather and father both were into dogs bigtime- serious hunting dogs. I haven't had a new dog in almost 10 years. Of all the dogs I have ever had I have never had one dominate me or run the place, not happening I own guns. lol But a 100+ pound dog could be a challenge, especially if it had an attitude.

 

[Beekissed]

Oh, Blooie, you are a hoot! Every coop has its own charm...even my little hodge podge hoop coop will never and could never look like some of the nice coops out there....but I built it myself and of that I can be proud. You go ahead and be proud of your little coop for that reason...no telling what it will look like by the time you get done tweaking things here and there!

Could you take some close up pics of the places you are debating and where they are on the coop so we can understand your dilemma? Could be someone here would have a good idea that will help you make the needed changes.

 

[Beekissed]

Personally I believe I would love them but I have read some bad things about Anatolians. My biggest fear is a dog of mine attacking somebody. I would really hate that unless it was an intruder. But a big dog like that could do a lot of damage and probably even kill somebody pretty easily.

I can't remember ever not having a dog or two. My grandfather and father both were into dogs bigtime- serious hunting dogs. I haven't had a new dog in almost 10 years. Of all the dogs I have ever had I have never had one dominate me or run the place, not happening I own guns. lol But a 100+ pound dog could be a challenge, especially if it had an attitude.

TW, here is a link to an incredibly nice lady who breeds these two breeds in question and might put your mind at ease about the Ani's. She is an excellent breeder that socializes and trains her pups to livestock and people...and I mean she actually has several tests she puts them through and they have to pass before she ever lets them leave her possession. She is dedicated and knowledgeable about these dogs and I've not seen too many others who have her insight into them....think about picking her brain before making a decision and take a look at her wonderful dogs~they are amazing!

http://www.backyardherds.com/members/southern-by-choice.6771/

 

[Triple Willow]

Thanks Bee. The lady selling these dogs says that their temperament is not bad too. I tell ya what, last year it would have been nice to have one with all the break-ins happening all around us - and I mean right next door and several just down the road! And you are so right about the hair and the heat here, and I really don't care for dogs with a lot of hair anyhow.