The IMPORTED ENGLISH Orpington Thread

[aveca]

i would think a LSGD would be in order if you have high dollar birds
if i had to replace everything i have including the Britts & the Bresse
i would be near $1000
next year i'm thinking 6' chainlink for the front 1/2 of the property with a dog as backup

my husband just bought a semi or half semi truckload of chainlink fence from a bussiness that moved.they didnt feel like taking the fencing with them...i think he said they are 15 ft by 8 ft? cant remember .we women dont listen you know.. i will ask him when he gets home..going to make some nice big pens..there are certian areas that i dont want permanently caged so stomp fence baby day pens in that area im home every day with those any way..i like the idea of chainlink..part of it will go around his bee hives with electric around the outside..

 

[galanie]

Just talked to Vivi... (a true Texan as we all know)  She says a stomp fence even for temporary use is a waste of money .... the coyotes, fox, mt lions, etc will wipe your birds out.   She has a terrific set up ... according to the NPIP tester who came to her place.... and SHE STILL looses birds.   it happens

 

I only let them out in that fence during the day when I can watch them. They don't like being restricted to the "barn" but they're really just fine in there with the box fan. I have whittled my flock down to 7 adults and 4 juveniles so they really aren't very crowded even in just half the barn. But being able to get out and munch grass and dig in the sand a bit really does help them out.

In the meantime I'm clearing the property a bit at a time. The brush and weeds in some areas is over my head... while I'm sitting on the tractor! I've got the area for the first run of pens cleaned up some but need to fell a small trash tree before I can start building. In the meantime unpacking and cleaning in the house, needing workshop and tool storage area, etc etc etc plus life goes on and food needs cooked and clothes need washed. Needless to say it's pretty busy around here!

Being a native of South Texas, I am well aware of the dangers. But we are not unique here in that. Things do happen and it's my job to do my best to see that they don't.

 

[Renie'sPeeps]

I only let them out in that fence during the day when I can watch them. They don't like being restricted to the "barn" but they're really just fine in there with the box fan. I have whittled my flock down to 7 adults and 4 juveniles so they really aren't very crowded even in just half the barn. But being able to get out and munch grass and dig in the sand a bit really does help them out.

 

[thedragonlady]

I only let them out in that fence during the day when I can watch them. They don't like being restricted to the "barn" but they're really just fine in there with the box fan. I have whittled my flock down to 7 adults and 4 juveniles so they really aren't very crowded even in just half the barn. But being able to get out and munch grass and dig in the sand a bit really does help them out.

In the meantime I'm clearing the property a bit at a time. The brush and weeds in some areas is over my head... while I'm sitting on the tractor! I've got the area for the first run of pens cleaned up some but need to fell a small trash tree before I can start building. In the meantime unpacking and cleaning in the house, needing workshop and tool storage area, etc etc etc plus life goes on and food needs cooked and clothes need washed. Needless to say it's pretty busy around here!

Being a native of South Texas, I am well aware of the dangers. But we are not unique here in that. Things do happen and it's my job to do my best to see that they don't.

I don't worry about your kids, Sarah. I'm sure the hawks have passed the word up the line too !

 

[Sonia]

'Lsgd's are ovverrated. Every one I've had ate my birds. Spend thousands on dogs to protect my birds and have lost more birds to dogs that were supposed to protect my flock than from wild critters and can't get rid of the dogs that are killing my stock. No one wants em.

 

[RedReiner]

'Lsgd's are ovverrated. Every one I've had ate my birds. Spend thousands on dogs to protect my birds and have lost more birds to dogs that were supposed to protect my flock than from wild critters and can't get rid of the dogs that are killing my stock. No one wants em.

who raised and trained them? and at what age were they started with livestock? and what breed are they?

 

[Jobele]

It does get pretty darn hot in TX ...and some areas get more rain than others. So you may or may not have grass on the ground. Meanwhile there are predators to worry about by land and air. Oh and then there are those darn dust storms... She certainly has space issue conquered now it's all about time and money to get set up. A.chicken tractor can be as fancy as you want it to be... it all depends upon how much time and money you have/want to put into it.
Sarah.. I hope you have trees ") if not.. that would be something I would address straight away

Good luck

Renie and Vivi.....you ain't never lied......Hotter than a Witch's Tit.....LOL

Just talked to Vivi... (a true Texan as we all know) She says a stomp fence even for temporary use is a waste of money .... the coyotes, fox, mt lions, etc will wipe your birds out. She has a terrific set up ... according to the NPIP tester who came to her place.... and SHE STILL looses birds. it happens

When we lived in Waxahachie, TX.....a mountain lion killed a new born colt and also a boxer puppy we had.......we even called the Wildlife and Fisheries to please come help us to move this female mt. lion along or trap it and move it......they said "No" But.....could we please take pictures of the paw prints and put a penny or quarter inside the print to get a size variation? Oh, and to please not shoot it?!?! Right!!!! Then 1 morning I walked out and the dang thing was sleeping on top of one of our round hay bales in the hay pasture! Well......I'll just say we got the Mt. Lion to move along! Yeah....gotta love them critters....LOL But, I will say one thing.....I didn't have many problems with Coyotes there....only because I owned a full blooded Red Mexican Wolf...LOL Wolf trumps coyote every time!

I only let them out in that fence during the day when I can watch them. They don't like being restricted to the "barn" but they're really just fine in there with the box fan. I have whittled my flock down to 7 adults and 4 juveniles so they really aren't very crowded even in just half the barn. But being able to get out and munch grass and dig in the sand a bit really does help them out.

In the meantime I'm clearing the property a bit at a time. The brush and weeds in some areas is over my head... while I'm sitting on the tractor! I've got the area for the first run of pens cleaned up some but need to fell a small trash tree before I can start building. In the meantime unpacking and cleaning in the house, needing workshop and tool storage area, etc etc etc plus life goes on and food needs cooked and clothes need washed. Needless to say it's pretty busy around here!

Being a native of South Texas, I am well aware of the dangers. But we are not unique here in that. Things do happen and it's my job to do my best to see that they don't.

I'll add 2 more critters to the list to watch out far in that area where your at galanie.........wild hogs and big snakes. I would definitely look into an LGD to help protect your livestock (birds and anything else that you choose to raise). Just sayin........been there and done that.....LOL Congrats and good luck on your new place! DO PLANT LOTS OF TREES!!!! Then do like me and cut out the roof to go around the tree....LOL Hey.....IT'S ALL GOOD! Take care of your pretty birds!

 

[Jobele]

'Lsgd's are ovverrated. Every one I've had ate my birds. Spend thousands on dogs to protect my birds and have lost more birds to dogs that were supposed to protect my flock than from wild critters and can't get rid of the dogs that are killing my stock. No one wants em.

Man...that sucks! What breed are they and who trained them? Just curious.........
Sure am sorry you lost a lot of birds to them.....that's a shame.

 

[galanie]

Renie and Vivi.....you ain't never lied......Hotter than a Witch's Tit.....LOL
When we lived in Waxahachie, TX.....a mountain lion killed a new born colt and also a boxer puppy we had.......we even called the Wildlife and Fisheries to please come help us to move this female mt. lion along or trap it and move it......they said "No"  But.....could we please take pictures of the paw prints and put a penny or quarter inside the print to get a size variation?  Oh, and to please not shoot it?!?!  Right!!!!  Then 1 morning I walked out and the dang thing was sleeping on top of one of our round hay bales in the hay pasture!  Well......I'll just say we got the Mt. Lion to move along!  Yeah....gotta love them critters....LOL  But, I will say one thing.....I didn't have many problems with Coyotes there....only because I owned a full blooded Red Mexican Wolf...LOL  Wolf trumps coyote every time!
I'll add 2 more critters to the list to watch out far in that area where your at galanie.........wild hogs and big snakes.  I would definitely look into an LGD to help protect your livestock (birds and anything else that you choose to raise).  Just sayin........been there and done that.....LOL  Congrats and good luck on your new place!  DO PLANT LOTS OF TREES!!!!  Then do like me and cut out the roof to go around the tree....LOL    Hey.....IT'S ALL GOOD!   Take care of your pretty birds!

Oh, I do have trees. And stumps. Makes clearing it really "interesting." One thing I've learned in the last few days is not to be scared of stumps, just raise the danged brush hog and keep on going. Many of the trees, I'll be taking down. I don't mean nice big oaks and magnolias but trash trees that are only 6" or less in diameter. Someone had planted a series of oak trees in a line about 100' apart down the top couple of acres, north to south. Some are cut down thus adding more stumps but most are still standing and are fairly good sized. Will be handling the shade issue. But I have to say, they are cooler in that "barn" than they were in the old place. It just isn't as hot here as it was in Houston. Thank God. I'm a 20 minute drive from Sam Rayburn Reservoir if it gives you any idea how far north I moved. And on top of a hill to boot. LOVE East Texas. Love this little town. And love this place. It'll be heaven soon enough. Heck, for me, it already is. But LOTS of work to do.

I know there are wild hogs around here, someone was asking me if the guy that sold "hog dogs" is still around and yep, on the local Craigslist is an ad for "hog dogs." Snakes, Lord have mercy Texas has it's share of those. Ever been to a rattlesnake roundup? Me either, no dang way I'd walk through brush with stovepipes on my legs listening to the snakes "ping" on them. But they have them here. Luckily I have yet to see a stray dog or a hawk but I know it's only a matter of time. For now the only wildlife I've seen much of is rabbits. Going to have to have a good fence around garden I suppose! Be a good use for that stomp in netting.

 

[galanie]

Man...that sucks! What breed are they and who trained them? Just curious......... Sure am sorry you lost a lot of birds to them.....that's a shame.

Eventually I'll be getting a couple of Aussie Shepherds. Sure hope they work out for that. All I know for sure is, that if one grows up and kills chickens, I'll be learning more about hole digging with that new front loader of mine.