The Middle Tennessee Thread

[McCoysOrps]

Hi mxkidsmom, here are a few pictures of my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock breeding pens. Each breeding pen is 8' x 8' enclosed & 8' x 10' outside covered run. The wire I have on the outside runs now is just temporary. Once I get the new wire up I will have three doors "one going into each outside run and one in the middle". Each pens door will give that pen access to their own large grassy area. I hope to get the new wire and doors up soon.
Here is a side picture before I got the top on the outside runs.

Here are a couple more recent pictures.

I want them! Great job

 

[elorraine52]

where did you get your dogs and how did you train them to guard your chickens?
[/quote]

Their grandparents were imported from Italy. You do not "train" lgds. Trust me on this, because i really wanted to (having trained several nationally ranked competition dogs). The first 12-18 months requires some timing when they hit the puppy play/chase stage. Other than that it is all instinct IF they are from working patents who have that instinct and IF the breeder started them correctly - meaning they were born and kept with the livestock.
The first thing my pups see when they open their eyes is sheep and chickens. They are with both until they are about 4-6 months old. Then they go with my rams until they are a year old. During those teenage months they learn the do's, and a few don'ts, and about the time they are a year old I can put them back with poultry dependably.
The trick with lgd raising is bonding. People do crazy thing like bring them in the house when it's cold out. My Maremma don't even know where my house is. They stay with the livestock 24/7 from the time they are born so they are tightly bonded to them. That bond is formed in the first 10-12 weeks and is critical.
My current youngster is in a 3 acre pasture with 4 rams. He's been a little frustrated with them over the last week because his winter coat hasn't blown yet so he'd like to stay in the woods in the shade, but the rams are more intent on eating the grass that is finally coming up. So. .. He spends his time moving from shadow to shadow to stay cool because he won't leave them even 50' to go lay on the shade. That's a tightly bonded pup! ;-)[/QUOTE]

wow, so they just live with the animals they are to protect then, that is great. wonder if there is anywhere to get any around here or in south central MO? Do you know of any breeders? when we move, there will be alot more predators than we have here in TN....trying to think ahead

 

[McCoysOrps]

my coop bottom is concrete. Makes it a breeze to deep clean. Just hose it off. I use straw at the moment but going to switch to a deep litter method with sand

I have sand and it works great the chickens will eat it at first but not for long

 

[RedRidge]

I switched to the pine pellet horse bedding in my breeding pens this year and LOVE it! I have even put a layer on my foot path around the pen and it makes what is like a nice compacted layer of sawdust type stuff. .. But not dusty just compact. Zero mud! And I haven't had to add to it the entire winter.

 

[Silver Rock]

Hi mxkidsmom, here are a few pictures of my Silver Penciled Plymouth Rock breeding pens. Each breeding pen is 8' x 8' enclosed & 8' x 10' outside covered run. The wire I have on the outside runs now is just temporary. Once I get the new wire up I will have three doors "one going into each outside run and one in the middle". Each pens door will give that pen access to their own large grassy area. I hope to get the new wire and doors up soon.
Here is a side picture before I got the top on the outside runs.

Here are a couple more recent pictures.

I want them! Great job

Thank you!

 

[cpegram]

I have Great Pyrenees and have yet to lose any they are great also with and protecting the family

 

[chickengizzard]

Red I always used fine shavings in my horse stalls and chicken lot made the switch to Cobb pellets last year and I too love them so much easier and more absorbant and they break down quicker in my large large very large pile of manure in which I grow the biggest prettiest tomato plants you ever saw lol they look like Christmas trees with red balls lol

 

[southernblubird]

How old? I don't see any pinking yet. Is their a single row of "beads" on the comb or a triple row? And is she a real Ameraucana or an EE? Three beads usually is a rooster but with an EE it is less than a hardset rule.

The picture doesn't give a good view of the feathering of the neck and saddle area. Look for pointed feathers in this area for a roo and round ones for a pullet.

Hey Penny Hen! I am so sorry for the late reply. I got this one from The Poultry House via Bonnie's Barnyard, so I am as assuming she's a true Ameraucana. Here is another pic, this would put her around 7-8 weeks. She doesn't roost close with the other hens and keeps to herself. I am thinking she has a single row. You?

 

[DMRippy]

Quote: She is an Easter Egger not a pure Ameraucana. You don't get Pure Ameraucanas from hatcheries.

 

[JennaLynn122]

these are going in bator tonight
these hatched today