The New Flock 2021: Back to Basics

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That would scare me too. I wouldn't want to find a dog messing with my chickens that wasn't my own.

My bantam Cochin roosters I run with my standard hens tend to pick a few hens and stick with those as theirs. They aren't as hard on hens as other breeds can be, and often are great protectors.

 

[speckledhen]

That would scare me too. I wouldn't want to find a dog messing with my chickens that wasn't my own.

My bantam Cochin roosters I run with my standard hens tend to pick a few hens and stick with those as theirs. They aren't as hard on hens as other breeds can be, and often are great protectors.

So far, so good. Bee got in Jill's face today and Jill ran screaming, but she's in a horrid molt and not herself. Somehow, I knew Miss Bumblebee would be the most likely to engage first, LOL. Attitude to the max! When she came up on Zara and Athena who were eating what she felt was her brussels sprouts leaves, I warned her, "I wouldn't try those two, Bee". And when they stared her down and Zara growled, Bee decided I was right. Later, Zara thunked poor little Iris on the head and made her squeal and Athena, who seems to have taken over as head hen from Jill recently, jumped at Zara and came away with feathers in her beak. She is keeping the peace like a champ since Hector died. I was happy to see her actually defend a little one that was not in her group, or wasn't until now. Maybe this will work out.

 

[getaclue]

Keeping fingers crossed that they integrate well. Sounds like they will. Yes, it's so much easier dealing with a large group, than a bunch of smaller ones. I agree about other people's dogs. On their property they're pets. On my property they're predators.

 

[speckledhen]

That dog was back today and almost at my front steps. The gate was open because Tom got the mail and his back is really hurting so he didn't get back out of the car to close it when he drove back in. I happened to come out, saw the mutt next to my SUV, yelled at the stupid dog, his owner was driving past the end of my driveway (past my "Dogs Harassing Livestock May Be Shot" sign), whistled and called for the dog. Tom heard me yelling, came out and found that the guy had driven back to the house next door, but never made sure the mutt came with him. He left the dog inside my fence, even with that sign saying we'd shoot it. He's going to lose that dang dog if it ends up back here again. I have no idea who the guy is, could be the owner of the house, son of the late owner who bought the same month we did or a friend of his. If it's him, he darn well knows better. We've gone round and round about his last dog in previous years.

Here is a picture of Mace and Iris today. Even little rooster boys apparently like to get their feet filthy by jumping in puddles.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Mace and Iris are looking adorable.

I would never let my dog run like that. They must not value the dog much.

 

[speckledhen]

No responsible dog owner would, Lisa. I love dogs, grew up with AKC Dobermans, had three rescue pound puppies that were always well-contained during our marriage. Tom grew up with dogs and loved them far more than his parents ever did; he'd come home and his parents would have just gotten rid of his dog somehow. That devastated him. He loves dogs and that's why he doesn't want another one now, hurt too much when we had to euthanize our beautiful Kes at 15 years old.
This is a large brown dog, has Dobe-like markings, but is obviously a mixed breed, doesn't seem aggressive and probably is a nice dog on its own property, but he/she doesn't belong on my property and around my chickens. We have leash laws in Georgia as well as in my county; they mirror each other and these people need to know that they give me the right to prevent harm to my livestock, not just the right to shoot if they're being killed or have been killed.
My little ones have zero way to defend themselves. Even the largest, meanest rooster can't fight off a determined big dog, though most would do their best. We all know this, or anyone who has a clue does. I don't want to see that animal with my little Iris or Mace in his jaws or any of my birds. And Mace, that little whippersnapper, is shaping up to be a good rooster at almost 16 weeks old.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

My own dogs have killed chickens when young, so I definitely would not want any stray dogs around either. A dog can kill an entire flock pretty quickly just because he's having fun, so keep an eye out for him for sure.

 

[speckledhen]

I was just snapping miscellaneous pictures around the place and here are the ones of the evergrowing younger group that now contains Hector's four hens-at least, they all run around outside together, but they're not really together, if you know what I mean. Hector's girls are not thrilled with those little whippersnappers, but they manage to stay out of each other's way except on occasion when I hear Mace or Iris scream. The big girls have no tolerance for children.
Mace and Iris are 17 weeks old, if you can believe it. She is a little spitfire, likes to bite, working on that. Mace is sweet as he can be, though. Iris has to be the daugher of Bumblebee. She's pretty small and she's feisty like Bee. Bee has been known to nip when she doesn't want to be picked up. Mace actually defended Cricket, his broody-mom, against either Bee or Luna, couldn't tell from my vantage point. Good little guy.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's a gorgeous flock.

 

[speckledhen]

They're molting like crazy, but Scarlett, Ripley and Juliette are still laying, just not every day. Those girls are pretty consistent. I think I also got an egg from Shelby today. She's growing in her feathers with a vengeance and her egg is the largest in that entire bunch so easy to identify .
They're a lot of fun. I think Rayna is gorgeous. She's also the most calm of all the EE girls.