The road less traveled...back to good health! They have lice, mites, scale mites, worms, anemia, gl

[galanie]

All I'm going to say regarding dogs that let other dogs come in and play are that each of the people that disagreed with me on that are unsure if their dog would indeed protect their birds from another dog.

My LGD Does NOT like other dogs. The only ones she tolerates are the ones that she was raised with. I don't want her to tolerate them either. There are too many dogs that would hurt our birds, and I want her to make sure they don't get close enough to.

In that case, you do indeed have a Livestock Guardian dog in my book!

 

[aoxa]

All I'm going to say regarding dogs that let other dogs come in and play are that each of the people that disagreed with me on that are unsure if their dog would indeed protect their birds from another dog.

My LGD Does NOT like other dogs. The only ones she tolerates are the ones that she was raised with. I don't want her to tolerate them either. There are too many dogs that would hurt our birds, and I want her to make sure they don't get close enough to.

In that case, you do indeed have a Livestock Guardian dog in my book!

She better be! Lol Someone should specialize in training and raising them to the point of two and then sell them as trained LGD's. I'd pay good money for that!

Bee - Clem loves her backpack. You were completely right - it works great by making her feel like she has a job. 10 lbs in each side. She calms down instantly when it's put on in the morning.

 

[galanie]

So glad Clem is working out! And for everyone, I can be of rather strong opinioned at times, no offense meant to anyone. We can disagree and still not get all bent out of shape. That's what I love about this thread. My feeling is that since dogs are one of the worst predators out there for chickens, if I have one that does not keep other dogs away, I don't think it's guarding my livestock.

 

[aoxa]

So glad Clem is working out! And for everyone, I can be of rather strong opinioned at times, no offense meant to anyone. We can disagree and still not get all bent out of shape. That's what I love about this thread. My feeling is that since dogs are one of the worst predators out there for chickens, if I have one that does not keep other dogs away, I don't think it's guarding my livestock.

I'm sure no one was bent out of shape I agree with your view Galanie. Dogs are definitely the worst predator in my book. My heart breaks when I heard that nearly 3/4 of Marty1876's geese flock was wiped out by two dogs. This is thousands upon thousands of dollars in damage. To rare breeds that need preservation. A good LGD would have saved her flock. To make matters worse, the dogs were released back to the owners without so much as a fine. Next time she is ready with a gun, and is taking the dog owners to court. Still doesn't help with the heartache you feel with coming home to that massacre. Only one of my dogs likes other dogs.

But if she didn't like other dogs, what kind of help would she be anyway?

Chloe meeting the sheep. They look like cousins, don't they?

 

[galanie]

LOL Put some black on that dogs face and you got a sheep!

 

[fishnet1971]

Mine were the same way

Never fall down in your chicken coop - cause they'd eat you..

lol. Actually if I get down on the ground with them, they jump on me and peck my back or pick my hair, on in 'Bird case, sit down and take a nap on me.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

LOL Put some black on that dogs face and you got a sheep!

Wonder if they relate to eachother by thier fuzzyness???

 

[galanie]

Got a beautiful rooster on death row this morning. I'm sad cause he's pretty but on the other hand he'll not only be tasty but no more terrorizing any of my girls. The jerk.

And no, not the normal rooster things. I mean flat out terrorizing a couple of them. Fool.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I just got back in town and haven't gotten through the new posts on this thread, but I have to share some sad news.

It's Marek's disease

It was reasonable to believe that Inga had sustained an injury, but now Frederic, the cockerel who was her best buddy, has declined to the point where she was. He had a small nail puncture wound last week which I had soaked and treated. He seemed to be getting better. Tonight when I got home, his leg was curled up the same way Inga's was - totally useless.

I'll be culling him tomorrow... he is my only crested Swedish Flower Hen

Does anyone have experience with Marek's?? And OT advice for me??

Yeah - I know it is very contagious. I'll be keeping my eye on all my other birds - none of which are showing any signs yet (that I know of). Do I clean the DL out of the coop and start over as a precaution? Do I need to spray it down with something to kill any left over virus?

Needless to say, if any of my flock shows so much as a slight limp or loss of balance in the next few weeks, they'll be culled right away. I have Frederic separated right now and hubby and I will cull him in the morning after the kids go to school (yeah - the kids will be told about our plans... sad to send them off to school knowing that, but we have to do what's best).

So yeah - I need advice on dealing with an outbreak of Marek's and preventing further losses if its possible.

Oh, I'm so sorry. I agree with others about having him tested to make sure you're dealing with Marek's. Either way, you've got some difficult days ahead and I'm sorry you're having to go through this.

THIS BRINGS FORWARD A QUESTION . . . Bee, how do you repopulate your flock if you've had Marek's or any other communicable disease? I know you repopulate yours via chicks from your existing stock but what if you're purchasing chicks? Do you get inoculated chicks or does that bring in birds that don't have a natural resistance [if there is such a thing] to the disease?

I'm curious as to how Bee and others would bring in additional birds as I'm looking at adding to my flock come spring. I'm looking for different breeds than what I now have and maybe even a roo so that I can "grow my own". Is it better to quarantine? If so, for how long? In the event that you've had a disease in your flock previously, do you get newcomers that have been inoculated? Better to go with chicks or pullets that may have already acquired a resistance to diseases? Better to acquire locally bred birds at a swap or get newborn chicks mailed from a hatchery? So many things to consider . . .

Bulldogma, sorry for your situation and hope that the remainder of your flock stays healthy. You've certainly done all you can do towards that end.

 

[memechick]

Fishnet ........... those pictures are priceless! LOL