Utah!

[PacsMan]

BTW all,
I just installed 6 roll out nest boxes into my 8x8 coop, for my 21 new girls.
They should start laying (I hope!) mid-July.

Then I can finally keep up on my egg orders... *fwew*

 

[sprawli]

See the uploads link above? Use that link to upload images of your chicks. Note the link for each one and you can paste them right into your post.

 

[carybear]

these are the cute babies. black: Belle, Brown, Truffle, Yellow: Peeps & Pebbles

this is my minpin, Monty, watching vigilantly. He's not actually in the pen, but on the outside behind it! he really likes the chicks!


Okay so how do you keep your dogs obession with the chickens at bay? I have a lab/retriever mix who has a serious obsession with the chicks, to the point she doesn't want treats! I'm willing to entertain any suggestions.

 

[PoultryPedia]

carybear--Especially Pebbles looks sooooo pretty in the pic

Makes my heart go, "Ohhhhh!"
Congrats on your beauties!

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Here's how I handled teaching a dog to leave chickens alone in past:

We were given a border collie-Aussie cross. She was and is infatuated with chasing cats, and her interest is intense.

When we first took her into a coop, she was surprised by the chickens' flapping.

Before she could become comfortable and interested, we took her back outside.

For a couple weeks, we only let her near them or even where she could see them if we had a choke collar on her. We jerked the leash and said "No! No!"and turned her head away every time she so much as thought about even looking at them.

I realize that was extremely strict, but with her potential for intense interest, we had to establish boundaries way far back from the behavior that would actually cause harm. Also, we decided initial harshness was warranted because the alternative was her having a very slim chance of having a home where she could run--which a collie needs.

It worked! A few times afterwards, she got excited at some action while the chickens were free-ranging, but we reprimanded her strongly. She now runs around the farm and chases horses and tries to play with cats, but leaves chickens alone.

 

[SashimiGuy]

Anyone know the ordinances regarding chickens in Bountiful,

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Can anyone help Chris?

 

[PacsMan]

Quote:
Good to see you in "Utah" Mahonri...

I checked BYC's L.O.R.E. and Bountiful wasn't in there. Did a bunch of googling, and came up with this article at the Davis Clipper in June 2009.

It's a start, and Chris should probably check with the City on Tuesday.

Happy 4th!
Marty

=-=-=-

Few feathers ruffled in city’s chicken ruling
by Melinda Williams
Jun 04, 2009
WOODS CROSS — A decision to allow residents to keep chickens as pets passed with nary a ruffled feather here Tuesday night.

Several months ago, a resident complained to city officials because a Davis County Animal Control officer told him he had to get rid of his pet chickens, who had gotten out of the yard.

The matter was referred to the city’s Planning Commission which recommended the council adopt an urban chicken ordinance much like several other cities along the Wasatch Front already have in place, redefining what is a household pet.

Under the ordinance, four chickens may be kept in standard R-1-8 or R-1-10 zones or eight on lots of more than one-half acre, according to city planner Tim Stephens. However, no roosters will be allowed.

The chickens may not by kept for commercial food production, and coops or pens must be behind the home, no closer than 15 feet, and droppings must be cleared away every two weeks, Stephens said.

Those wishing to keep chickens, must apply for a conditional use permit, which will cost the resident a one-time fee of $5.

Few attended a public hearing, and none who spoke opposed the ordinance, instead praising chickens for providing healthier eggs than store-bought.

One resident asked the difference between chickens and dogs, saying dogs poop, bite and bark. “At least a chicken gives something tangible back to the owners,” in eggs.

[email protected]

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
I hear ya Marty! It's nice that people are willing to pay a bit extra for fresh eggs!

Sorry Chris - I don't know anything about the zoning in Bountiful

carybear - What we did was very similar to SpeckledHills except we used a shock collar. We only had to use it a couple of times before they got the drift and then slowly started letting them be around the chickens. Probably took us a good six to seven months. We have a chocolate lab and an aussie shepherd to loves to kill EVERYTHING! Now I actually feel more comfortable with the dogs around the chickens than when they are not. A couple of months ago, the lab went after the chickens and I yelled at her... until I realized that she was chasing a mourning dove away from her chickens.

Right now the problem is that if the dog lays down around the chickens, a couple of them will start pecking at the dog's fur, tail or whatever looks the most interesting.

 

[kimbobim]

Quote:
How funny - that's exactly what our chickens do with our standard poodle. He loves to hang out with them and will lie in the grass near where they're free ranging. The younger ones will peck at his fur and long tail (we kept it undocked, unlike most poodles). I've got a picture of them roosting on his back when they were younger - hilarious. He just sighs and gives you this 'see what I put up with?' sort of look.

He's never been agressive with them, which is a relief - standard poodles are actually hunting dogs bred for water retrievals. He's very protective of them and has even chased away a hawk that got too curious a few times.

Have a great long weekend, everyone!

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
I'd love to see that picture sometime!

BTW - A while back I posted about our GLW going broody... well, we lost some eggs along the way, but two hatched! I love little fuzzy butts. Hopefully they aren't both little roos.