Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[jvls1942]

good morning,
all coffee'd up. ready for the new day.
today i will be bottling 5 gallons of blackberry wine
have to wash a few 1 gal jugs, first.
I started a second batch that will be ready in a couple of weeks. i also started a 1 gal batch of mead. my first attempt at that.
i finished the stairway in the garage.

 

[lafinestra66]

Thank you all for your advice about where to find pullets after my flock was killed.

I found two 9 week old pullets from a nice lady in a local Facebook group. She only charged $10 each which I think is a low price considering that day old chicks are about $5 at my local feed store. And I know these are hens for sure because of their age so it's worth the few extra dollars to me for the peace of mind. I would love to have a rooster but am not able to where I live. I think that's a dumb law since a lot of dogs bark at all hours, but anyway...

The pullets are healthy and are doing well. My last survivor is making a good recovery. She still has a large wound in her back from the dog attack, but it is healing and has remained uninfected.

I built a new run with 6' tall dog kennel panels, a wire apron around the outside and cinder blocks on top of the wire apron. It isn't pretty but was the cheapest, quickest option. I have thicker hawk netting over top the whole enclosure. It's not raccoon proof but I am hoping it is dog proof.

We found out whose dog killed the chickens. It was a husky from a house almost a mile away which explains why I didn't recognize it as a neighbor's dog. This house has three huskies apparently. The husky got out of its yard, came back to our yard and went straight to the (now) empty chicken coop last Friday afternoon. The other two huskies were found running along the freeway overpass a few blocks away from our yard. I found out the owners name and where they live but am not sure how to approach them about this because you never know how people will react. I want to say something because the police told me this person's dogs get out a lot and they don't seem to be super concerned about it since it keeps happening. The police told me husband to shoot the dog if we see it in our yard again if our animals are out there. Yikes! It makes me worried it will happen again. I've made some changes since this happened but I feel like I'm kind of a sitting duck now.

From now on, when I am not home, I lock the girls in the small, more secure run. At night, they are locked in the coop which is predator & racoon proof. Racoons are not an issue for me but I found out why when I was talking to my neighbor after my flock was killed. My neighbor has been trapping them for over a year since I got my chickens! I had no idea! This has been really hard but I hope it gets better now. And I hope I can think of how to approach the dog owner. Personally, if someone thought my dog did this, I would want to know. But you never know how people will react...

Have a good Saturday!

 

[Debbie292d]

good morning,
all coffee'd up. ready for the new day.
today i will be bottling 5 gallons of blackberry wine
have to wash a few 1 gal jugs, first.
I started a second batch that will be ready in a couple of weeks. i also started a 1 gal batch of mead. my first attempt at that.
i finished the stairway in the garage.

Oh my gosh, I don't drink but once or twice a year but blackberry wine? That sounds awesome! My dad used to make beet wine when we were kids. I wonder why he didn't choose a fruit lol.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you all for your advice about where to find pullets after my flock was killed.

I found two 9 week old pullets from a nice lady in a local Facebook group. She only charged $10 each which I think is a low price considering that day old chicks are about $5 at my local feed store. And I know these are hens for sure because of their age so it's worth the few extra dollars to me for the peace of mind. I would love to have a rooster but am not able to where I live. I think that's a dumb law since a lot of dogs bark at all hours, but anyway...

The pullets are healthy and are doing well. My last survivor is making a good recovery. She still has a large wound in her back from the dog attack, but it is healing and has remained uninfected.

I built a new run with 6' tall dog kennel panels, a wire apron around the outside and cinder blocks on top of the wire apron. It isn't pretty but was the cheapest, quickest option. I have thicker hawk netting over top the whole enclosure. It's not raccoon proof but I am hoping it is dog proof.

We found out whose dog killed the chickens. It was a husky from a house almost a mile away which explains why I didn't recognize it as a neighbor's dog. This house has three huskies apparently. The husky got out of its yard, came back to our yard and went straight to the (now) empty chicken coop last Friday afternoon. The other two huskies were found running along the freeway overpass a few blocks away from our yard. I found out the owners name and where they live but am not sure how to approach them about this because you never know how people will react. I want to say something because the police told me this person's dogs get out a lot and they don't seem to be super concerned about it since it keeps happening. The police told me husband to shoot the dog if we see it in our yard again if our animals are out there. Yikes! It makes me worried it will happen again. I've made some changes since this happened but I feel like I'm kind of a sitting duck now.

From now on, when I am not home, I lock the girls in the small, more secure run. At night, they are locked in the coop which is predator & racoon proof. Racoons are not an issue for me but I found out why when I was talking to my neighbor after my flock was killed. My neighbor has been trapping them for over a year since I got my chickens! I had no idea! This has been really hard but I hope it gets better now. And I hope I can think of how to approach the dog owner. Personally, if someone thought my dog did this, I would want to know. But you never know how people will react...

Have a good Saturday!

I'm glad you got some chickens.

You could ask a police officer or county sheriff to go with you to that dog owner's place. You'd probably rather not, but they could be facing a lawsuit from you so they can't say much and they need to know.

I don't think I could ever shoot a dog, but if I saw a dog attacking my chickens, it would become very easy for me.

I'm curious though if you live in town as you mentioned the rooster restriction. If so, isn't that "dog running at large," as almost every municipality has some ordinance or law about dogs running loose.

 

[bigzio]

Thank you all for your advice about where to find pullets after my flock was killed.

I found two 9 week old pullets from a nice lady in a local Facebook group. She only charged $10 each which I think is a low price considering that day old chicks are about $5 at my local feed store. And I know these are hens for sure because of their age so it's worth the few extra dollars to me for the peace of mind. I would love to have a rooster but am not able to where I live. I think that's a dumb law since a lot of dogs bark at all hours, but anyway...

The pullets are healthy and are doing well. My last survivor is making a good recovery. She still has a large wound in her back from the dog attack, but it is healing and has remained uninfected.

I built a new run with 6' tall dog kennel panels, a wire apron around the outside and cinder blocks on top of the wire apron. It isn't pretty but was the cheapest, quickest option. I have thicker hawk netting over top the whole enclosure. It's not raccoon proof but I am hoping it is dog proof.

We found out whose dog killed the chickens. It was a husky from a house almost a mile away which explains why I didn't recognize it as a neighbor's dog. This house has three huskies apparently. The husky got out of its yard, came back to our yard and went straight to the (now) empty chicken coop last Friday afternoon. The other two huskies were found running along the freeway overpass a few blocks away from our yard. I found out the owners name and where they live but am not sure how to approach them about this because you never know how people will react. I want to say something because the police told me this person's dogs get out a lot and they don't seem to be super concerned about it since it keeps happening. The police told me husband to shoot the dog if we see it in our yard again if our animals are out there. Yikes! It makes me worried it will happen again. I've made some changes since this happened but I feel like I'm kind of a sitting duck now.

From now on, when I am not home, I lock the girls in the small, more secure run. At night, they are locked in the coop which is predator & racoon proof. Racoons are not an issue for me but I found out why when I was talking to my neighbor after my flock was killed. My neighbor has been trapping them for over a year since I got my chickens! I had no idea! This has been really hard but I hope it gets better now. And I hope I can think of how to approach the dog owner. Personally, if someone thought my dog did this, I would want to know. But you never know how people will react...

Have a good Saturday!

Good to hear things are improving with your problems for the most part. Secure areas are a must to avoid any predator problems for sure.... good luck.
One thing to have on hand for chicken wounds is BLU-KOTE spray. It is a veterinary antiseptic-protective wound dressing.
It is easy to use, and the blue color will keep other chickens from pecking at the wound. Available at farm stores for a reasonable price.

Stay safe ... bigz

 

[jvls1942]

any dog running loose is considered "at large" in the city or rural.
I had to shoot a dog . the people who owned it refused to do anything about it. I told them that I would do it. they said go ahead. then I called them and made them come get the carcass.
i have had other dogs come visit. as long as they didn't chase my chickens, no problem.
I would contact the husky owners and tell them they owe you $15.oo for each chicken . plus $15.oo for each of the two you had to buy. also tell them you are going to shoot any dog that comes onto your yard from now on. even if you have no intention to. they won't know that

 

[jvls1942]

too cold outside to do much, since I have most of the equipment out after bottling the wine. I am thinking a batch of beer would be fun to make.
this time instead of making a pilsner, I will make a lager. the hardest part is boiling 3 gallons of wort for one hour.
the fixit guy has not returned my call to come see if he can start the tractor. he normally takes up to a week to call back.
either the switch went bad, or the distributor drive broke again. hope it is the switch.

 

[bigzio]

Good luck with your tractor Jim. I hope you get it fixed
before the snow needs cleared from the driveway.
In regard to the dogs running loose, it creates a real problem
with free range chickens. Dog owners must be responsible and
not allow their dogs to run wild. It is our right to protect our
livestock (including chickens). Hopefully one does not have to deal with the situation .... that's where the responsible dog owner makes the situation a non- issue.

Hurts to buy eggs here now with the older hens done laying
for the year. I choose not to add light to the coop and allow the hens to rest until they start laying again in spring times longer days.

Stay Safe ... bigz

 

[jvls1942]

I have been buying store eggs for a long time
what I notice is that they are runny. almost like they have water in them.'
I won't need the tractor for snow plowing. we talked to the neighbor. one of the boys will come and do it again this winter.

 

[Amer]

I have been buying store eggs for a long time
what I notice is that they are runny. almost like they have water in them.'
I won't need the tractor for snow plowing. we talked to the neighbor. one of the boys will come and do it again this winter.

Probably the age causes that. The longer a egg has sat, the more the white (and yolk) break down so it spreads out.