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Barnyard Buddies:  Question about raising laying hens  |
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farmkitty
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
Angela
Anderson
South Carolina
USA
69 Posts |
 Posted - May 06 2007 : 4:44:30 PM
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| I have a question to all those who raise chickens. We don't have any (yet) but my DH is worried about the chickens being around our outside dog. She "brought" us a rabbit the other day and while the coop plans are still being decided it troubles us to think we might wake up to a yard full of dead hens. How do ya'll deal with this problem? I guess I should mention giving her up for adoption is NOT an option. Any words of wisdom? Thanks so much Angela |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - May 06 2007 : 5:02:26 PM
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You for sure have to fence the dog out. I have had a tragedy like that once. Really not good. Make the fence dog tight, not chicken tight!!! Bury the wire into the ground foot if you can..some breeds will dig under the wire too. (mine was a lab...bird dogs seem especially determined)
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - May 07 2007 : 10:26:58 AM
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Jenny is right! We also have included a double layer of large and fine wire built into the coop.
After one incident...a very determined dog almost dug inot and ripped one layer of wire off while trying to get in.
If you don't want to bury a foot of wire straight down, you can make a skirt around the coop about 2-3 feet out. I'd use hog rings to secure wire to wire. Bury the wire with dirt/rocks or whatever soil medium on hand.
We do free range our hens, but usually only when we are at home and will be outside most of the day. |
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Bee Haven Maven
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
Beverly
Pennsylvania
USA
1862 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2007 : 02:36:49 AM
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We unfortunately lost 2 of our lovely red hens last year before we realized that our Newfie pup "loved" chickens. Thank God, she has learned to leave them alone, so now they can free range. Maddie still "loves" chickens....but she has learned to eat them cooked first!
Keep Smiling.....Bev
Check out my shoppe at www.honeybeez.etsy.com
www.beehavenacres.blogspot.com |
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Tracey
True Blue Farmgirl
766 Posts
Tracey
State of Confusion
USA
766 Posts |
Posted - May 09 2007 : 07:26:22 AM
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Your dog may not bother the chickens. Mine don't. The cattle dog thought it was okay to kill chicks one year, but a good scolding stopped that. The aussie pup likes to see them run, but is also learning this isn't acceptable behavior. I had golden retrievers for a while and the hens would ride on the back of one of them. Not all dogs are chicken killers, not even ones who bring you bunny rabbits 
But there are other predators out there that will bother them, so best build it good to keep out racoons, coyotes and neighbor dogs.
BTW...my chickens are inside the old dog kennel, so nothing is going through the fencing. We've never had anything try to dig under (ten years of chickens), but we have had things such as hawks and racoons go over, so you'll want to have secure netting on the top.
Want to read a great racoon tale?  http://carpentercreek.blogspot.com/2007/04/racoons-taleertail.html
Visit Quiet Storm, our adopted Mustang! http://wildaboutquietstorm.com
http://carpentercreek.blogspot.com http://mustangdiaries.blogspot.com http://marbletownangels.blogspot.com
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MariaAZ
True Blue Farmgirl
203 Posts
Phoenix
AZ
203 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2007 : 09:05:23 AM
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We used to let our dogs run with our chickens, and for a few years there were no problems. Then, one day, one of our boys decided he wanted to play with one of the chickens and got a little too rough, and injured the poor bird so badly she had to be put down. Even the vet (yep, took the chicken to the vet) said the injuries (limited to the head) looked more in line with dog play than with intentional mauling. Ringo just wanted to play, unfortunately the chicken wasn't built for it.
From that day on, we don't allow our dogs to mingle with the chickens unless we are present. We have a secure kennel area for the dogs, the chickens are allowed to roam the rest of the yard.
Visit my blog at www.craftyfool.net |
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farmkitty
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
Angela
Anderson
South Carolina
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2007 : 10:16:41 AM
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| Thank ya'll so much for all the input. I feel better about the whole thing now. Thankfully DH has decided to wait until we get back from vacation, so we have a bit more time to fine tune everything!! Angela |
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vermontharvest
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
doreen
w. pawlet
vermont
USA
24 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 5:00:15 PM
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glad I found this post...i've finally got my husband to agree to chickens. we are building the new barn (small barn) this summer...so...chickens will be next spring ...I was hoping to have them this year...but I want to make sure I am fully prepared for them. I am scared to death that I am going to get them...and something is going to kill them. This is all great advice. Just wondering..does anyone have trouble with their cats getting after the hens?
:)doreen
www.vermontharvest.blogspot.com |
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MariaAZ
True Blue Farmgirl
203 Posts
Phoenix
AZ
203 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2007 : 6:10:00 PM
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We've allowed our chickens free roam of our back yard once they are full grown. We've had bantam cochins and laying hens, and have never experienced a problem with the occasional cat that has wandered into the yard. We had a feral mama raise a litter behind our shed, and didn't know it until the kittens were large enough to leave mom. All the meantime, our hens nested, laid eggs and seemed to co-exist peacefully with the cat family. Last year a large cat killed one of our pigeons, but didn't seem to bother Tammy at all.
Visit my blog at www.craftyfool.net |
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MullersLaneFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
596 Posts
Rock Falls
IL
596 Posts |
Posted - May 18 2007 : 12:59:23 PM
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When you get your chicks, you will want to show the dog that the chicks are YOURS. Love on the chicks and let the dog smell them but if the dog gets the least bit aggressive, correct it immediately and harshly (meaning holler and push dog to ground, belly up).
this is basically 'dog language' that you are in control and the chicks have a higher rating in the pack than the dog does.
Cyndi
Muller's Lane Farm http://www.mullerslanefarm.com
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vermontharvest
Farmgirl in Training
24 Posts
doreen
w. pawlet
vermont
USA
24 Posts |
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Barnyard Buddies: Question about raising laying hens |
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Question about raising laying hens
