Guest guest Posted June 13, 2004 Report Share Posted June 13, 2004 Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear about your chicken loss. I'm also wondering if you don't have a wild animal as a culprit. Ferrets, mink and other similar rodents kill the entire flock like that, so do badgers, wolverines and other larger beasts. Were there any tracks or bits of hair on the wire where he got in? I'm just concerned because it would be even worse if he came back. You might want to set traps just in case. Many of my chicken-raising friends keep a chicken-friendly dog on the premises as it really keeps the coyotes, foxes and other predators far away. Will in Uptown. PS There is a fantastic article by Rick in today's Sunday Trib about the Menominee farm that supplies eggs to the SP Farmers Market. It discusses all the health benefits of eating pastured eggs. What is this world coming to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I saved some of hair that was caught in the wire and showed it to some of my hunting/farming knowledgable type friends. They all agreed it was dog by hair and the type of destruction. (I now understand why farmers shoot stray dogs that wander onto their property.) I had already set out trap. Best thing was that my 4 yo daughter was not with me when I discovered the mess. And as far as a dog, we had to put down our dog 2 weeks ago- he was EXTREMELY old. I've even noticed more rabbits around which is amazing since the dog could barely walk for the past year. We're looking for a new pup. I saw the egg article. I like to have " pretty eggs " too so I have some of the same breeds that they mention and like a variety of colors. I'm always amazed when people are turned off and refuse to eat eggs becaused they're colored. Lynn > Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear about your chicken loss. I'm also wondering if you > don't have a wild animal as a culprit. Ferrets, mink and other similar rodents > kill the entire flock like that, so do badgers, wolverines and other larger > beasts. Were there any tracks or bits of hair on the wire where he got in? I'm > just concerned because it would be even worse if he came back. You might > want to set traps > just in case. > > Many of my chicken-raising friends keep a chicken-friendly dog on the > premises as it really keeps the coyotes, foxes and other predators far away. > > Will in Uptown. > > PS There is a fantastic article by Rick in today's Sunday Trib about > the Menominee farm that supplies eggs to the SP Farmers Market. It > discusses all the health benefits of eating pastured eggs. What is this world > coming to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 That is great to hear you are getting another dog. Our 13 year old eskie does not chase things away like he used to and he can't hear a thing, but I know it still helps having his smell around to keep predators away. Shari Re: sad about the chickens > I saved some of hair that was caught in the wire and showed it to > some of my hunting/farming knowledgable type friends. They all > agreed it was dog by hair and the type of destruction. (I now > understand why farmers shoot stray dogs that wander onto their > property.) I had already set out trap. Best thing was that my 4 yo > daughter was not with me when I discovered the mess. > > And as far as a dog, we had to put down our dog 2 weeks ago- he was > EXTREMELY old. I've even noticed more rabbits around which is > amazing since the dog could barely walk for the past year. We're > looking for a new pup. > > I saw the egg article. I like to have " pretty eggs " too so I have > some of the same breeds that they mention and like a variety of > colors. I'm always amazed when people are turned off and refuse to > eat eggs becaused they're colored. > Lynn > > > > > Lynn, I'm so sorry to hear about your chicken loss. I'm also > wondering if you > > don't have a wild animal as a culprit. Ferrets, mink and other > similar rodents > > kill the entire flock like that, so do badgers, wolverines and > other larger > > beasts. Were there any tracks or bits of hair on the wire where he > got in? I'm > > just concerned because it would be even worse if he came back. You > might > > want to set traps > > just in case. > > > > Many of my chicken-raising friends keep a chicken-friendly dog on > the > > premises as it really keeps the coyotes, foxes and other predators > far away. > > > > Will in Uptown. > > > > PS There is a fantastic article by Rick in today's Sunday > Trib about > > the Menominee farm that supplies eggs to the SP Farmers Market. It > > discusses all the health benefits of eating pastured eggs. What is > this world > > coming to? > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 Lynn, It may be premature or the wrong breed but I do have a suggestion for you. You can file it for future reference if you want. I work with purebred rescue organizations, particularly SAINT BERNARD RESCUE and they have some lovely young adults ready for adoption. I mention the breed because they have a long European history of protecting flocks, herds, children, peasants and farmsteads. The dogs currently available have been selected for docility, personality and excellent health. Equally important, they will be destroyed if not placed, so you are saving a life. That's the main advantage over paying a breeder to create a new one. You also have the tremendous advantage of not having to train a puppy. There happens to be an excess of dogs with this lovely breed perhaps because far too many city slickers see the movie Beethovan and come home with a cuddly Saint puppy. Opps... they belong on the farm, or at least a home where they can be " gainfully employeed " protecting or saving something. This is a working breed, not a lap dog. You would obviously need to select for one that is guaranteed not to chase chickens but this breed is a very good choice for a loyal and hardworking companion. The Saint is intelligent enough to learn what to chase and what to protect. Feral dogs would be terrified of your farm protector and would stay far, far away. If you want further information contact my friend and Patron Saint of the Saints, Kathy Deboer, rescueSB@..., to get the full scoop and to see photographs of the smiling, eager orphans looking for good homes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 15, 2004 Report Share Posted June 15, 2004 A few years ago we had a stray St B. and thought about keeping her. With the help of our mail carrier we were even to find her original owners who were glad that she had left. The vet recommended not to because there were more " head bites to children " reported for that breed than any other (or something to that effect). Lynn > Lynn, > It may be premature or the wrong breed but I do have a suggestion for you. > You can file it for future reference if you want. I work with purebred rescue > organizations, particularly SAINT BERNARD RESCUE and they have some > lovely young adults ready for adoption. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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