Mudpups Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I think this is the best place to post some newbie questions about chickens. We would like to get a few for laying and as pets (we live in an outer metro/natural bush suburb). They would be free range in the fenced area of our yard, or in a moveable coop with some free range. I know very little about chickens and was hoping to find out which breeds are hardy, quiet and not too highly strung around kids, dogs and cats. We have daily visits from magpies that steal the cats kibble and the cats totally respect birds with big beaks, and I have known people with chickens and cats without incident, but wonder if that is normal? The next question is, what is the best way to introduce the two border collies to chickens to avoid bloodshed? Will the dogs hassle the chickens relentlessly or is this more of a training issue that we can work with (both dogs are good with leave and that'll do commands, but they are both still young). I would appreciate hearing anyones experiences with chickens and BC's in a non-farm setting (we have a half acre block). Thanks Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathyF Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 We have barred rock hens and find them to be very hardy and easy to raise. They handle our Minnesota winters without any heat lamps. Our cats go thru the chicken yard all the time without any incident. We do not let our dogs have any access to the chickens. I have a couple who would just as soon kill the chickens, so ours are fenced into their own area. Our dogs really only pay attention to them when I am in the chicken yard feeding or cleaning up. We lock up the chicken coop each night as we do have raccoons and other varmints that would like to eat them. Kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bcnewe2 Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 I used to have chickens back in MO and I love them all. We raised them as free range and we had no issues. We did have to lock them up at night to keep critters from getting into them but other than that they had free range. Even in the back yard. I've had lots of rescue bc's there. Some were not able to learn not to harass the chickens but the chickens quickly learned when we had that type of dog and would rarely venture into the backyard if that was the case at the time. Others were easily taught to leave the chickens alone. We had almost zero bug population. No ticks, chiggers, or fleas. That was heaven. So were the fresh eggs. We tired to butcher once but that was a mess and I couldn't do it to my friends the chickens so settled on store bought chicken and fresh eggs! We started out buying a mixed bunch of birds. My favorite in the beginning were the tophat breed. Cute, funny and stayed close to home. But in the end we started rescuing fighting chickens. If we got the roosters young before they had actually fought we didn't have many issues. Didn't hurt that I had a rooster that was a giant and he ran the flock. He happened to be a fourth grade science project. He ruled his roost kindly and peace was easy. The fighting hens were the toughest chickens we've ever had. Lived though anything. I think they'd have even fought off predators if we had ever had issues. The only issues we had with them was they were so broody it was a fight to get the eggs away from them. I had one that got mad cause I kept taking her eggs, she disappeared for about 40 days, long enough to lay a huge clutch of eggs and hatch them. All of a sudden she returned with 23 baby chicks. Biggest clutch of eggs any of our birds had ever hatched. She didn't manage to keep all of them alive, but pitty dog that tried to mess with her chicks. We also had a pet turkey named Rita and a few rescue ducks, and an African goose. We loved all our foul but wouldn't have been able to keep the goose or the ducks if they hadn't been able to stay out of the backyard. Huge poops! When we sold our farm the couple that bought is took on Rita and the goose. Within a month of our moving Rita passed away. The new owner called me crying. Sad day for all. I miss my chickens down here in AR but the predator issues we have made it impossible to keep chickens alive. I hope when we move we'll be able to get them again. I don't know where you are but on the few nights that it was just to cold for anything, we put a heat light hung high in with them where they slept at night. Hung it over the waterer. Kept the water from freezing and the birds were quite happy! If we get chickens again, I'll probably pick a mix bag again. I loved the variety. Just don't get to many roosters. We found our magic number to be about 3 of varied ages. Less fighting with different sizes. Small ones quickly learned who not to mess with. We would rather watch a batch of young chicks than TV anyday! My son referred to it as chicken TV! Murray McMurry has a wonderful catalog. We ordered from them once and the chickens came in the mail like a Christmas present! Good luck and hope you enjoy your chickens like we did! By the way, my favorite fighting hen was the best way we taught our dogs to leave the chickens alone. She did a fine job of teaching a dog to respect chickens. Even Mick! Kristen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tea Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 We had Island Bantums. Alot of little eggs! But the sharpies ate them. One was pretty funny, she'd lie down next to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Hi, I think your breed choice would be affected by your location and so you'd need to ask locally about typical Australian breeds to find one that is fairly docile and easy to handle/hardy. If you have the opportunity and Australia has any heritage/endangered breeds, I'd try to get some of those, just because you'd be doing a good thing for breed diversity too. I have indoor/outdoor cats that have learned to leave the chickens alone. I didn't do much in the way of teaching this--I think they just recognized that the chickens are not wild birds and therefore not prey. That said, I did have one cat who was always trouble, and he would go after the small bantam chicks, so I just managed him when chicks were out and about. And JellyBean, who never pays any attention to my little Old English Game bantams or their chicks (adults maybe the size of a pigeon, and chicks tiny) but had a good old time stalking my Rhode Island Reds when they were small (which, relatively speaking when compared to the OEGs wasn't very small). He never actually attacked/caught any and I used to just distract him when I saw him doing it. Again, though, if you have stray cats that come through, all bets may be off.... Smaller chickens will be more susceptible to predation by hawks than larger/heavier chickens, although sometimes hawks will try for larger birds and injure them. If you just want eggs, you don't need to keep a rooster, and that can keep the noise level down tremendously, for which your neighbors may thank you. Bantams, and especially game bantams, are well-known for their broodiness and ofr being great mothers. My bantams raise 6-10 broods every year. I've got a set of eight chicks right now that are maybe a month or so old and another hen setting. The downside to the bantams is that their eggs are bantam-sized (which means you have to double them for recipes) and they are much more seasonal layers than other breeds. I expect that my Rhode Island Reds and Dominiques (of which I am missing one, which makes me wonder who got it....) will be more prolific layers, but likely won't be very broody. Since I don't have a rooster of either breed, that's okay. If I decide to raise RIRs or Dominiques I will get a rooster of the appropriate breed and keep them enclosed together for a while, collect the fertile eggs, and put them under an OEG bantam. My dogs also share the yard with my chickens. If I were introducing the dogs to chickens, I would keep them on a long line so I could control them and let them no in no uncertain terms that the chickens are not to be bothered. I have a couple who will work chickens (only when asked) and another who likes to just sit and watch them, especially when I have newly hatched chicks out in moveable coops (where they stay till they're well feathered, at which time they are allowed out during the day and are put up at night). AS long as they aren't harassing the chickens, I don't worry about it. I don't know what types of native predators you have in Western Australia, but you will want to consider them when you build a house/coop for your chickens. Mine all go up in a house at night, where they are safe from predators like raccons, possums, and foxes. At night you also have to be concerned about owls, and during the day, your main predators would be hawks and your neighbors' loose dogs. If you put areas for perching and nest boxes in a house, the chickens will use them. Chickens that free range (even inside your fenced yard) will help with bug control, but they will also scratch in your flowerbeds, so consider what you're willing to put up with (i.e., keep chickens in a moveable chicken tractor to keep them out of the flowers, fence off the flowers, etc.) and plan around that. Chickens that free range will require less feed, but if you're expecting eggs, it helps to provide them with access to a balanced feed and a source of calcium (so they don't have eggshell breakage problems). They will also need nest boxes in which to lay their eggs, unless you want to go searching all over the place for hidden nests (well, and your dogs might figure out they can go hunting for eggs too). There's probably a Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens (or poultry), and it would help you to find a copy (Amazon probably has one) as a reference. The Storey's guides are usually pretty good for folks just starting out with a particular type of livestock. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
osioda Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 If you are going to have chickens, For about any climate and will produce good and work good for free range you want Rhode Island Reds, they are easy to take care of and can handle any kind of weather, they will lay you brown eggs. and can work with free range just fine, As for Hawks and predators, I don't care what the chicken is the type or kind if you have alot of hawks around they will get any of them, And if you have young border collies I suggest you keep them away from them if they are young dogs. They will want to set and watch them, and it will ruin them the dogs. And eventually if your chickens are free range they will get so they are not afraid of the dogs and will actually just tease them. Talking from experience. Hope that helps Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 14, 2008 Report Share Posted October 14, 2008 Steve, The OP is in Western Australia. As the RIR is an American breed of chicken, it's probably not likely that she'll find any where she is, unless American breeds were imported into Australia at some point. Also my dogs (including pups) and chickens share the same outdoor space. I have yet to have a border collie ruined by being raised around chickens. In fact the one who likes to work poultry and stare at the chicks works fine here on the farm and is currently trialing successfully at the open ranch level at age 2 1/2. A lot depends on the quality of the dog and its training and handling (on and off stock). J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stockdogranch Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 I doubt the OP can get RIRs where she is, but I sure liked mine when I had them--they were great layers and were plenty broody. I always kept a dozen or more for eggs, but for meat, I used to get about 30 Cornish Cross each year, and in 6 weeks (as opposed to 6 months), they were ready for "harvesting." Tons of meat, and the feathers were even more sparse (fewer per square inch) than other breeds, so plucking was easier. I'd split them down the middle and put them in the freezer (1/2 half was PLENTY for 2 people), and have great chicken all year long. Oh, and turkeys are really fun, too. I always used to have several of them each year, too. I had Bronze and Royal Palms, and both breeds were broody and raised up nice little turklets as well. As for teaching the dogs to leave them alone, that's been covered well; like Julie, I've not had one ruined by being raised along with poultry. Great book I had once upon a time was Chickens in Your Backyard. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hsnrs Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 We love our Plymouth Barred Rocks. They are hearty and very personable. Hubby can hold them and they lay regularly. The Leghorns are the best but white is boring. Dogs (Aussies) do get in the coop and herd once in awhile but have never harmed them. RIRs are good layers too; neighbor has them. JMO Narita Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 I have RIR and Americanas (Easter egg chickens). I love them. Thoe are the two breeds that I have decided work best for me. The RIR are very gentle hens and follow me around. Red, the RIR rooster is very tame. The dogs ignore him. I have taught the dogs not to chase the chickens BUT I never let the dogs roam loose either. (except for Tess and Nan) Nan is afraid of the chickens and Tess knows the only time she can herd them is when we put them away at night. Diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpups Posted October 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Thanks everyone for all the replies, you've been a great help, I am planning on getting 20-ish week olds not babies and no roosters so I am really glad to hear that BC's cats and chickens are not going to be a complete disaster (we are both home all day so can manage the training introductions and supervision fine, plus if we are inside, that is where the dogs want to be anyway). To answer some of the questions, I am in Western Australia, but I know we definitely have RIR's here, Isabrowns and leghorns are common as well, but RIR's sound like they have good natures for the kids to handle. The predators we have would be occasional hawks/eagles/owls (although most of our backyard is heavily treed), and possibly feral cats/foxes which would be very few and far between where we are. They would definitely be locked up in a safe pen/shed at night - I would like to get them now but have to wait for hubby to build their home, and he has a few other major jobs to do first:( Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjk05 Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Hi Michelle, if you haven't already, I'd definitely talk to Trinity's breeder about your chook choice. She's a bit of a poultry information gold mine, and might even have some spares to start you off with I'm just getting ready to get us chooked up soon (need some repairs to the chookhouse) so I'll be interested to hear how you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeltaBluez Tess Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 For my chicken coop. I made it out of dog kennels. The panels are 6'x 6'. I built it so it is 12 ' x 12 ' and then made nesting boxes. This way I can dismantle it and move it around. I put a Tarp cover over it for a roof and on the rainy side so the chickens would not get wet. It works great and was far cheaper than building a coop. I let them out and at night they go back in. diane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpups Posted October 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Thanks everyone for the replies about the chickens, we have made a portable tractor for them (using an unused metal dog kennel for the coop), and have managed to get three young chickens - a gold laced wyandotte, a coronation sussex and an Australorpe (an aussie breed). Pulletts available for sale at the moment are about as rare as hens teeth! I would like to add a plymouth rock and a RIR hen to our little flock. I am pleased to report that the border collies have accepted them no problems. Trinity is overjoyed that we have provided her with two legged sheep:) Luckily the two legged sheep are not worried about the dogs at all. The chickens have tipped us over the edge...we have 98% decided to fulfill our lifelong dream and move to the country next year:) Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 What great news! Enjoy your feathered friends! No doubt sheep will be next. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sasha's Mom Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Thanks for the replies. I posted asking about ducks a couple of months ago, and we decided to wait until we were a little more settled. And also decided to rethink chickens as there is already a coop on the property. It needs a little work, but we're leaning towards buying a straight run of 25 heavys from McMurray. Since I don't know which breed we'd want, we figure that variety is good. Or should we go for pullets? I don't really need 25... was leaning towards some for meat too. Plan to free range during the days. And since our focus is decidedly on rescue, we aren't planning to try to train the dogs except that they aren't for play or chase. Danielle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juliepoudrier Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 I personally would just get pullets. You can eat hens as well and at least they could produce eggs in the interim. Roosters don't do much but crow, attack things, and fertilize eggs, and I'd be leery that with straight run I'd end up with a whole lot more roosters than hens. I think when you hatch your own, it evens out over time, but it would suck to end up with,say, 15 roosters and only 10 hens. If you don't need 25, spend the extra to get just pullets and buy fewer of them. That's what I'd do anyway. I bought 8 RIR pullets and 6 Dominiques this spring and paid $3-4 each for them, which wasn't bad. (And I have more than enough roosters with all the OEG bantams around here. If I decide I want to breed more RIR or doms I can get a rooster, but then I'd have to be sure I kept the hens up with the rooster of the appropriate breed in order to get PB chicks. It's really just easier to buy them IMO.) J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debbie Meier Posted October 24, 2008 Report Share Posted October 24, 2008 Thanks for the replies. I posted asking about ducks a couple of months ago, and we decided to wait until we were a little more settled. And also decided to rethink chickens as there is already a coop on the property. It needs a little work, but we're leaning towards buying a straight run of 25 heavys from McMurray. Since I don't know which breed we'd want, we figure that variety is good. Or should we go for pullets? I don't really need 25... was leaning towards some for meat too. Plan to free range during the days. And since our focus is decidedly on rescue, we aren't planning to try to train the dogs except that they aren't for play or chase. Danielle Have you checked your local Craigslist, sometimes it's a good place to pick up a few grown hens that are already laying. Deb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudpups Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 What great news! Enjoy your feathered friends! No doubt sheep will be next. J. Yup. Next year we are moving to the country:) It can't come soon enough for me, and sheep are definitely on the list:) Michelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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