this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2025
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Backyard Chickens (and Other Birds)

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[Were you a mod of backyard chickens on Reddit? Message me if you're interested in modding here.]

This is a community for people who keep chickens in their back yard. This includes pets, layers, and meaties at levels that are sub-industrial. Family farms and homesteads are included.

EDIT

The Fediverse is small. There probably aren't enough people here to make up a community for every type of bird that someone might keep so for now, everyone is welcome. Bring us your ducks and geese, turkeys and quail, Guineas and Peacocks, emus and parrots. The community will be focused on chickens but until there are enough of each bird community for their own community they will find care and comfort here.

/EDIT

There may be discussions of animal processing. This is part of chicken keeping. If you don't like it leave and block the community.

You may also be interested in:

Homestead

Parrots

Cockatiel

RULES:

  1. All Lemmy.ca rules apply here.

  2. Everyone (see rules 4 and 98) is welcome.

  3. If you've seen a question 100 times answer it the 101st time or ignore it. Even better, write a complete, detailed answer and suggest that the mod(s) pin it to the community.

  4. There will be ZERO tolerance for shaming, brigading, harassment, or other nonsense of those who keep and process chickens. You will be permanently banned the first time.

  5. No, it's not a calcium deficiency. Wrinkled eggs are the result of insufficient or insufficiently viscous albumen. Tiny eggs and missing shells are misfires. They happen.

  6. If you post a picture that includes a dead animal or blood mark it NSFW. We're not going to tolerate the militant anti-hunting and anti-farming bullshit here but we're also not going to tolerate people rubbing their hunting and harvesting in people's faces. See rule 98. If you post blood, gore, or dead animals and don't mark it NSFW it will be removed and you might be banned.

[Did you actually think there were 98 rules?]

  1. If you present something as fact and are asked to provide proof or a source provide proof or a source. Proof must be from a reliable source. If you fail to provide proof or a source your post or comment may be removed.

  2. Don't be a dick. Yes, this is a catch-all rule.

  3. The mod(s) have the final say.

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2 60-80lb dogs (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world to c/backyardchickens@lemmy.ca
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So 3 weeks ago I had 2 blue (pitbulls?) come by one male one female, jumping at my 20x10ft cage trying to get in. Luckily I walked out there, they friendly to people, I told them to cut it out and go away, and they left. This afternoon between 2-4pm they came back and broke through the wire to get to the chickens, the one missexed rooster fought them to his death, and all the hens survived. I wrapped the bottom 2.5 feet of entry with stronger metal wiring to reinforce it. They came back at 11pm. (They leaped over after tearing through the weaker part up top). I had to let one out) First off hats off to a rooster that fights off 140lbs of dogs. (Picture below for sorrow). Second, I will re-inforce further, but what would you/should I do. My spouse wants me to shoot them, and I am very much a dog lover and believe the female dog was recently pregnant so I think they are out trying to provide.... I'm trying to avoid shooting them at any cost. It's Tennessee. She grew up here. Her mindset is it's killing our livestock, kill it. I'm very much re-inforce, and figure out if we can find who owns them and make sure they know what's going on... What would you do?

Rest in peace knight of the chickens

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[โ€“] BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

The dogs' owner is the one to blame, not the dogs who's just following their instincts. If you shoot at the dogs, then shoot to kill. Shooting to hurt is, IMHO, animal cruelty. I wouldn't want to kill the dogs either, don't get me wrong, but if I had to shoot then I'd shoot to kill using a suitable caliber soft tip hunting ammo.

Instead of using a gun, perhaps you could trap the dogs and call the relevant authorities?

[โ€“] LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

I agree, I would never shoot to hurt an animal, a gun is a weapon of death, and should always be treated as such. 1.8 years I have had the chickens here, never wanted a rooster, and he proved to be my best friend. At 11:30Pm he had a chick who tore itself out of a shell in 39 minutes. Average is 24-36 hours apparently. I'm taking closed shell to walking eyes open. Shouldn't happen. But she has. She looks tired AF here