Hello! We live on three acres that is about 1/4 park like, 1/4 orchard, 1/4 wooded, 1/4 sunny. It has some gulleys and isn’t super level so fencing all three acres would be tricky, but not impossible.
We currently just have chickens that we keep in a run. We have lots of hawks and three small children that would devastated to lose a chicken to a predator. They are in a very secure run/coop at night, so my concerns are mostly with daytime predators, which would include the neighborhood labs that get out frequently. We’d eventually like ducks as well as more chickens, and to be able to let them free range a good portion of the day. I’m even afraid to do a chicken yard with electric fencing without a guardian. We already have a mostly indoor Britney spaniel (unfortunately she doesn’t like to be outside much) so that adds a dynamic to the mix as well. Two cats, maybe outdoor angora bunnies one day.
Any tips on which sort of farm dog or guardian dog would best suit our needs? I’m leaning towards a Scotch collie, but am intrigued by the Maremma as well, although all I have seen are well above what we’d spend on a dog. Which breeds are most intuitive and least stubborn? I’d really prefer to adopt an older dog, but I know a well trained older dog is hard to come by. Im wondering what fencing needs for a scotch collie or maremma. I know a Pyrenees we’d have to fence in entire property. Im also concerned about nighttime barking as we live in a “neighborhood” with 3 acre lots so we are somewhat close to neighbors. We mostly need daytime protection as all animals will be secure at night.
Tips on breeds? Where to look?
We currently just have chickens that we keep in a run. We have lots of hawks and three small children that would devastated to lose a chicken to a predator. They are in a very secure run/coop at night, so my concerns are mostly with daytime predators, which would include the neighborhood labs that get out frequently. We’d eventually like ducks as well as more chickens, and to be able to let them free range a good portion of the day. I’m even afraid to do a chicken yard with electric fencing without a guardian. We already have a mostly indoor Britney spaniel (unfortunately she doesn’t like to be outside much) so that adds a dynamic to the mix as well. Two cats, maybe outdoor angora bunnies one day.
Any tips on which sort of farm dog or guardian dog would best suit our needs? I’m leaning towards a Scotch collie, but am intrigued by the Maremma as well, although all I have seen are well above what we’d spend on a dog. Which breeds are most intuitive and least stubborn? I’d really prefer to adopt an older dog, but I know a well trained older dog is hard to come by. Im wondering what fencing needs for a scotch collie or maremma. I know a Pyrenees we’d have to fence in entire property. Im also concerned about nighttime barking as we live in a “neighborhood” with 3 acre lots so we are somewhat close to neighbors. We mostly need daytime protection as all animals will be secure at night.
Tips on breeds? Where to look?