Best guard birds for chickens?

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
what's a skink?

 

[goddesses]

We have two dogs - although we use invisible fence and the chickens have learned exactly where that invisible line exists, there is still one large open common area. The chickens literally fly through that area. The scent of the dogs seems to keep all critters at bay.

We also have large Bald Eagles in our area, but they seem completely uninterested in the hens - maybe because of the dogs or the fact that it is easier going for small mammals and snakes than a mad 8lb hen.

Mother Henn

 

[babylady4]

Quote:
So how would I go about keeping them together in the same pen, and making sure they are all eating the proper food? The chicks are 4 weeks old and would be the perfect size for the introduction of some baby geese.

 

[briana1975]

We have turkeys. They warned the chickens all weekend about the seagulls. They were plowing up the fields. It was funny to watch. They aren't that noisy.

 

[luvarabhorses]

We have a guard goat. Maybe we are just lucky. We bought a female pygmy to help clean up weeks in the horse paddocks but it turned out she would rather be with the chickens. She wears a little bell and covers the 1/2 acre pen well. At night she dings her little bell to whichever door you are approaching in the pen. I really think most ground preditors would be pretty frightened of her and she is so curious I could see her scaring off a hawk.

 

[babylady4]

I love the idea of a guard goat! I don't think we are quite ready for a goat though, no place to house it at the moment!

 

[luvarabhorses]

The housing requirements for pygmy goats are very simple. She has a square large plastic dog kennel ( the kind with the grate in the front), because we had one laying around. She would have been fine in one of those barrels turned on its side with lots of straw in it. You have to have good fencing and mine likes roaming around eating weeds. Most goats like to be kept with another but this one is independent and likes chickens. Plus they are very entertaining. She's a comedian/gymnast.