Better protector: guardian dogs or emus?

[Padre]

Well I don't know too much about the breeds mentioned in this thread, but I do have a friend that has a Great P. He is the most gentle dog I have ever seen, his name is yetty (bigfoot). My friend has a plce where he boards horses and he has about every other critter known to man as well. There is never a problem adding or subtracting from the herd. I personally have two Rottweilers and I promise you nothing or no one comes on my property that they do not scope out and if they feel there is a danger, well lets just say they take it very personal. I know everyone will say they are dangerous, but I will beg to differ. Mine are as gentle as any other breed until you provoke them. Chris

 

[pascopol]

Quote:
Guineas or geese will alert of danger, but will not "protect" anything, they are just as vulnerable to predators as other poultry.

 

[Fredster]

When we started losing chickens to hawks a few months ago, I looked into getting something to act as a guardian for the chickens. Geese, turkeys, donkeys, llamas, and dogs.

We finally settled on a pair of young Great Pyrenees. They're brother and sister, and came from a line of working dogs. In their first home, they lived with four adult Pyrs among sheep, goats, and chickens. They didn't have any fancy papers, and cost us $50 each. We've had them almost 6 weeks now, and haven't lost a single chicken. I've watched them run off numerous hawks (including trying to leap up and catch one flying overhead), three dogs, and either a raccoon or possum (too dark to tell which). They confront strangers who go to the chicken yard without me or my wife. Even though they still play with each other a lot, they stop regularly and scan the perimeter of the fence.

After seeing how they behave at 6 months, I can't fathom how good they'll be when they mature and "get serious" about protecting the flock several months from now.

If there's any downside to these pups, it's that they occasionally (maybe a couple of times a week that I see) try to play with the chickens. They've never hurt one, or tried to, but they do sometimes chase them. I think the chicken is more in danger of hurting itself trying to get away than from the dogs. A yell from me stops the dogs cold, and changes their attention.

Oh, and they like eggs, but I've about got that taken care of.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

I've had both. The emus won't protect the birds from anything, infact they may even trample over the birds if an animal would attack.

I have a great pyreneese that seems to do the trick. And a border collie in training.

 

[erthymom2]

I beleive dogs are the way to go instead of emu's.

We have a St. Bernard who likes to lay with the chickens, and is a great watchdog. Sometimes the girls peck at his tail when he's sleeping and he'll finally RUFF deep in his troat to make 'em stop.

We also have an older rottie - he's a couch potatoe and a dachound who only wants to eat the chickens so he gets no time out with them.

We are getting our GP girly girl in 5 weeks - she's 3 weeks old now and will stay with her pack until 8 weeks. I go visit her almost daily on my way to or from my work so she gets to know me.
I am the "alfa dog" in our house so the GP/she's all mine to train and handle.

 

[Michelled1969]

When we started losing chickens to hawks a few months ago, I looked into getting something to act as a guardian for the chickens. Geese, turkeys, donkeys, llamas, and dogs.

We finally settled on a pair of young Great Pyrenees. They're brother and sister, and came from a line of working dogs. In their first home, they lived with four adult Pyrs among sheep, goats, and chickens. They didn't have any fancy papers, and cost us $50 each. We've had them almost 6 weeks now, and haven't lost a single chicken. I've watched them run off numerous hawks (including trying to leap up and catch one flying overhead), three dogs, and either a raccoon or possum (too dark to tell which). They confront strangers who go to the chicken yard without me or my wife. Even though they still play with each other a lot, they stop regularly and scan the perimeter of the fence.

After seeing how they behave at 6 months, I can't fathom how good they'll be when they mature and "get serious" about protecting the flock several months from now.

If there's any downside to these pups, it's that they occasionally (maybe a couple of times a week that I see) try to play with the chickens. They've never hurt one, or tried to, but they do sometimes chase them. I think the chicken is more in danger of hurting itself trying to get away than from the dogs. A yell from me stops the dogs cold, and changes their attention.

Oh, and they like eggs, but I've about got that taken care of.

Would it be possible to get the breeders info where you got your dogs?