Chicken protectors

[CTChickenMom]

I do think this dog deserves a good home. She can be good but no one seems responsible for her. Dumping her somewhere else doesn't do anything for her and creates problems for someone else. I am hoping to appeal to her owners sense of responsibility before I do anything. Dogs need boundaries and do better for them. If they think their owners aren't up to being pack leaders, they will take the position. Strong-willed breeds are more likely to move into the position. She needs someone who will put her in her place, get her fixed, and teach her some manners, of which she has none. She flips out with a leash on and riding in the car is very nearly traumatic for her. If one can't afford shots, annual vet trips, or doesn't have time to spend quality time with their pets than they shouldn't have them. Its pretty simple. Pets are not hood ornaments. One has to take responsibility for their animals and it doesn't get any more basic than that.

 

[cmom]

I have an area fenced in for my birds to free range in. I have an electric fence out side of the main fence. I had a predator did under the main fence and kill one of my girls. After I put the electric wire up a possum tried to dig under it and got zapped. Boy did it let out a scream. I killed it, but I haven't had any predator problems since I put up the electric. I have seen coyotes on my property. There are pictures on my BYC Page.

 

[CTChickenMom]

Hi Cmom, do you have issues letting your chickens free range during the day? The eagle from your page looks like it could have taken off with 2 chickens! I printed a few pictures from your page for my as-yet-unbuilt coop. Your nest boxes look like the community nest boxes from another thread here. I like how the chickens have access to them from the roosts. The girls can sit on their nest and still see the others while they roost at night.

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

Great Pyrenees dogs have been suggested to me for this kind of thing more than just a couple times.

 

[CTChickenMom]

I would have to get one that is a rescue and it would have to be a local animal that I could go get. I can't afford a pup from a breeder and airfare is out of the question. We can't really justify having an animal flown in. I would consider anyone within 2-3 hours of me but as far as I know, its not a very common dog around here.

 

[babalubird]

Get a real livestock guardian dog, such as a Pyranese, Ackbash, or Anatolian. They have been bred for centuries for the purpose of blending in with their livestock, staying with their livestock and protecting them, not herding them or chasing them.

You have to make a commitment to train them though. YOu can't just get a puppy and turn them loose w/chickens and expect them not to hurt them. Amazon.com offers a book specifically about lg dogs and their training.

Or spend extensive time picking the brain of some farmer who has trained an lg dog.


Connie