Consolidated Kansas

[chicken danz]

Ok people I am new to Miami county KS but not new to coyote barking! I heard a very strange scream the other night behind my property in a wooded area. It did not sound like any animal I have ever heard! I researched the known animals in this area and can't place this sound. Anyone have any idea what would make a loud screaming sound? Sorry about the sound description but it really sounded like a scream but way to loud to be human. My daughter and I both heard it and ran inside. Lol scared the heck out of me.
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That would be a fox. The females scream when they are in heat. It is a blood chilling scream and very loud. Better be tightening up your chicken pens cause she'll be hunting soon.
I had a very busy day and still have a ton to do. I left the house to take some geese to the post office. I noticed a dead deer in the ditch straight out from my pond. So when I came back from town I stopped and checked it out. It was a fairly fresh kill and I could see the skid marks in the gravel. So I called the Sheriff's office and got them to come out and give me a tag for it. DH and I loaded it on the tailgate of the truck and then strung it up so I could bleed it. I got him to cut the head off. I had a wheelbarrow underneath it. DH said that was all for him. He didn't like the smell of the blood. It had a broken leg and rib cage the exploded it's lungs. I gutted it and that part was really nasty. The stomach contents were the grossest thing. Any after gutting it and then letting it down I skinned it and cut the meat off the bones. It was still warm inside so it hadn't been dead very long. I cut the legs off and skinned them and gave them to the dogs. They were in heaven. They took various other bones and buried them all around here and came back for more meat. I got several packages of meat in the freezer. I can feed the dogs raw for quite a while on this. I tried to burn the head and the organs and guts but don't know how good they burnt. I didn't have much dry trash to use to get the fire going. On my way out with a wheelbarrow load I found a huge black snake in my path. Took the big knife and cut his head off an dhe went in the fire too. The flies collected like crazy so I hope I fried a few of those in the process. I've been building cages to transport some geese as well as my normal chores. Such a busy busy day but I am so proud of myself for processing that deer for the dogs.
@HEChicken ,I don't use my phone like that either. I like having a nice sized screen in front of me and I don't feel safe putting a lot of personal information on the phone. I might use it in an emergency but that would be it.

 

[chicken danz]

Had to add a picture of some of my nest boxes just for fun.

 

[Patriciaallison]

A fox! Okay glad to know that! It might have a hard time getting around my dogs but I will tighten up my coop ASAP! My mind went wild after that night! It does not help that I watched animal planet and saw a show about mountain lions! Lmao I was glad to read that they don't live around here anymore. I've had a duck eaten by what I think was a raccoon and I have a nest of Hawks that live by my big pond about 10 acres over maybe more than ten I'm not real good at distance. Also the odd possum but my dogs are pretty good at killing them if they get to close. My Pitt is a really great farm dog she has really impressed me! She is a sweet little thing only about 30 lbs and she goes after anything she sees that does not belong to her. My chickens and ducks are all hers and she has never attacked them. But I did introduce her to them while they where small chicks and inside the house. The pigs she had to chase around a little before she understood they live here too. My pug is a mean little thing and will attack any animal she dreams attack worthy but not my birds! She still thinks the pigs are fare game and they put up with her until she thinks she has won. I did add two pyr mix puppies to my pack and they seem to be settling in well. I'm hoping they do a good job of keeping the predators down. They are 6 months and grew up on a working farm with birds. So far the girl is great the boy won't come near me or the kids. He just runs if I get close. I had a hard time getting him out of the car he was very scared. Not something I have ever seen before with a dog but her comes up to the pens and house every night to eat and check things out.
Anyone have any ideas on how to make this scared dog like me?
I've worked my but off in my garden putting in plants and weeding (a never ending job) my kids have been helping so much it's nice to spend time out with them.
Anyone let the chickens free range the garden? I'm wondering if this works?
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[turboscooby07]

We have a mountain out here in butler county so dont count that possibility out. I have never heard her scream but I have caught her on game cameras. Everyone says they dont live out here. We also have some coyote wild dog mixes that are almost wolf sized.

 

[chicken danz]

You're right turboscubby, there are mountain lions around here. I've seen several of them. But the scream comes from the fox. To my knowledge there are no other animals that make even a similar sound. I used to have a female that lived behind my house every year when she had her kits. More than once I jumped out of my skin when she'd scream.

 

[HEChicken]

I did add two pyr mix puppies to my pack and they seem to be settling in well. I'm hoping they do a good job of keeping the predators down. They are 6 months and grew up on a working farm with birds. So far the girl is great the boy won't come near me or the kids. He just runs if I get close. I had a hard time getting him out of the car he was very scared. Not something I have ever seen before with a dog but her comes up to the pens and house every night to eat and check things out.
Anyone have any ideas on how to make this scared dog like me?
I've worked my but off in my garden putting in plants and weeding (a never ending job) my kids have been helping so much it's nice to spend time out with them.
Anyone let the chickens free range the garden? I'm wondering if this works?

The chickens will do a great job of eating the weeds and bugs. They'll also eat all the veggies you are trying to grow. And they don't wait until they're mature either. They like a green tomato just fine. In other words.....nope, chickens and gardens don't mix well. I have a fence around my veggie garden and I'll throw things over the fence to them but they are definitely not allowed in.

What are the pups mixed with? As for getting him used to you, just give him time and don't try to force it. If you back him in a corner and force him to be handled, he'll only become more scared. Instead, ignore him, which will help him to feel more secure and less threatened. Move slowly and carefully, don't try to make eye contact and don't try to handle him. Let him come to you and even then, don't reach to touch him. Let him sniff you all over and then let him walk away. Do this over and over, never trying to interact with him. Eventually he will trust you but it will take time and patience.

My younger LGD was raised by a breeder who believes in complete hands off. The pups are born with the sheep and he never handles them, except to give them puppy shots. When I got her at 3 months, there was no way I could catch her and pick her up. I did what I mentioned above. I'd take my Kindle out and sit in a lawn chair and read and totally ignore her. By letting her approach me on her terms, she gradually became less shy. She is now almost 8 months and has completely forgotten that she was once afraid of me. She runs up to me and throws herself on the ground to get a belly rub, and wherever I am, she wants to be close and be loved on.

 

[Patriciaallison]

Had to add a picture of some of my nest boxes just for fun.

Awesome cat!

 

[lizzyGSR]

Had to add a picture of some of my nest boxes just for fun.

That's a great picture, Danz!

 

[Patriciaallison]

The chickens will do a great job of eating the weeds and bugs.  They'll also eat all the veggies you are trying to grow.  And they don't wait until they're mature either.  They like a green tomato just fine.  In other words.....nope, chickens and gardens don't mix well.  I have a fence around my veggie garden and I'll throw things over the fence to them but they are definitely not allowed in.

What are the pups mixed with?  As for getting him used to you, just give him time and don't try to force it.  If you back him in a corner and force him to be handled, he'll only become more scared.  Instead, ignore him, which will help him to feel more secure and less threatened.  Move slowly and carefully, don't try to make eye contact and don't try to handle him.  Let him come to you and even then, don't reach to touch him.  Let him sniff you all over and then let him walk away.  Do this over and over, never trying to interact with him.  Eventually he will trust you but it will take time and patience.

My younger LGD was raised by a breeder who believes in complete hands off.  The pups are born with the sheep and he never handles them, except to give them puppy shots.  When I got her at 3 months, there was no way I could catch her and pick her up.  I did what I mentioned above.  I'd take my Kindle out and sit in a lawn chair and read and totally ignore her.  By letting her approach me on her terms, she gradually became less shy.  She is now almost 8 months and has completely forgotten that she was once afraid of me.  She runs up to me and throws herself on the ground to get a belly rub, and wherever I am, she wants to be close and be loved on.

They are 1/8 shepherd. The breeder has a few Pyrs that she does not handle at all and he was just out with the goats and chickens. This is the first LGDs that I have owned and I must say they are very well behaved. I'm delighted with them even the one that is shy they are calm and friendly to my other dogs. At night they stay alert even for puppies they seem to know there jobs. Oh yes I got these two for free because she is moving and needed fewer dogs.
P

 

[chicken danz]

@Patriciaallison , it's in a Pyr's nature to be shy and more so if they haven't been handled. I take an entirely different approach when I raise puppies. There will be arguments about this all day long for one or the other. But I like the idea of being able to vet my dogs and have them loyal to me as well as the birds. A good LGD will be a good LGD regardless of how you raise it. I like to feed special meals at least once a week that I cook for the dogs and give dog biscuits for good behavior. If you have them out on a remote pasture guarding sheep and goats where there is no humans it's probably better not to have them bonded to humans.
But most people who want them protecting near the home need a dog they can handle. Take HEChicken's advice and spend time around him. But offer him rewards as well. Once he watches you out working with the animals he will gain your trust.