Hi Candace
I love the GP's. I looked at your website after Trish44 told me about it. I love the ones with black, and I'm the one that wrote to you about the GP with the black ears (Buddy.) They are just the BESTEST dogs. We, too, live where there are coyote packs, bobcats, wild dogs and all kinds of other varmints, and we have not lost any livestock or birds to predators with the exception of one guinea hen that we lost to an owl one morning. Darn thing swooped down right in the front yard. The dogs were out back by the goats.
I agree with all that you've said. I wish Buddy would stay in a little closer to the goats, but he was an adult when we got him, and he patrolled several square miles with those goats before we got him. He doesn't really "roam" but he does get up to 3/4 mile away from the house when he is chasing coyotes. I've witnessed him and Sophie chase off 5 coyotes at a time.
We handle our dogs just enough to teach them the basics as you said, but they are raised with the animals, fed out there, and they are NOT house dogs. Runt, our youngest, is a little more bonded to people than Buddy, but he still knows his job, and nothing stops him if he sees or smells a predator. When my husband goes outside, runt comes up to him for a pat or a rub, then follows him around the farm, which is all pretty close to the animals since that is what he is taking care of. Runt will stop a few feet behind my hubby, lay down and wait until DH goes somewhere else, then follow him there, lay down, wait, and this continues pretty much the whole time my hubby is outside. HOWEVER, if he senses a varmint, or hears Buddy sound the alarm, he is off like a rocket, and I don't think anything could stop either one of them. Buddy drags around like he is 80 years old (we don't know how old he is) until he senses a varmint, then he is off like well toned athlete. He is loosing some of his steam and stamina, though, we have noticed.
Danz- I wonder about the shavings, too. It might be worth pulling the chicks off it. I really don't like putting chicks on shavings until they are a little older. The little seramas are doing well. I haven't gotten any eggs yet. I want to get them separated a litle more. I'm sure they would all enjoy a romp in the dirt at this point, so I am trying to figure something out to allow that. Right now they are in the cages I built.
Checoukan- my little ginger red pullet looks better, but she is still getting flipped over once in a while and having trouble with that wing and leg. Poor thing. She is such a little sweetie.
Trish- I'm getting eggs from my wheaten ameraucanas and my black. None from the lavender yet. Hopefully soon.
Hawkeye- I think you are just going to have to cut that coop off and take it with you. You have put SO much work into it. I'm sure you would HATE having to leave it behind. Always look toward the bright side, even though moving is a royal P.I.T.A. maybe you can find a place that will have a great barn that will accommodate more chickens!