The more I read, the more I think a dog is not for me. Seems GPs bark a lot.. that would be something I'd get tired of quickly. I think I'll invest my energy, money and time into other things rather than a dog. I did read that scarecrows help with coyotes too.. maybe I can put a few in the chicken pen - read about electric fencing but worry about the kitties.
The thought of that was off-putting to me too, to be honest. At my old house, my next door neighbors left their dogs out day/night in a small, enclosed backyard, and the poor things were bored senseless and barked all the time. It got very old to try to sleep at night with them sitting just feet from my bedroom window, barking throughout the night. So when I heard that GP's bark a lot at night, I wasn't that excited. My experience though has been that I rarely hear my dog, and when she does bark, I know she is barking AT something, not barking just to bark. Also, as someone else said, it is a deep, forceful bark, not a high-pitched yappy, just-want-to-hear-the-sound-of-my-voice bark. I actually find it comforting to hear her barking, which I know sounds strange and is unexpected to me, but when I hear her bark, I know "Tory is on the job" and I can go back to sleep without having to worry about waking to carnage in the morning.
Last evening, DH and I were outside, working, when we heard Tory barking from some distance. I went to investigate and found her trying to run off a strange dog. Some neighbors told me about this dog that they've seen a few times but they don't know where it came from. They said it has a collar but they can't get close because it runs off. They're not sure if its a stray dog that was dumped here, or does have a home and is wandering a long way. Anyway, it had come to visit my neighbors last night, and Tory was there, not allowing it access to our property. This dog is enormous - seeing him standing close to Tory, they were the same size and Tory is a big dog. So it wasn't that willing to be run off by her but she didn't give up. She made it slowly retreat, and then the neighbors horses cantered up to see what was going on and it took off. Tory seemed very satisfied with a job well done and trotted over to me, glancing over her shoulder from time to time to make sure it was staying away.
If you aren't comfortable with a dog, that is surely the right decision. There are too many GP's out there needing homes because people got them without thinking through the decision. Adopting any animal (including chickens) is a commitment that shouldn't be taken lightly. I applaud you considering other options if a GP isn't right for you.
x2. What works for one person isn't always a great solution for another. I really hate seeing people get pets on impulse and then when it doesn't work out, treating them like they are disposable. I would much rather see someone like yourself put a lot of thought and research into it beforehand, to make sure it is a good decision, before jumping in. As others have said, an LGD is not the only predator solution.
HEChicken - What styles of beer do you make? I am all over the board on styles. I like them all. The only reason I brew so large of a batch is because I brew with two other guys. Then we split the 12 gallons three ways. Let me know if you ever want to try some home grown hops. I have a ton of them from last year's harvest. Just let me know.
In other news I think out of the 5 Marans I have I am now guessing 4 for them are boys. My reasons, the 4 birds are larger than one, the 4 are all starting to get spurs and one of the 4 is definitely showing some red tint in the comb. The 5th Marans is small and has none of those signs. I am approaching week 3 or 4 this week. As more feathers come in I will know. I think this is a neat game of trying to figure it out. It will be interesting to see how close I come to being correct.
I like a good wheat beer but I'll try about anything. DH likes the dark beers and I'm thinking about trying a stout next, although it might be better to save that for the warmer months. Thanks for the offer on the hops. So far I haven't tried any full grain brews, sticking instead to the kits
When I read about the process for doing a full-grain brew, it seemed very labor and time intensive, so I haven't done it yet, although it is on my bucket list to learn it one day.
So sorry about the Marans. Are they Black Copper Marans or another variety? If BCM, the girls will only have copper coloring around the neck area. If you start to see color developing in the wings, they are boys.
So much information.. you guys are awesome
