English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Still hicks.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I mean, we learned about stuff and theoretically I know honey bees and bumblebees are harmless and try not to run from those anymore but I'm terrified of wasps ha anyway, my point is, I didn't used to be so scared of them but then a few years ago I thought I saw one l, swatted it, and I swear it was chasing me, which it may have been since I swatted it ha or it wasn't one, anyway, I booked it across the driveway into the house (we have like garden/wild bird area, driveway, garden/entryway so not a far distance but still) anyway, at the top we had recently put gravel in and I was in shorts and flip flops... you can see where this is heading.... completely ate %&?$ and tore up my knee and leg. Ran in the house sobbing/panicking. Took a shower but obviously it hurt and the dog was sweet and tried to comfort me but yeah, ever since then I think I have been subconsciously WAY more afraid of them. Also I swear I have had several chase me! Idk why they only go after me but it all adds up to me hating them and running every time I see what I even THINK is one

 

[centrarchid]

This is a new one for me. I replaced water in bowl to a group of hens. The bowl is a 16" diameter rubber dish. The new water was loaded with duckweed, as in lots of it. The hens really went after the duckweed. The pup went over and started trying to grab chicken heads popping through the pen wall. The chickens pulled head back, but would promptly reach back through and into bowl for more duckweed. I verbally told pup to leave chicken heads alone which she got point on after a few "leave its". Each chicken head from a given direction had to have a command. Once she figured out the chicken head sucking was a no-no, she then concentrated on what the chickens were after. As the chickens finished the plants on the surface they began reaching even further into water to point entire heads were submerged. The pup seamed confused and was cocking her head looking into water watching the heads below surface. Then pup started grabbing at clumps submerged duckweed herself. That did last long before she got into bowl and laid down leaving just enough room for hens to continue feeding as she looked on. Juvenile and chick chickens then approached from outside pen to pick duckweed out of pup's fur. I do not know.

 

[aart]

That did last long before she got into bowl and laid down leaving just enough room for hens to continue feeding as she looked on.

 

[centrarchid]

Pup took a couple really good hits from hotwire yesterday evening. She tried to follow a game stag around bridge and through wire. I could see her jump with each jolt. She worked up nerve to approach fence and bridge but would not attempt to cross until seeing Lucy and my daughter cross this evening. Lucy and I have probable taken more hit from that fence that anyone and we cross it, barely with bladder control sometimes. My kids are generally better about not getting zapped.

Here she is about an hour before she got nerve to cross. She is a bit wimpy at this point when so close to fence. This is a very good experience for her. She is learning that she can beat fence. Now she must learn like Lucy has that getting zapped is not end of the world.

 

[fisherlady]

She will have the hang of it quickly... puppy exuberance may make her a bit goofy right now but that brain is absorbing every experience and storing it for later recall. I have found as much as I thought my Male dog was a bit of a doofus as a pup his brain was sharp as a tack and eventually won out over the goofiness. Though for our amusement purposes his goofiness does still show up sometimes, he just seems to know when it's ok now, lol.

 

[centrarchid]

Goofy factor high yet here as well. Pup is really getting into her role around poultry. Each day she shows less interest in birds as something to target. I even feel comfortable having her around as we tag birds and re-pen them.

 

[fisherlady]

It seems routine exposure and us setting an example are all it really takes for these dogs. If we treat something as routine, or simply remain calm it seems they follow suit. I handled the chicks in front of mindy and Dillon very quietly and matter of factly after I had them lay down nearby. I brought the chicks to them, asking them to remain laying down, and held them where they could sniff and inspect. They watched me being careful with them and when I set the chick down nearby I would scatter a few pieces of finch seed. The chicks would move around eating and cheeping a bit but not a lot of fluttering or loud cheeping. While this was going on I would just sit quietly nearby, rubbing the dogs head or back a bit and telling them they were being good to be nice to the chicks. A controlled exposure with positive reinforcement worked wonders for ours, and in very short order the dogs would watch the birds activities but more just as a curiosity rather than any intent to chase or create mischief. They seem very good at understanding boundaries as long as we are clear on what they are.

 

[centrarchid]

Pup still not killed a chicken.
She has not even harmed one. Pup exceptional in this regard although she does fight with cockerel American Dominiques when all plus cats are chasing flying grasshoppers. Too many predators chasing such small prey. Fighting not intense as little more than play bows and growling on part of pup. American Game cock put it too pup when she pushed him away from a feed pile. Pup shook it off and went about her business.



Pup Locked in a Pen with Hens
This evening both females went with daughter and I to close up pens for the night. Owl comes in most nights and I do not want it taking a chicken. Dogs check each pen mostly to chase mice. We got a little distracted and locked pup in a pen and started walking back to house. Pup got upset and started to whimper. We went back and released her. Pup smart so I doubt that will happen often.

Coyote Action
Dynamic of dogs now much more pack-like. The other evening while family and dogs where on deck enjoying sunset, dogs bolted off as a group growling and ran to east. Shortly after I could here Ben down in woods barking back and forth against the resident male Coyote. Lucy and pup were silent and sitting behind ridge looking intensely in direction of altercation going on in woods. I know from experience what is going on. Ben engaging in short little chases back and forth trying to lure Coyote up to where Lucy and pup where waiting. A hundred yards further down the ridge was Bella doing the same as Lucy. The Coyote did not fall for trick and likely knows from experience the females were waiting to maul him if they can catch him. Pup is learning her role.

 

[centrarchid]

Pup.

I just mowed for last time in 2018. We are out listening to fence charger tick hoping to see a hawk fly through.