English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

When I ran traps to reset and rebait, I found a live trap that was tripped but not capture.
Dog proof is currently 6/6; live trap 2/5. Coding shall be # captured/# traps tripped.
Live traps doing less than 50% so far.

Dog proof is currently 7/7; live trap 2/5.

The catch 3 night ago in a different location. Female opossum with babies in pouch. Even though in trap for only 4 hours at most her paw was visibly damaged. She was spared.

Night before last what I think was a raccoon came up fen between house and barn and was treed at least briefly on dog pen housing three hens and a cock. Dogs worked all tall grass down trying to get coon. Coon was either not real big and very lucky or large and now very sore where dogs almost certainly delivered at least a few bites. Lucy alone is a mortal threat to even largest raccoons and Honey is coming into her own fast.

 

[centrarchid]

Dog proof is currently 7/7; live trap 2/5.

The catch 3 night ago in a different location. Female opossum with babies in pouch. Even though in trap for only 4 hours at most her paw was visibly damaged. She was spared.

Night before last what I think was a raccoon came up fen between house and barn and was treed at least briefly on dog pen housing three hens and a cock. Dogs worked all tall grass down trying to get coon. Coon was either not real big and very lucky or large and now very sore where dogs almost certainly delivered at least a few bites. Lucy alone is a mortal threat to even largest raccoons and Honey is coming into her own fast.

Dog proof is currently 8/8; live trap 2/5.

Age-1 male opossum. Paw visibly damaged. Dispatched. Will be inspecting damage to raccoons much more closely. Will look for studies on effects of dog proof traps on feet of captured animals. I suspect that these foot holds are better characterized as catch and kill.

Dog (Lucy) finally stopped stealing bait. Ants are another story.

 

[aart]

I suspect that these foot holds are better characterized as catch and kill.

I never thought they were for anything but catch to kill,
while protecting unintended targets eg: 'dog proof'.
Tho I have seen vids of coons begin released live from them.

 

[centrarchid]

I have ability to release raccoons without causing additional harm.

 

[aart]

I have ability to release raccoons without causing additional harm.

I'm sure you can...but why would you?

 

[centrarchid]

It is simply an option.

 

[centrarchid]

Coyote and Raccoon problems. Yesterday evening coyotes got into altercation with multiple dogs north and west of us. Coyotes where doing the 3 bark sequence while inside the fenced in area around a 1 acre septic system bordering our property to the north. My dogs lined up quietly between house and that location where they laid down with heads pointing towards the Coyotes. Coyotes where not quite 100 yards away. I think my dogs were wating for Coyotes to attempt coming through us which did not happen. Coyotes got "pinched out" going to the east. My dogs do not like the other dogs probably even more than the Coyotes. Too many dogs with the rival group not used for anything other than feed dumpsters and chasing cars.

Early this morning Lucy and Honey treed a raccoon in large oak tree south of house in field. I could not see it to get a shot off. Raccoon very lucky. If it tried a smaller tree they would have gotten it.

 

[centrarchid]

Honey is coming is in full heat. Kids learning birds and bees from something other than chickens, fish, frogs and preying mantids. Once pregnancy near term Honey will be moved to barn to whelp. From that point on we should have at least one dog actually living in barn setting stage for getting sheep.

 

[aart]

Honey is coming is in full heat. Kids learning birds and bees from something other than chickens, fish, frogs and preying mantids. Once pregnancy near term Honey will be moved to barn to whelp. From that point on we should have at least one dog actually living in barn setting stage for getting sheep.

Is Honey the neighbors dog that basically joined your pack?
Sorry, I can keep the names straight.
Lucy is the bird dog and Ben is the English Shepard?

 

[centrarchid]

Lucy is neutered female German Pointer (generally referred to as a bird dog in the US). She is oldest and starting to slow down. She has difficulty taken 3 coons down in one night and is no longer what i want battling Coyotes, she just does not have the speed needed. She is increasingly based in the house, but still keeps tabs on dogs outside and backs them up. She can still help rear pups.

Ben is brindle / sable colored intact male English Shepherd. Ben is all about going after canids (wild and domestic) plus armadillos but has little interest in raccoons or opossums.

Honey is pied black and tan (tricolored) intact female English Shepherd. Dog aggressive and helps Lucy on all fronts.

Bella is white neutered female LGD crossed with something else heavy with spots. She belongs to neighbor, but stays with us a lot. She I had to break from going after chickens. My wife would not let me shoot Bella during time the dog was going after chickens and even tearing up pens to do so. She now not as reliable as getting age on her too, but makes so no Coyote pack can stand up to us. She has tried to take Coyotes on by herself and gets dinged up.