English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Pups got a set of new experiences today. We walked the farthest boundary of the property which is new ground for the pups. They got to run along the neighbors pasture which Ben and Honey do frequently at night based on trials. Neighbors cows have grazed that pasture nothing and I could see no recent sign of the animals. Pups will have to learn cattle are not ours and not to be engaged.

We got back in to yard just before dark with pups obviously tired. A game stag really needing to be penned then started chasing after pups when they were not looking. Pups had trouble understanding why stag that ran from them just a day before was now trying to get them from behind. Stag does not treat mother in similar fashion.

 

[centrarchid]

We had our first major disturbance for weeks just a few minutes ago. Cockerel in rehab from owl attack fell from roost and started to cackle. All three adult dogs came rushing into house then back outside again while barking. Cockerel in garage attached to house so dogs could not get to cockerel. I let them in to sniff Cockerel to verify all is well and I fixed so cockerel not on collapsing roost.


Now fox or owl likely to visit because could hear cockerel cackle. The predators do nor get excited by the near constant crowing.

 

[centrarchid]

Yep, owl just came in and Lucy barking at it.

 

[aart]

Yep, owl just came in and Lucy barking at it.

What did the puppies do?

 

[centrarchid]

What did the puppies do?

I do not hear them react in the barn. Honey came inside to bark at owl through window while Ben laid himself down in a position where he could see owl. Owl not actually coming in to hunt, rather perching in tree to east where it can see everything. Dogs can see it very well I presume while all I see is a lump in top of tree unless I use spot light. Pups well to west away from owl.

 

[centrarchid]

We got a very nasty freezing rain today. We can not drive until rain it melts this evening. Pups, Honey and I were out in for solid 2 hours. I was so covered I could barely bend arms or legs of coveralls. Free-range games could not perch in trees at all and made a lot of racket each time they tried. My groin is really sore after walking on the supper slick ice trying to keep my legs together.

We found a raccoon den with a patron that got dogs riled. The neighbors dog Bella came over and pups started barking at her. She smelled weird for Bella the eater of really dead things. She reeked of flowers from a bath. Disgusting. Poor Bella.

Pups gave Bella a hard time and she said back off squirts.

 

[aart]

She reeked of flowers from a bath. Disgusting. Poor Bella.

Pups gave Bella a hard time and she said back off squirts.

 

[ShrekDawg]

X2

 

[centrarchid]

Some pictures from today. Pups worked fallen trees a lot.

Flower Bud (Flo) checking me out.

Main area with played in today.

Honey checking for squirrels.

Piece of Jefferson City left by F2 tornado last spring. We got no wind but we did get a lot of stuff falling from sky, mostly insulation like this this piece. Jefferson City 7 miles plus away as crow flies.

Stream that was very treacherous to cross because of ice on rocks.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They are very cute do you still have all of them? How long are you keeping them for?