English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[Perris]

Wife just back yesterday after a week in hospital a couple hours away. Tough to raise two kids alone like that. At end of month she goes in for transplant. Then we hide from ALL viruses for about 8 weeks.

She still manages to work.

Tough times indeed; hopefully the kids will step up to the plate and help you both. Good luck to you all

 

[centrarchid]

Tough times indeed; hopefully the kids will step up to the plate and help you both. Good luck to you all

The kids are stepping up very well. It is difficult to see how they can grow up so fast. My son, in particular, is taking is role very seriously.

 

[aart]

Wife just back yesterday after a week in hospital a couple hours away. Tough to raise two kids alone like that. At end of month she goes in for transplant. Then we hide from ALL viruses for about 8 weeks.
She still manages to work.

Transplant of what?
Y'all hang in the, best wishes for success.

The kids are stepping up very well. It is difficult to see how they can grow up so fast. My son, in particular, is taking is role very seriously.

That's good parenting showing thru.

 

[centrarchid]

Marrow stem cells. Flip fone

 

[centrarchid]

Pups are now to point where they get extended times out in presence of hens with chicks. Only one pup at a time. Pups spend most of time in company of kids, although one seems to orient more on me. Chickens are not being ignored. Pups getting real pretty to look at.

 

[centrarchid]

 

[centrarchid]

Way too much going on here, and there is a lot more you cannot see.

 

[centrarchid]

I am learning more camera functions. Got pups out with chickens penned. Pups not got at standing for camera. They also picked up a lot of seed with their summer coats. The pups doing a great job patrolling where fox visits. Fox not visiting much. Pup Pup the black and tan was also picking up a lot more seed around her throat.

Flo jumped into swimming pool just before best pictures I took of her.

Pups have excellent speed and endurance, and they are using it. They jump as high as my head to get onto porch. They are also showing interest in persimmons.


We are starting to get persimmons and the chickens not already going into woods are really partial to them. Those going to woods already getting their fill. This going woods like the sunflower seeds above all out when I put out the incomplete mix about an hour before dark. We had a lot of drama this evening as groups of juveniles came in to get their fill. Trouble was with groups of similar power status as they tended to get into rumbles.

If dogs not out, the rabbits come out and eat among chickens. Adult female English Shepherd runs right through clumps of chickens to run rabbit off then turns around to sit with chickens as they keep eating without batting an eye.

 

[centrarchid]

Pups took out first predator. A relatively small opossum. They ate him shortly after I found what was then all but the head. I think they have been eating snakes too but not seeing hard evidence for it beyond they they are keen on killing the snakes and quickly settling down to gnaw on them.

 

[centrarchid]

skunk. At least pups and Lucy did not get into it.