English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[scottcaddy]

Now that is interesting, can you post a good pic. of him, the last one I remember is puppy fur.
Thanks Much!
Scott

 

[aart]

Might have to wait until he's a couple years old to see his 'true' color'.

 

[centrarchid]

I think his color pattern is stabilized. He does not facilitate my efforts to photograph him.

 

[centrarchid]

We had serious owl activity last night and even lost a pullet very early just after dark while I was outside but not overly close. Dogs were confined so I could move birds between pens which Ben does not need to witness at this time. Owls did not restritc their activities to chicken pens so likely something else of interest. They still took pullet, head first, then carcass sometime after midnight.

Also had a fox come and take persimmons from tree not 50 feet from behind house. I was also very close to it and it did not notice me at first even though I was typing on a computer barely 50 feet away near pens. It was a gray fox. When I brought dogs out they did not even seem interested in following the fox's trail. That would not be the case with a red fox trail. I can also on many occasions smell a red fox that just went through while I could not pickup the smell of the gray. I am certain both dogs could smell the gray's trail as they followed it a little but they invested little effort even though track was very hot.

 

[scottcaddy]

Interesting about fox smell and dogs reaction to them.
Scott

 

[centrarchid]

Ben getting a little more photogenic.

Ben and another little demon.

Lucy.

 

[scottcaddy]

You did get real nice pic's of 3 out of your 4 chicken helpers!
Looking Good, your 'another little' demon don't look so little anymore.
Thanks Much!
Scott

 

[centrarchid]

My dogs and Great Pyrenees nearly a mile away are barking incessantly tonight and likely for same reason. White-tailed Deer may be going into rut and doing all sorts of stupid. Very soon gut piles will distract coyotes and possibly my dogs as well.

 

[aart]

Nice pics.

 

[centrarchid]

Pup is just over 6 months old and has been updated for vaccinations. He appears good on hip related issues. He also travelled on the return trip and stayed with me without leash when we left vehicle at three different stops. He seldom got more than 50 feet away which contrasts greatly with Scoob's ranging. Scoob would go into full blown hunting mode and go 1/4 mile away when after known rabbit concentrations. He also came back. Ben will start training to see how effective he will be as an educational assistant at field day events. I am also putting the heavier charger back on perimeter fence that Ben has mastered. When he gets the heavier zap he will not think it is the end of the world since he has already suffered lighter zaps and developed confidence from that.