English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[OrganicFarmWife]

Yes, they dub the tails, though my dog is dubbed much shorter then that.

She looks like a hairy black pig from behind

 

[dan26552]

Wonder if they clipped tails...not unusual for working dogs with feathered tails.

Possibly. Bob has a feathered tail, its beautiful

 

[centrarchid]

Over last week I resumed free-range keeping seven sub-adult games. They are fed only about half what they need so they have to do some foraging yet they are staying in good weight. I put feed out about 30 minutes before dark where they birds clean it up immediately. Ben has taken to eating the feed as well. The feed contains sweet horse feed that he likes as much as the chickens do. This arrangement helps get him used to the accessible birds that normally show little fear of him. If he goes into bad dog mode the games can quickly fly to cover in trees behind barn and they will act funny around Ben when I get home. Generally during day when I am not home Ben does not do a lot around the Barn unless their is a ruckus. Lucy is more likely to simply check on barn during the day. When temperatures dip like tonight Ben just lays down on porch and listens. Later into the night he will get more active which is going to needed to deal with predators. Food for critters like raccoons and opossums is getting harder to come by making so those predators will start popping up where they have not been lately. This time Ben most likely to get into his first real battle with a raccoon. Hopefully he will stay back first couple of times to let Lucy take lead as she knows how to take on even the adult raccoons. Ben is about 11 months old so he is not physically or mentally ready to take on a real bad guy yet despite being heavier than Lucy.

 

[dan26552]

Over last week I resumed free-range keeping seven sub-adult games. They are fed only about half what they need so they have to do some foraging yet they are staying in good weight. I put feed out about 30 minutes before dark where they birds clean it up immediately. Ben has taken to eating the feed as well. The feed contains sweet horse feed that he likes as much as the chickens do. This arrangement helps get him used to the accessible birds that normally show little fear of him. If he goes into bad dog mode the games can quickly fly to cover in trees behind barn and they will act funny around Ben when I get home. Generally during day when I am not home Ben does not do a lot around the Barn unless their is a ruckus. Lucy is more likely to simply check on barn during the day. When temperatures dip like tonight Ben just lays down on porch and listens. Later into the night he will get more active which is going to needed to deal with predators. Food for critters like raccoons and opossums is getting harder to come by making so those predators will start popping up where they have not been lately. This time Ben most likely to get into his first real battle with a raccoon. Hopefully he will stay back first couple of times to let Lucy take lead as she knows how to take on even the adult raccoons. Ben is about 11 months old so he is not physically or mentally ready to take on a real bad guy yet despite being heavier than Lucy.

Bob likes to eat with our animals, it helps him calm down around them.

 

[dan26552]

What are Ben's lines?

 

[dan26552]

 

[centrarchid]

What are Ben's lines?

I know his parents, Dreamcatchers's Daisy May (dam) and Dreamcatchers's Duke (sire). His registration paper will be submitted shortly. Then I will try to get his genealogy through the English Shepherd Club Registry. Breeder sourced from so far has been difficult to reach. My intent is to acquire female that is likely to be on the larger end of the size spectrum like Ben appears to be. Are also want her to have the pied pattern to make seeing her easier. We have a little trouble where some folks have confused Ben for a coyote. The parties doing the confusing are not inclined to use the noodle in their head but will shoot stray cats across my property line. One of the "stray" cats was my wife's cat.

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote:
I do hope that was talked about?
Some people

Scott
edit to add Sorry about your DW's cat!

 

[centrarchid]

I do hope that was talked about?
Some people
Scott
edit to add Sorry about your DW's cat!

Same neighbors have been lots of fun for various reasons. A few years back they planted fruit trees on my property that was recently surveyed. I put up fence then they cut fence down and harvested hay off me. They say they did not see fence. Fence was a single strand of hotwire although it was rolled up and on a fence post. Part of my problem is view of contested area is obstructed by my woodlot. I will have to do something about the fruit trees in the next five years otherwise they may be able to contest me for land ownership in another 6 years. I prefer not to cut the trees down.

 

[dan26552]

I know his parents, Dreamcatchers's Daisy May (dam) and Dreamcatchers's Duke (sire). His registration paper will be submitted shortly. Then I will try to get his genealogy through the English Shepherd Club Registry. Breeder sourced from so far has been difficult to reach. My intent is to acquire female that is likely to be on the larger end of the size spectrum like Ben appears to be. Are also want her to have the pied pattern to make seeing her easier. We have a little trouble where some folks have confused Ben for a coyote. The parties doing the confusing are not inclined to use the noodle in their head but will shoot stray cats across my property line. One of the "stray" cats was my wife's cat.

Ah. Good luck