English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[hellbender]

Opossum carcass above attracted something into yard in the early AM. Ben actually got me out of bed which is a first. He and Lucy lined out scent and ran almost a mile to the NE then after about 10 minutes ran back with tails held high huffing and a puffing where they revisited tracks in the yard. They did a lot of scent marking as well. Either a fox or coyote came in.

Man...I couldn't live under such threats. I'm going to breed my Caucasian Ovcharka this Spring and I will gladly give you a pup.

 

[centrarchid]

Daughter says 'look daddy, guts!"

Two Turkey Vultures coming in to eat some more. Heart, liver and lungs already gone with muscle now being targeted.

 

[centrarchid]

Vultures eating more.

 

[centrarchid]

Real problem developing. Neighbor to southeast just acquired a new dog. Faintly spotted white female weighing in at about 70 lbs. White base collar and extra toes on hind consistent with molosseriur in its background although it does not look like a first generation cross. Small ears very high on head and faint liver spotting not unlike that of a dalmation. Ben and Lucy, especially the latter run the dog off although dog is working very hard to join my pack. When my dogs run at it growling the dog lays on its back. After some growling and snapping from my dogs, especially Lucy, the new dog gets up submissively until they put her down again. She is gaining increasing acceptance. Over time they will tolerate her enough to allow her to approach poultry yard fence. I suspect she will challenge the fencing or go after free-range hens used as broodies. Owners over the last six years the dog's owners have gone through more than 10 dogs. They have lost most if not all to a range of causes. I think I can defend my flocks although neighbor to north is going to get hammered if dog gets into their yard.

 

[aart]

That stinks!
Some dog's people...sheesh!

 

[centrarchid]

Owner has also complained about my dogs; treatment of his. Neighbor is having a little trouble understating where property lines are. By Boundary comes to within 30 feet of their home. They do not appear to recognize my ownership of woods to south where we have been approached multiple times and queried about what we were doing walking there. Property lines are not straight which is a headache causer

That is also much of area where dogs interacting. My poultry yard in NW corner of property where their dog has yet to go.

 

[aart]

Might be a good idea to have your land surveyed, marked, and posted.

 

[centrarchid]

I has been surveyed recently immediately prior to purchase of our land, markers still present, and fencing was in place before being cut down by party cutting hay off me without asking first. I was just in discussion with wife and we will be reinstalling hot-wire / ribbon more to serve as obvious property boundary demarker.

 

[fisherlady]

I has been surveyed recently immediately , markers still present, and fencing was in place before being cut down by party cutting hay off me without asking first. I was just in discussion with wife and we will be reinstalling hot-wire / ribbon more to serve as obvious property boundary demarker.

It is an unfortunate reality that often the old adage still is very true....

"Good fences make good neighbors"

In a perfect world this wouldn't be necessary, but.....

I guess in your case it would be better said as " good fence line markers make good neighbors"

 

[centrarchid]

It is an unfortunate reality that often the old adage still is very true....

"Good fences make good neighbors"

In a perfect world this wouldn't be necessary, but.....

I guess in your case it would be better said as " good fence line markers make good neighbors"

I thoroughly dislike that phrase as it does not make neighbors good, just creates more delineated boundaries that are harder to cross and sometimes communicated past. When growing up we had a much larger expanse of land and dogs were able to free-range it. This new reality is being imposed by smaller parcels of land and more people with dogs, especially dogs without gainful employment.

We already have 3/4 of perimeter fenced in. Balance is going to be the problem as it will be without precedence.