English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Wife is happy with changes. Roosters now pended up for an experiment so that helps as well.

 

[scottcaddy]

Then Life is good for you and yours!
Scott

 

[aart]

At about 20 months Ben appears to have settled into his job so we are back at to full strength based on two dogs. With the exception of raptors, incursions by predators have stopped even during warmups following cold snaps.

Ben may may also scored a girlfriend in the form of a part LGD owned by neighbor. She has pups but I do not think he had opportunity to have a role in that as she appeared to be absent during the interval I think she was in heat. Regardless, both Ben and Lucy may be provisioning her with food. I knew something was up when Ben would bolt down food then try to go towards her home where he regurgitated near where I keep my bee stuff. Bella (the girlfriend) would either be there waiting or come by shortly to eat it. This morning Lucy brought a cull chicken carcass used to bait trap at barn and put it down where Bella came and collected it to run back to her house.

The reality is I have three dogs protecting flock at least when it comes to Coyotes as all three dogs respond to those when they howl. Ben is 72 lbs and Bella is about 85 lbs plus the princess of sneak of attach at 55 lbs is bigger than even the male Coyotes.

I think his switch tripped about 2 months ago but I needed to see sustained behavior before making call. He is also incredibly easy to manage with leash and when we go off property. At home he exercises considerable freedom of movement but when we get away from home like when I go to farm at work it acts like an extension of my mind responding to every thing I say.

Great update!

 

[centrarchid]

Ben appears to have learned how to train me to come outside when he wants me to see something. Early this morning a Red Fox trotted through riling dogs into running it off. Ben ran after farther while Lucy cut back and came to back door where she tried to lead me out. I yelled out "get it Lucy" and she went hot back on track. Then I ran upstairs to put gear on (no more running out bare foot in only PJ's when temp 4 F) and Ben came in front and did his dance to follow him which was the first time I saw it. Like Scoob, he makes eye-contact and grumbles before trotting away with his butt puckering. He repeated multiple times in the interval required for me to get dressed. Then we joined up with Lucy to follow fox trail. Looks like fox ran straight through as likely at a fast trot even before it got to our property.

 

[centrarchid]

Major barking last night. Ben, neighbors part LGD, and further neighbors to LGD's over sheep were barking at something in bottoms to SE. Ben kept going to reinforce the part LGD. I think coyotes were trying to scavenge a deer carcass or are attempting to define territory too close to the dogs. Former more likely.

 

[centrarchid]

And a rodent problem is developing in barn area. It involves actual mice this time. Spent feed bags will be removed and boards placed up on end. Smell is horrible. Wild birds still stealing more feed. Cardinals and Crowned Sparrows are the worst.

 

[centrarchid]

Dog's, and hotwire, not effective during heavy storm. Dogs cowered up to house and fence got knocked out by lightening. Red Fox worked birds scatted by storm before dogs got heads back into game. Lost only one bird, a special one. Rifle will be brought to bear on fox to make a point.

 

[scottcaddy]

Fox will be back if not stopped for good. I understand that it was an impressive line of storms that went thru last night.
Why do the best get killed first, your breeding or outside blood?
Scott

 

[centrarchid]

Loss was also a function of chance. Hen hunkered down just outside fence. She is of my breeding.

 

[Stephine]

And a rodent problem is developing in barn area. It involves actual mice this time. Spent feed bags will be removed and boards placed up on end. Smell is horrible. Wild birds still stealing more feed. Cardinals and Crowned Sparrows are the worst.

I found that metal garbage cans with tight fitting lids work well to cut of the food sources for rodents. We put feed and rice hull bedding in those and after not buying oat hay anymore there is nothing left to attract them now besides shelter. I think it helps.