English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

 

[centrarchid]

 

[aart]

Pup is gorgeous!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Pup is gorgeous!

X2! And big!!

 

[centrarchid]

Pack at almost full strength. Alpha (only male) is Ben the brindle colored English Shepherd. Alpha female is Lucy (German Pointer). Bella (LGD x something) is white beta female. Hard to get all dogs in a single photograph.

Pup will be asserting herself sometime this winter. Then she will be penned for first two heats. A fifth 10 x 10 dog kennel will be setup specifically for her in the barn. When pups finally do come they will literally be reared among chickens through 8 weeks.

 

[centrarchid]

I am putting camera out into areas not generally of concern when it comes to predator activity to see who is out there. Lots of trails that heavily used to be sure. As I am trying to follow up on what I think is a Bobcat, a lot of other traffic is present. I had no idea the dogs worked the area so hard at night. I am going to move camera around to see how far out we have good predator exclusion.

Adult male English Shepherd.

Adult female German Pointer. Coon killer from hell.

Pup female English Shepherd. Smart as all get out and learning fence real good. Has not killed a single chicken yet.

Flea Bag with lady friend issues.

Male dog again.

Ape.

 

[fisherlady]

I am glad the pup is coming along so well. My male ES is a great dog in many ways but the female is a step above, and then some, especially with the birds. My female is a 'thinker' and a 'watch once and have it figured out for next time' type. Starting to look like that is how yours is.
Your pup will know every inch of the property by the time she is old enough to patrol on her own. She is tagging along and learning every moment. No doubt she is watching the hunting methods closely and waiting for her chance to participate.

 

[centrarchid]

Owing to pups likely size at maturity, I do not want her ever patrolling perimeter in woods alone. Ben can take Coyote one on one, but dogs need to be together when Coyote pack comes up. Coyote pack comes up multiple times per month where all 3 adult dogs needed to push them out.

 

[centrarchid]

Now it is time to revisit the points where dogs are expected to jump fence. Currently they are still using the black plastic culvert which I would like to use for something else.

Shortly I will try to put a piece of black PVC pipe over top strand of fencing. The approach will be much cheaper and make so dogs have more access points.

 

[aart]

Now it is time to revisit the points where dogs are expected to jump fence. Currently they are still using the black plastic culvert which I would like to use for something else.

Shortly I will try to put a piece of black PVC pipe over top strand of fencing. The approach will be much cheaper and make so dogs have more access points.

Is the wire not in the pic...or can I just not see it?
Will there be enough clearance not to short out wire with PVC?