English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

@WthrLady

Have you ever whelped pups in tight with chickens? i have whelped several litters, some in garage or basement, with most done in a doghouse or a full on feed storage room that was a lot bigger than my 10 x 10 kennel. Still, I have not done so in close proximity to chickens. It is possible a hen or two will be rearing chicks and roosting in the kennel when pups present. Once pups come out I will keep them in barn using goat panels so they will have a large play area. I want to keep them out of hotwire until strong and smart enough to navigate it.

 

[WthrLady]

No. But family has. But not bird dogs.

Guys from field trials have done it with their birders with mixed success. Some breeds are just hardwired to go after fluffy butts.

 

[centrarchid]

No. But family has. But not bird dogs.

Guys from field trials have done it with their birders with mixed success. Some breeds are just hardwired to go after fluffy butts.

I mean the English Shepherds. That is what I will be working with in about a year. The elder bird dog is neutered.

 

[WthrLady]

Nope. Haven't.

 

[WthrLady]

My area is beagles, border collies, and karelian bear dogs. None of which are spectacular around chickens. There are rare exceptions, and BCs can be good around ducks and geese if trained early.

You're right. Ollie will not like a dog in the barn! LOL.

 

[centrarchid]

We have crossed into an area I have not been in for 30+ years. I dog is penned off by herself in a manner sure to cause stress. She is in the kennel in the barn with a doghouse and a bed she and Lucy have used when in the garage. She was left with a bowl of feed wetted with a little milk. I could hear her working on kennel panels, possible door, trying to get out. I will be loosing sleep tonight as well. Both Ben and Lucy can go back to her at any time yet they have not done so, yet.

 

[fisherlady]

It will be stressful for her, but she will adjust. Having a few familiar items with her will certainly help.

FWIW... the breeder/sheep farmer we got our ES's from had the dogs in the barn and free ranging the barnyard along with chickens when they had litters. The pups would be curious about the chickens once in a while but not overly so and not really excited about them because they were 'normal', not a novelty. Same with the sheep and cows. Removing the novelty and excitement factors really helped the pups be able to concentrate on other things.

 

[centrarchid]

We survived the night. Climbing efforts did not something off walls but she settled in now. She was actually sleeping in doghouse as we approached. Owl, the usual visitor does not appear to have come in last night although it does not come in every night.

 

[aart]

Glad she settled in.

This is not aimed at you centrarchid, but others that may be reading.
Crate training is a good thing to do as soon as you get a dog/puppy.
Make it a 'safe and comforting' place...sure comes in handy when they have to be confined and kept 'out of trouble'.

 

[centrarchid]

It is rabbit hunting season and Lucy is excited. We walked up to poultry yard to let out groups penned in barn. Lucy got on point over a rabbit and held even has a herd of about 50 chickens swarmed around here and the rabbit. Man she has concentration.

UPS guy dropped off a package and clearly is scared of dogs and not just a little bit. Dogs were barking at him like no one else, and he was making it much worse. He kept orienting on dogs stepping nervously towards them and then nervously back. I walked up to take package and told him to calm down or his going to get bit my dogs or someone else's. I have seen him before and he does not act appropriately around dogs. I way within a couple of feet of him and he was visibly shaking even though he said he was calm.

Setting up to call UPS so we can pick up packages at their distribution shop until drop address changed.