English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Pups getting loved by kids a lot now.

 

[centrarchid]

Pack dynamic totally different now. Ben, Honey, and Lucy with backup from Bella are now much noisier defending house in particular. All four adults doing the 3 barks thing before as a group with tails held high to drive off their foe(s). Foes of greatest concern now are a pack of four dogs owned by neighbors a little over a quarter mile away. Those are fairly large. By incursion, they are coming within 1/8 mile of our house. Bella also knows of pups and slipped in to give them a sniff.

Lucy, has given the pups very little attention even though I am confident she will be their biggest playmate down the road. She stays back when Ben and Honey mark territory. On the cusp of barking. Honey tries to spend more time away from them now.

 

[centrarchid]

Pups starting to bark. Mobility increasing greatly. Kids play with pups before and after school. Pups starting to engage in actual play. That means they will soon be tearing things up. We have way to many shoes in this house, plus homework assignments.

Soon adjustments must be completed to allow moving litter to barn. They will at first be restricted to 10 x 10 dog kennel opposite pens used to house groups of hens. Then they will be allowed to hang with free-range birds on the barn floor commons. Pups must be kept away from electric fencing so they do not develop overwhelming fears. A partial opening will allow Honey to come and go as she deems fit. Feeding station for free-range chickens will be elevated to a table about 4 feet above ground. Great-horned Owl will be very upset about changes.

Peak lactation will be in about a week. Honey is getting really possessive over food, but still keeping weight on very well. She gets her usual allotment of a high end feed plus free-choice access to deer carcass. Pups in very good weight with really nice coats. None are runts.

Side note: roosters crowing like mad with moon so close to full. Weather also mild.

 

[centrarchid]

Pups going to bathroom away from puppy pile. They are barking and moving around looking at the world. Last minute adjustments in barn to be made today.

 

[fisherlady]

Ah, yes... toddler exploration time.... Let the fun (and the mess) begin!

 

[centrarchid]

Even in the last couple hours some thing has changed. Pups moving around a lot more. Kids encouraging that not helping. The pups are little porkers. Honey must be producing lots of good milk.

 

[centrarchid]

Honey is barking at hawk now. Ben and Lucy just sitting back quietly. Hawk appears to sunning itself although sky overcast. We have had zero hawk action so far this year and dogs are not the reason.

 

[aart]

Pups going to bathroom away from puppy pile. They are barking and moving around looking at the world. Last minute adjustments in barn to be made today.

I'm not usually one to demand cute pics......but..... Please?

 

[ShrekDawg]

I'm not usually one to demand cute pics......but..... Please?

X2!!

 

[centrarchid]

For now forget action shots. Light level too low for when they are moving. They still sleep a lot. They are at least 3 times larger than birth weight.