English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[aart]

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.

View attachment 1961219

They are beautiful, thank you.

 

[centrarchid]

Pups very uniform in weight. Average weight about 3.6 lbs with none more or less 0.2 lbs from that.

They come out to play for 10 minutes then find sleeping bag being prepped for washing, then pass out in a pile.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Pups very uniform in weight. Average weight about 3.6 lbs with none more or less 0.2 lbs from that.
View attachment 1963480

They come out to play for 10 minutes then find sleeping bag being prepped for washing, then pass out in a pile.

 

[aart]

Awww.... this is the face of my childhood dog.

Am really missing my old Rascal, gone 3 weeks now, but I got to commune with other dogs today.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Awww.... this is the face of my childhood dog.
View attachment 1963522

Am really missing my old Rascal, gone 3 weeks now, but I got to commune with other dogs today.

I love that one too! So cute!

And aww I’m sorry!

Losing a dog is always hard. I lost Gator a year ago next month and I still miss him. Still miss my childhood dog too and he’s been gone 10 years.

It does get at least a little easier though eventually.

And hanging with other dogs does seem to help.

I am hoping to get another dog soon.

 

[centrarchid]

As of yesterday I started feeding pups a little puppy feed. They went after that immediately. Tonight we intend to move Honey and litter to barn. The pups should be mobile enough to get into dog house after playing outside of it. After a couple weeks they will get access to entire barn. Chickens must stay out of the puppy feed.

Kids noting puppy teeth are sharp. Pups now fighting, growling and barking a lot. Honey is really keen on blocking Ben's access to pup feed bowl. Pups really keen on chewing on their dad.

It will be fun trying to figure out how to make so Honey can get in and out of both pen and barn while pups are kept inside. Will also be interesting in how to keep chicken feed bowls out puppy reach.

 

[fisherlady]

Access issues.... Honey should be easily able to jump an 24"+ barrier, so maybe a low baby gate across the dog pen man gate will work the first week or two while the pups are still toddlers. Make it out of solid material to prevent pups from getting a foothold to climb it.
Same concept for chicken feeders.... pups are still too clumsy to jump well, so elevating the chicken feeders on a table top of some sort should work for a while until the pups are out of the worst of the terrible toddler stage. The birds will adjust quickly to the feeder change.
Honey will probably discourage the birds invading the puppy bowls, if not my only thought is to put it out in the pen when you are able to close the regular man door for an hour or so when doing chores.

These suggestions are based on the dog pen set up being the type with high chain link panels and full height man door. If that isn't the case then adjustments will need to be thought out. But keeping their lack of upward mobility capability in mind should help out for the first few weeks.

 

[centrarchid]

A piece of plywood about 24" will be placed across man door.

Chicken feeders will be on a table about 4 feet up.

Litters I have reared in past were kept in manger area of barn. Chickens then we're fed elsewhere if at all.

 

[aart]

Curious if you'll need to provide any heat for them?

 

[centrarchid]

Most litters I have raised in past represented short-haired breeds and were welped February to May. Breeds were Black and Tan coonhounds, Dalmations and Beagles. Those born during cold spells we made certain were protected from wind and on dry wood. One litter I remember moving into wool storage area which also over a wood floor.

These guys will be in a double boiler type setup where barn blocks worst of wind and then they will also be in a wooden dog house. Finally, these pups already getting a lot of hair compared to those other breeds. They are not as inclined to pile up when air temperature lower when compared to the short haired breeds.

They will also be fed well. If it gets real cold it may very well be that a chicken or two will take to sitting on the dog pile to stay warm. Seen that many times where games would slip into doghouse to loaf on a sleeping dog.