English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Mindy is determined to get any possum anywhere near, she absolutely seems to hate them, playing dead doesnt get them a pass from her. Dillon isnt as concerned, if it is upright he goes after it, usually he worries varmints from the front to distract them and Mindy then comes in from behind and grabs them by neck or upper back area. She rarely let's him get a chance to get a kill bite in on them.
If that possum was just ambling around or playing dead he would probably give it a pass. He does get serious though when a confrontation starts.

All my dogs started off as opossum killers. Getting one every other night dulls their interest. You must not have as many opossums.

 

[fisherlady]

No, we get about one a month or so, Dillon has slacked off, Mindy hasnt, if she wasnt actively after them I dont think he would bother them unless it was close to me.

 

[centrarchid]

Weaning process is started. Honey with pups for last 72 hours only at night. She is either roaming or penned in house during day. Keeping her in house ensures down time so she can begin recovery process. Her weight is coming up fast. Inside allows better control over what she eats. The majority of pup nutrition now coming by way of eating solid food. They are starting to exclude juvenile game chickens from there pen, at least while pups are awake. They appear to be handling cold very well.

We are trying to give them 2 hours outside pen per day where they hang with kids. Pups proving very sociable with none showing shyness around humans. One kids named Vanilla Chocolate (sable female) appears more combative and barks at adult chickens that run fast in yard. The pups are starting to move into thicket behind house where they associate loosely with foraging juvenile games.

Re-homing efforts will begin in earnest next week. The two pups selected for keeping have been named Fierce (pied brindle male) and Pup Pup (black and tan female). The two pups retained will be subjected to formal training very soon. My boy needs to get them prepped for 4H. Should be fun as all get out.

 

[centrarchid]

Switched Honey from day roaming to night roaming. She showing strong preference for that. She is back into running with other adults at night and does appear to sleep with pups over day yesterday.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like we are going to have a very easy time getting pups out door. Two going to be farm dogs very close by with chickens. That is making life easier.

 

[aart]

Are they living in the barn or back in house now?

 

[centrarchid]

Barn.

 

[centrarchid]

Pups got to be watched closely. They are tearing everything up. I had empty feed sacks neatly stacked for disposal, but pups put an end to the neat. Honey is systematically whooping the pups as they try to nurse. Some needed more whooping than others. Ben also barking at them when they get over him too much. Pups can now run faster than my 6 year old so long as in a straight line. They almost have to stop to change direction.

 

[aart]

Free range puppies?

 

[centrarchid]

Supervised for about 2 hours. Would not want that many out without supervision once they are another month old. It could cause total devistation.