English Shepherd as Poultry Guardian

[centrarchid]

Red Fox came in much earlier this morning about 0200. Wind from due south made so fox scent did not come towards posting dogs. I heard targeted bird as soon as dogs did. Pup Pup circled pen area running full speed while Honey ran hard to north. I could see a fox to east in flash light beam while Pup Pup wanted to run north on track after her mother. I think may have been two foxes. Rooster not wanting to go back on roost. Fox(s) may come back yet this morning.

 

[centrarchid]

Fox came in again around 0500. It appears to be hunting rabbits moving around neighbors property in particular and making occasional passes on chicken pens. Rain, wind and lightening may be making so it feels comfortable coming in close to where dogs are. Honey appears to have been laying down in Sumac patch when fox made last past and she sprinted out from there. Pup Pup jumping in and out of bedroom window to go after fox. I closed window to stop that.

 

[centrarchid]

We have a dead chicken near pens this morning missing it's head. It is not one of our chickens!

 

[Molpet]

We have a dead chicken near pens this morning missing it's head. It is not one of our chickens!

Owl brought you a present

 

[centrarchid]

I lined up 35 pens to make management more efficient. Make so passing fox harasses chickens only from road side which ok. Problem is Honey runs headlong throug

To compensate added orange netting.

 

[centrarchid]

Fox will have work other side of line exposing back to dogs.

 

[centrarchid]

Making changes so kids and I can leave for weekend. We take PupPup with us.

 

[centrarchid]

Great-horned owl perched on power poll overlooking mystery chicken carcass found a couple days back. Owl had been eating off what Pup Pup did not consume. Owl had Elrod stag roosting under light on porch all riled up. A Red Fox came trotting along orange fence at about same time causing all three dogs at house to go after it. Still must watch for dogs trying to run through pens.

 

[centrarchid]

I’m having dog weight management issues imposed by availability of persimmons. All the dogs are pounding them down making so stool had seeds like coyote stool minus the hair and feathers of prey, most of time.

Game chickens based in garage now running after Pup Pup when they are looking for feed. Pup pup gets confused..

 

[centrarchid]

All four dogs and my kids walked out to mailbox with dogs in the lead. All four dogs oriented at something across road that I could not see but guessed was a dogs. Then Pup Pup and Flo bolted across the road ignoring calls to return while Honey and Lucy held line on side of road. The young females were rushing a group of seven dogs that averaged bigger than they are. Pup and Flo ran in and started to attack which was quickly countered by at least two dogs on each of mine. Honey then crossed road barking loudly and went after the first she encountered. Then Pup Pup and Flo starting retreating and fighting those following. The enemy forces stopped when they got to Honey and now me as I was moving towards the ruckus. My dogs came back and joined on Lucy as the other pack began running back to where they come from. That is too many dogs to be out without supervision or a purpose.