Feeding your LGD when you have turkeys

[NotabitaiI]

How old is she? Did you discourage her aggression towards them in the past? I know it seems mean but I've always told my LGDs they're good girls for snarling and snapping at the goats (within reason) over their food. I do have one who will just go hungry, he's overly nurturing and will let anything take his food straight from his mouth, luckily he free feeds and only lives with other dogs.
If this were my situation I would feed them all at the same time so the turkeys have their own food to worry about, train the dog to eat on command and I would supervise feedings, take away any leftovers after she's had enough time to eat, she may be hungry occasionally in the beginning but she really should figure this out after a while and finish her food in a timely manner. For a period of time one of my LGDs wouldn't eat all of her food and would let the goats take it, I had to be pretty firm with her and spritz the goats for eating her food, I had to make her stand there and eat it, I wasn't mean but I was not going to budge and when she was finished I took it away, she finishes her food now and doesn't share.

 

[AngelasAcres]

How old is she? Did you discourage her aggression towards them in the past? I know it seems mean but I've always told my LGDs they're good girls for snarling and snapping at the goats (within reason) over their food. I do have one who will just go hungry, he's overly nurturing and will let anything take his food straight from his mouth, luckily he free feeds and only lives with other dogs.
If this were my situation I would feed them all at the same time so the turkeys have their own food to worry about, train the dog to eat on command and I would supervise feedings, take away any leftovers after she's had enough time to eat, she may be hungry occasionally in the beginning but she really should figure this out after a while and finish her food in a timely manner. For a period of time one of my LGDs wouldn't eat all of her food and would let the goats take it, I had to be pretty firm with her and spritz the goats for eating her food, I had to make her stand there and eat it, I wasn't mean but I was not going to budge and when she was finished I took it away, she finishes her food now and doesn't share.

I am sure she's over 5. She was given to me because she had food aggression with other dogs. She would snarl and growl and keep the turkeys off.. but now they overwhelm her. I do feed at the same time. They just happen to prefer the dog food. Right now there are 7 toms who are problematic. After November 20th there will be only one. I am sure she'll have control back by then. Right now I have to stand and supervise. They respect me, but not her.

 

[PatriciafromCO]

Consider feeding after the birds have put themselves up for the night, or in the morning when the birds have been let out of the barn for into the yard.

 

[AngelasAcres]

Consider feeding after the birds have put themselves up for the night, or in the morning when the birds have been let out of the barn for into the yard.

The turkeys choose to sleep outside. Right by my backdoor, incidentally where the dog gets fed. They keep an ear out and an eye open for any late night feedings. They are obsessed.

The toms anyway. Some of the hens sleep inside. I suppose that may change as the weather gets colder. And, maybe I only have to deal with it until Thanksgiving. Like I said above, 7 Toms overwhelm her. I think she can control just one.

 

[NotabitaiI]

I am sure she's over 5. She was given to me because she had food aggression with other dogs. She would snarl and growl and keep the turkeys off..

Did you discourage that?

but now they overwhelm her. I do feed at the same time. They just happen to prefer the dog food. Right now there are 7 toms who are problematic. After November 20th there will be only one. I am sure she'll have control back by then. Right now I have to stand and supervise. They respect me, but not her.

I'd keep doing that as long as possible. If the problem persists past getting rid of six Toms then maybe a small portable pen would help

I have several for letting rabbits and dogs play outside without running off and they can be pretty tall, perhaps she'd be okay to eat her food in one so she can still feel like she's with them but she's not being attacked for her food, as long as she knows she'll be let back out she should learn to be excited to go inside and eat.

 

[Bantambird]

Here is what I have had to do in the past in feeding a livestock guardian that guards poultry along with goats: I bring him meals 2 times a day. He eats the meal and I remove the bowl. If I did not do this with the younger one, he would get mad at the birds and eventually would guard his food lethally. Feed your turkeys first, then bring food to your dog. If you need to, you can feed him in a kennel so that the birds don't bother him. Give him 15 to 20 minutes to eat. He will learn to eat in the allotted time, and it will keep him from food guarding, which can be a real hazard.

 

[fat brown hen]

How do you feed your LGD (mine is a Great Pyrenees) when the turkeys will push her out of the way and steal all of her food? Have you found an outdoor RFID feeder that will work. It's just crazy.

Do the regular RFID dog feeders not work for you? If you are concerned about it being exposed to the weather, you could put a roof over it?

I have been considering something like this to keep wild turkeys out of my feeders, but I don't like the dispenser shape. If I were to do it for my turkeys, I think I would pair an RFID kit with my automatic deer feeder.

 

[Baymule]

Have you worked out the turkey and dog feeding problem?
I feed my dogs kibble and I put something yummy over it so they will eat it ALL and not eat a little and walk off, thinking they can come back later to eat the rest. By then, the sheep would have eaten it or it would be full of ants. Yes, I have my dogs trained to sit, wait, I set their pans down and they do not eat until I tell them Take it.

If you are still having problems because the dog stresses when taken away from his turkeys, then build him an eating cage. Take a cow panel or 2, cut 2 pieces long enough to fit him, then 2 pieces for ends. Make 1 piece a gate with carabiners. Cut a piece for a top. Now turkeys can't get to his food, he is still with them and he can eat in peace. If they are trying to reach in and steal his food, cover the cow panels with chicken wire.

Put a lawn chair next to the eating cage and sit with him while he eats. I sit with my dogs, it is our special time together. Talk to him, let him know that you are protecting him while he eats. If he doesn't want to eat it all, put something yummy over his food. I raise Cornish Cross every year and part out the backs, and sometimes the drumsticks. I thaw and cook as needed, cutting up carrots, maybe beef liver (they hate it but it gets camoflauged by the chicken). I store it in the refrigerator in half gallon glass jars with lots of broth. A half cup of the meat (I pick it off the bone) andhalf cup of broth and they are jumping up and down barking because they can smell it before I get there. Sit! Wait! set pans down, talk about anything while they stare at me.....TAKE IT!

Your dog works hard for you and deserves a peaceful place where he is protected, to eat. Let him know that you are there protecting him.

 

[Bantambird]

Have you worked out the turkey and dog feeding problem?
I feed my dogs kibble and I put something yummy over it so they will eat it ALL and not eat a little and walk off, thinking they can come back later to eat the rest. By then, the sheep would have eaten it or it would be full of ants. Yes, I have my dogs trained to sit, wait, I set their pans down and they do not eat until I tell them Take it.

If you are still having problems because the dog stresses when taken away from his turkeys, then build him an eating cage. Take a cow panel or 2, cut 2 pieces long enough to fit him, then 2 pieces for ends. Make 1 piece a gate with carabiners. Cut a piece for a top. Now turkeys can't get to his food, he is still with them and he can eat in peace. If they are trying to reach in and steal his food, cover the cow panels with chicken wire.

Put a lawn chair next to the eating cage and sit with him while he eats. I sit with my dogs, it is our special time together. Talk to him, let him know that you are protecting him while he eats. If he doesn't want to eat it all, put something yummy over his food. I raise Cornish Cross every year and part out the backs, and sometimes the drumsticks. I thaw and cook as needed, cutting up carrots, maybe beef liver (they hate it but it gets camoflauged by the chicken). I store it in the refrigerator in half gallon glass jars with lots of broth. A half cup of the meat (I pick it off the bone) andhalf cup of broth and they are jumping up and down barking because they can smell it before I get there. Sit! Wait! set pans down, talk about anything while they stare at me.....TAKE IT!

Your dog works hard for you and deserves a peaceful place where he is protected, to eat. Let him know that you are there protecting him.

I also use feeding time as bonding time, and usually sit with them afterwards just to hang in the middle of the herd. We sit down and I tell him about my day. The goats come and it usually becomes a cuddle puddle between goats and dog. The birds usually aren't interested in cuddling but stick around.