Fox caught in the henhouse

[chickenannie]

A local fox trapper came over today and set up traps around the barns. Hope the culprit shows up.

 

[clhbubba]

I have a Great Pyrenees, haven't had a coyote or a possum problem since then. Once had a fence problem and a coyote got in and got out before the Pyr(or myself) could catch him, he was at the far end of the pasture. Fixed the fence. All in all the Pyr is a GREAT guardian. I have horses, goats, turkeys, geese, ducks, chickens and 2 children and he takes his guardianship of them all very seriously! Very low maintenance dogs as well. I would highly recommend one if you are thinking of a guard dog.

 

[chickenannie]

From what I just researched, livestock guard dogs need tons of training, and if not properly trained, can be nasty to any unfamiliar person who come to visit your house (which could well be friends of family). The website about Akbash dogs said if they are not fenced in they will leave and go "protect" themselves against anything/anyone unfamiliar.
I certainly do not have my entire farm fenced in -- so I'm wondering if they would just run to the neighboring farms and bother them there.

 

[clhbubba]

I am not familiar enough with the Akbash breed to comment on them. But I cannot say enough good things about our Pyrenees. We got our Pyr as a 10wk old pup. He was born and raised with goats and chickens. We brought him home and put him with the critters. As a pup he did try to play with the chickens at first but as he matured he became very protective. We can have anyone over and have them go in with us and he is just as friendly to them as he is to us. I cannot say what he would do if we weren't home, it hasn't been an issue to date. I have been to other places where people had Pyr's and have never had one be agressive towards me(a stranger). We have an acre fenced for our livestock and Pyr. That may not be do-able for most people. I wish you luck and hope you lose no more of your chickens.

 

[frankenchick]

So sorry about your loss!

Is there something about BOs that makes them more attractive to predators? The neighbors' dog took 2 of my 3.

 

[chasep]

if its digging under the coop yard, try putting cement all around it. this helped prevent things getting in mine

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

ELECTRIC FENCE!!!!!!
I have it around ALL of our birds. 2 strands, one as low to the ground as possible without grounding it out (this one helps with snakes too) and the other about 12 inches up.
Our hardware store has insulators that are on 6 inch extenders to get them away from the poultry fence, this will keep your birds from touching it threw the wire.
I dont care how hungry the fox is or was, it's not worth lossing our loved babies over!
I kind am bius over this as one got into one of my grow out pens a few years ago, and wiped out 50 + beautiful silkies and polish bantams in one night.
Therefore, I am dilgent about useing HOT WIRE!
Sorry too for the loss, try this if you like!
Aubrey

 

[nnbreeder]

Good dogs out of working bloodline need little or no training. We have a 14 wk old Anatolian/ Pyrenees cross that has done very well from day one. He is penned with the goats but can get through the fence and makes regular patrols of all the livestock and poultry pens.

I actually want him to be agressive to all that enter the place, two legged or four and if he hears a noise he will be right there checking it out. I have often turned around while doing chores to find him sitting there staring at me and once he realizes it's only me will go back to his goats. If he barks he is only saying hi, he goes into a stealth mode when assessing a situation. They are generally very intellegent dogs that won't go off half cocked.

I've heard of Anatolian pups killing coyotes while still quite young at around 6 mos of age but many LGDs can be distracted away from their charges and that is why many use at least two of them. Now for the ultimate LGD get a Komondor as they are well known for NOT leaving their flocks under any circumstances. They are very effective by making the predators come to them. Very fierce fighters and highly protective of their friends. Too bad that they are so hard to find and expensive when you do find one.