Guard Dog/Mamma Hen

[ruth]

Thank you all for your kind comments and your many "welcomes". I fell in love with this site months ago and finally decided to join. I guess I'm now officially a "chicken lover" too. I overheard my husband yesterday telling someone on the phone that I was on my "chicken site". I said "I sure hope that's family and not a customer you're talking to." (Didn't want those who don't know me well to think I've really lost my mind with taking on chicken raising - those that know me KNOW I've never had a mind to begin with.) I found JudyMae's story about her shepherd and the pig touching. It's amazing how loving and attentative pets can be. Rex has also guarded a sick baby kitten that I found. It was in the bathroom area with the box of chicks the night he growled at me and would not leave. Guess he figured he needed to pull double duty.

On a different note - and under different posts - I'm still doctoring my first sick chicken, Ruth. You can follow her story by seeing my other posts. Again, I'm amazed that I have become so fond of these chicks and am spending so much time reading and researching everything I can find in order to care for them as best possible. I'm not getting a whole lot of sleep either because now that Rex stays outside he barks whenever there's anything near and I get up and turn on the outside spotlight that goes to the chicken coop so I can check on them. So far, so good. I can use any advise anyone wants to give. Thanks to all.

 

[chickbea]

Oh - what a handsome man. I had a GSD cross many years ago and I still miss her terribly. She loved baby chicks also - she thoought she was the mom!

 

[joebwe25]

My dog does really well with the girls too.

 

[BeckyLa]

German Shepherd, by and far my favorite breed of dog. Here's my girl

 

[ruth]

Hi BeckyLa - What a beauty. Rex is my first GSD and I too have been so impressed with the breed. If we had not just had Rex "fixed" last month I would suggest we get these two together.

 

[BeckyLa]

I was thinking, too, what wonderful protective pups they would have had. Unfortunately, this pic was taken a year or so before we had to put her down. She did live to 12, though. Wonderful years of constant companionship. She, indeed, has ruined me for ever getting another dog. Aveia was so special........

And Rex is beautiful. How old is he? And what breed is your other dog?

 

[ruth]

I'm so sorry to hear she is no longer with you but glad to hear that she lived to be 12 years old. Rex is 4 years old. I was so impressed with him and the breed that I considered getting a female and raising pups. But, I got chickens instead. Once he decided he needed to sleep outside with them I didn't want him staying out without being neutered and knew I had my hands full with chicks so gave up on idea of raising GSD pups. Our other dog is a mixed breed "mut" mostly catahoula I think that found her way here. I would not trust her anywhere near the chicks and neither does Rex. She watches from a distance and drools.