Keeping Chickens Free Range

[OrganicFarmWife]

Though my older dog would never allow a raccoon to live, he was ignoring hawks and he's too friendly to stray dogs and has always been, so I got him a younger working partner last fall and have been training him to be around chickens~VERY easy, took a couple of corrections only~and humans~still training on that one....he still gets overly excited around new people and just wants to be loved, loved, loved...all the time. 

Though Jake has been an excellent chicken dog for the past 10 yrs, I started him out as a partner to my other working dog, and though she was doing fine on her own as well....sometimes an aging dog just needs some rest in the day after guarding all night.  They are less open to greeting other dogs if they have their own pack~even if it's just two dogs~and they can take turns being on guard, which works much better than one dog trying to keep track of 30+ chickens roaming all over 3-5 acres of meadow and woodland. 

It's well worth it to get that extra pup and put in the training time.  If you get the right breed and start them out at a young age right with the chickens, it seems to take very minimal training to get their minds off the chickens as prey.   I've been really tickled with the last two pups I've trained on chickens and both have been a huge asset to my homestead.  The previous two chicken dogs came to me as adults and seemed already trained on livestock, so I was blessed with those dogs as well. 

My border collies were easy, especially once they learned no nipping. The cairn didn't even look twice. The Jack Russell rough coat was relatively easy. Even the GSD mix we had {until he killed the cat and started going after the others} was ok once trained. The biggest problem was the dashchund, who, after almost 3 years of good behavior, went on a killing spree of my bantam babies. He got a new home with a small dog rescue for his troubles.

I think any stray- dog or cat- has the potential to cause mayhem.

What is a GSD?

 

[Tikkijane]

I've really always liked the attributes of the Anatolian breed and wanted one for years, but they are usually way too expensive for me to obtain and they won't give you one out of rescue unless you have 6 ft fences around your property....who in the world except deer and buffalo farmers have 6 ft fencing around their farms??? So, I prayed about it all and asked for God's will on getting another dog and for providing the right one. All summer long there were no appropriate pups in the ads. Finally, last fall I saw an ad for pups that were Anatolian/Maremma/GP mix for $100....that's pretty unheard of for my area and especially for that price. Both Anatolian and Maremma breeds are not too common in these parts, though one can often pick up a free adult GP now and again. An answer to prayer!!! Then came Ben, came here at 2 mo. and will be a year old next month, and is working out to be a fine chicken dog and companion to Jake and to us. I'm really enjoying his traits...intelligent, sensitive, intuitive learner, calm, loyal, and sweet. I think the Anatolian traits, from what I've read, are very prominent in his genetics and I'm very pleased with the dog that God brought me and thank Him for him quite a bit. Jake is really loving the companionship as well.

LOVE! I've wanted an lgd of some sort. I really like the GPs, but I'm in the south. And as much as they roam, even as rural as I am, I'd worry about the hunting dogs all around, even though they are contained. At this point, we've got the 3 home {the cairn is with my hubby and son on the opposite end of the country for work right now}, and it's a relief the other two are gone.

 

[Tikkijane]

It depends on the dog. Beekissed has a dog that will attack Hawks, mine do not even notice their presence. Having alot of "junk" around your yard us e best way to keep them safe from aerial predators. Bushes, trees, machinery, boards lying against walls, anything like that would prevent Hawks from getting a meal. You also need a good watcher, to alert the hens to find cover. A Rooster is your best option, but my Easter Eggers are doing a decent job at the moment...but EEs do not keep a flock together, roosters do.

My friend has a pair of GPs that will actively go after hawks. Roos are good, to a point.

Some folks like the animated owls; some say moving a stationary owl around works. The stationary owl being moved did nothing for us.

I've been known to stick soms pinwheels all around. Some folks like hanging cds around. Basically, anythinh shiny/sparkly that reflects back up can help. And make sure there are lots of hiding spots around for the birds to get under if they need to.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Well cross your fingers, after complaining about needing a dog and the unreasonable prices people think their dogs are worth, I may have a GP puppy. She only wants 250, with the price if shots I do not think that is unreasonable. The fog's are about 3hours away from me, but I am willing to make that drive. I had my Aunt (she is the family GP expert, because she has always owned them) look at the photos she posted and her words were "the breeding isn't great, but you are only looking for a pet" and that is true enough.
Nothing is decided yet, I need to ask about the parents hips. But I am really hoping this works out. DH is going to be very annoyed, he is anti big dog, but I can overrule (besides what he is really anti is the more traditional fighting dogs, like Rottweilers or German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees are not the same thing to me)

 

[Tikkijane]

She's a cutie. 

She's a zebra for the breed in some regards- very cuddly /loving, very vocal, and large. That seems to be our luck with dogs, lol. But this is my absolute favorite breed. Although, I do like border collies, too.....lololol.

 

[Tikkijane]

What is a GSD?

German Shepherd Dog, sorry.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

What is a GSD?

German Shepherd Dog, sorry.

Ahh that makes sense

 

[Tikkijane]

Well cross your fingers, after complaining about needing a dog and the unreasonable prices people think their dogs are worth, I may have a GP puppy. She only wants 250, with the price if shots I do not think that is unreasonable. The fog's are about 3hours away from me, but I am willing to make that drive. I had my Aunt (she is the family GP expert, because she has always owned them) look at the photos she posted and her words were "the breeding isn't great, but you are only looking for a pet" and that is true enough.
Nothing is decided yet, I need to ask about the parents hips. But I am really hoping this works out. DH is going to be very annoyed, he is anti big dog, but I can overrule (besides what he is really anti is the more traditional fighting dogs, like Rottweilers or German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees are not the same thing to me)

Agreed. That's like apples and cars. Totally different. I have seen pics of rotties with chooks; also GSDs and pits. But if you are looking for an actual LGD, I think you are on the right track.

 

[duluthralphie]

Better keep your guinea mob away from the admissions.....

True, they would probably knock off the admissions boix and buy more drugs with it..

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Well cross your fingers, after complaining about needing a dog and the unreasonable prices people think their dogs are worth, I may have a GP puppy. She only wants 250, with the price if shots I do not think that is unreasonable. The fog's are about 3hours away from me, but I am willing to make that drive. I had my Aunt (she is the family GP expert, because she has always owned them) look at the photos she posted and her words were "the breeding isn't great, but you are only looking for a pet" and that is true enough.
Nothing is decided yet, I need to ask about the parents hips. But I am really hoping this works out. DH is going to be very annoyed, he is anti big dog, but I can overrule (besides what he is really anti is the more traditional fighting dogs, like Rottweilers or German Shepherd, Great Pyrenees are not the same thing to me)

Agreed. That's like apples and cars. Totally different. I have seen pics of rotties with chooks; also GSDs and pits. But if you are looking for an actual LGD, I think you are on the right track.

Well I am looking for a good farm dog. I usually favor Shepards, but I need a good guard, my old girl cannot manage anymore. Besides she was always to friendly to other dogs, I have heard GP are highly territorial, so maybe I won't have to shoot my neighbors dog.