Live Stock Guardian Dogs- Advice Please!

[Lrnabtbirds]

I have a small flock of free range chickens that is getting smaller due to a fox- which got one of my hens about a week ago and my Wonderful Rooster
I would like to get a Maremma Sheepdog, my concern only have 9 acres- and want to know if anyone has had experience with Invisible Fencing with this breed of dog?
Or does anyone have a suggestion of a breed of dog that could protect my chickens and be kept within about 4.5 acres secured by Invisible Fencing?
Thank you for any advice!!

 

[Roo5]

Live on 12 acres and don’t use fencing and our dogs stay around here, however have had puppies get killed from Chasing cars.

I own a German Shepherd.Great dog and has chased our fox away several times, however it did return after being ran off, or at least avoided the area.She can smell that thing coming from a mile away and start barking loudly causing it to scatter, sometimes even running and going to catch it.But she usually runs it out of the yard and can understand when the hens and ducks are in trouble just by their vocalizations, she would run Every time she heard the birds screaming or quacking.
Great Pyrenees are also great dogs, especially for this situation .

 

[cgmccary]

I have three female Great Pyrenees (all spayed) on 6.3 acres with an invisible fence & it works with them. It did not work with two Anatolians, both males, I had before. Talk to an invisible fence installer about his/her experience, if any, with Maremma. My installer said he had better results with female Pyrenees when spayed than say males and much better than Anatolians.

 

[Lrnabtbirds]

Thanks so much for the information! I spoke with our Invisible Fence people here they say the GPS fence would work. They gave me a phone # to speak with a customer who has a Great Pyrenees.

 

[Lrnabtbirds]

Live on 12 acres and don’t use fencing and our dogs stay around here, however have had puppies get killed from Chasing cars.

I own a German Shepherd.Great dog and has chased our fox away several times, however it did return after being ran off, or at least avoided the area.She can smell that thing coming from a mile away and start barking loudly causing it to scatter, sometimes even running and going to catch it.But she usually runs it out of the yard and can understand when the hens and ducks are in trouble just by their vocalizations, she would run Every time she heard the birds screaming or quacking.
Great Pyrenees are also great dogs, especially for this situation .

 

[Lrnabtbirds]

Thank you. Has your dog been raised with the birds since a pup?

 

[Roo5]

Yes,but naturally taught herself the scent and when to be alert.

Thank you. Has your dog been raised with the birds since a pup?

 

[chickens really]

Sadly one dog can't provide protection because Fox are cunning and get the dog to come where they are as the other one cleans out the birds. Happened to me so I now have two working dogs..

 

[cgmccary]

Sadly one dog can't provide protection because Fox are cunning and get the dog to come where they are as the other one cleans out the birds. Happened to me so I now have two working dogs..

On a few acres, one good LGD works. I started with one Anatolian. He was all I needed.

 

[The chicken wizard]

although i have only owned chickens for 14 weeks, my family has owned chickens in the past, my grandfather even owning a farm. in my experience, i witnessed his dogs attack the chickens when he wasn't looking. ive known several people who have had entire flocks wiped out by "loyal" guard dogs. no matter how trained they are, dogs still have a natural urge to slaughter anything that moves, wether for food or for fun. my advice is that you shouldn't use mutts to guard your flock. intead, try something without any predatory urges that will get along with your flock. geese and emus, for example, are loving flock members that will ruthlessly defend their flock. trust me, it would be more natural and effective for an vegetarian emu to defend a chicken flock than a carnivorous wolf to defend a chicken flock.