Made a decision

[pennyJo1960]

more than one is a pack.. pack mentality

 

[llombardo]

The dogs will never have contact with the chickens or ducks. They will never see them at nigh time. During the day they are not allowed in that area or unsupervised ever.

There is an 20x25 enclosure that will be locked, has hardware cloth all the way around and two ft out plus the netting over it. On top of that the coop and house with more hardware cloth around it are in the middle of the enclosure and will be locked.

There will be no way the dogs will get in. The sole purpose is to keep raccoons, opossum and skunks out. The yard itself is fenced with 6 ft vinyl with stone at the base and under gates.

This is strictly a deterrent and all chickens and ducks will be safe.

 

[pennyJo1960]

do as you choose I still would encourage no more than two

 

[SpringDaleChickenLady]

I wouldn’t bother with dogs, get electric poultry net fencing and nothing with bother the coops again.

 

[llombardo]

do as you choose I still would encourage no more than two

Only four will have the option of going in and out. Of the four, one won't bother, one will go in and out briefly, one would go out more often but to sleep out there and one will take his job seriously. I literally sleep right next to the window. 20 ft away from the area.

I've decided against electric anything for a few reasons right now. That could change in the future.

 

[Henrybelle]

They’re your dogs you know them best. Patrolling at night is a great idea. I have a 14 yr old min pin shi tzu mix who patrols in the run during the day. he turned out to be a swell flock guardian even though he is not very big he’s more of a deterrent for predator birds barks a lot if he was a bigger breed I like to keep him out at night. BUT even as good as he is with the birds when our smallest was picked off the other day by a crow ( he wasn’t in the run) he sniffed around the pile of feathers and was basically looking for leftovers licking the bloody pieces upi still trust him mostly because he’s to old to go chasing after them. But like I said they are your dogs and you know them best. Best of luck

 

[pennyJo1960]

I also wish the best of luck never would want anything else for another

 

[Howard E]

So you are going with a Fort Knox coop, plus dogs, to protect at night.

Who or what will be the protection during the daylight hours?

 

[Dayrel]

Who or what will be the protection during the daylight hours?

There is an 20x25 enclosure that will be locked, has hardware cloth all the way around and two ft out plus the netting over it. On top of that the coop and house with more hardware cloth around it are in the middle of the enclosure and will be locked.

Looks like he has it covered. Possibly the dogs will be out during the day too, but just the large enclosure should be good.

 

[RonP]

Dogs are great, I have two myself.
I choose to rely on me, not them though for my birds protection.
My efforts were spent on coop and run security on all six sides.
I leave nothing to chance.
Both are secured from all known predators and well beyond.
I sleep soundly knowing this...