Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[xlboergoats]

I was reading about preditor problems with some people's flocks. Does anyone else run Livestock Guard Dogs with their birds? We have always kept Pyranees (sp) Anatolian crosses with our goats. When we moved the goats to the other property, the dogs moved to the chicken and peafowl pens. We have LGDs at the other place to protect the goats. We have never had preditor problems around at either place and we know that we have them lurking about.

Just Wondering,
Ernie Haire
Arp, Texas

 

[DMRippy]

I was reading about preditor problems with some people's flocks. Does anyone else run Livestock Guard Dogs with their birds? We have always kept Pyranees (sp) Anatolian crosses with our goats. When we moved the goats to the other property, the dogs moved to the chicken and peafowl pens. We have LGDs at the other place to protect the goats. We have never had preditor problems around at either place and we know that we have them lurking about.

Just Wondering,
Ernie Haire
Arp, Texas

My neighbor has 1 Great Pyrenees with her goats and chickens. We may have to get one down the road... but so far all is well. Her dog is right next to my breeding pens and she could come over in our yard if she wanted. She may be keeping some predators at bay.

 

[lisascenic]

lisasenic~

The milky bloom that you asked about does not wash off, scrub off. I had a female that laid these eggs ALL OF TIME, I was so curious to see if I could get it off, I even tried sanding it off.....nope.
They would make beautiful Pysanky eggs don't you think?

What I've observed is that if the egg is jostled immediately after laying, some of the bloom scratches off, but it does seem to cement itself to the egg once it "sets."

I'll report back about the Pysanky eggs.

And thank you for your reply!

 

[Runawaylobster]

My neighbor has 1 Great Pyrenees with her goats and chickens. We may have to get one down the road... but so far all is well. Her dog is right next to my breeding pens and she could come over in our yard if she wanted. She may be keeping some predators at bay.

My dogs hang out all day around the property and I believe they keep the predators away, well except the squirrels since they can't catch those.

 

[DMRippy]

Quote:
My neighbor eats them too

 

[gilavina]

I don't have an official LGD, but do have a Newfoundland/Australian Shepherd cross beast that is fantastic at warding off predators, including warning the chickens of overhead predators. Its funny to watch him communicating with the chickens, but they sure listen. He has this strange yip noise he makes and they all start growling and running for the hills. Here's Goliath as a 6 month old pup, he's now about 2 1/2 times this size now. Depending which side you see him from, he looks like a different dog.




Death on watering cans. grrr

 

[ellymayRans]

I don't have an official LGD, but do have a Newfoundland/Australian Shepherd cross beast that is fantastic at warding off predators, including warning the chickens of overhead predators. Its funny to watch him communicating with the chickens, but they sure listen. He has this strange yip noise he makes and they all start growling and running for the hills. Here's Goliath as a 6 month old pup, he's now about 2 1/2 times this size now. Depending which side you see him from, he looks like a different dog. Death on watering cans. grrr

Beautiful boy!

 

[gilavina]

Thanks, he's a big goof ball, but not a mean bone in his body.

 

[pinkchick]

These are some of what I have in the incubator.

Beautiful eggs Don! I hope you have a great hatch!

 

[pinkchick]

My neighbor eats them too

I have 2 squirrels giving me a headache right now! Cute as they are.....I can't stand them anymore! I can't shoot them because where they hang out is facing the neighbors house, so I tried a live trap and only caught my cat. Guess I shouldn't have used catfood as bait.
The squirrels are trying everything they can to find ways into the coops while they are locked up tight but with no luck. However, they know the chickens and geese are going to be let out for the day and they know the coop pop door will be open...it's a free for all with those rodents and they are making me CRAZY!
My neighbor also wants to know when if I catch them so he can eat them. I told him since he did such a nice job taking care of the bobcat, he could catch my squirrels. He laughed and said, "Nope, that's the hard part, but once you've got 'em give me a holler."


Now the chickens do not pay the squirrels any attention, but my gander, though he is not fast, he will certainly give them an earful and a quick chase.