Michigan

[RBahmer]

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I had a Great Pyrenees LGD and he did a wonderful job guarding our sheep. We lost him earlier this year as we had a tornado and he was old and I guess his heart wouldn't take it. But when he was here and with the sheep he was very protective. He never bothered a cat or a chicken unless they got in with his sheep. Then he would kill them. I have not replaced him yet but when I do it will be another Great Pyrenees. I heard llamas are good and donkeys are good but I will stick to my Pyrenees. Hope this helps. I never lost a sheep or a lamb when I had him.

 

[Olive Hill]

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Vicki2x2 has LGDs. She doesn't post much anymore, but you might be able to find her in the member's list and shoot her an email.

 

[Olive Hill]

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Temperament is such a bird-specific trait. And is effected so strongly be environment, too. I wouldn't make that a deciding factor. If you want to try them and everything else looks good, I say go for it.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Stacy, congrats on the egg

and the goat is beautiful!

Chickmate, those EE's are very lovely.

Farmerboy, cute little guy. Coop looks great! I decided to have my middle son come over this Sat. to put some fencing up for me. I don't have the strength and DH does not have the time.

Raz, I have a couple of JG girls and they are very sweet.

 

[chickflick]

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sure hope so, don't need any more roosters. read on the gender sight that all white EE are roosters. Love to prove them wrong..
Love the goats. would love to try milk goats some day.

I've got a pure white EE and she lays eggs.

 

[fifelakelooper]

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Raz...they are sweet...I have 3 splash jerseys I hatched from Wynette and 1 blue, 2 blacks hatched from Maria Hall. My PLAN was to sell hatching eggs and they just started laying. However....due to my traveling to Florida...I could not keep the Blue Jersey roo (kept getting beat up badly in the last two weeks by the Orp roo who is a month older) so now any eggs I have will be only half jersey and half orp.

Mine fly more than others I've had but they are only 6 1/2 months...once they are bigger I don't think they will. They try to elude the rooster by flying up to the tops of the compost bins.

You will love them I'm sure. Plus...the eggs I hatched were really big!

 

[fifelakelooper]

Farmerboy...loved the pictures of the holstein bull calf. Brings back memories...my job growing up was to feed all the calves with milk powder and nipple pails. As soon as I'd walk into the pen I'd have 4 plus calves slurping on my jacket , my jeans...whatever!!

 

[snowflake]

Farmboy, was wondering how your calf was doing, he is very handsome!!! Thanks chick, I am looking forward to 'egg day' from her

 

[Chickmate]

Quote:
I had a Great Pyrenees LGD and he did a wonderful job guarding our sheep. We lost him earlier this year as we had a tornado and he was old and I guess his heart wouldn't take it. But when he was here and with the sheep he was very protective. He never bothered a cat or a chicken unless they got in with his sheep. Then he would kill them. I have not replaced him yet but when I do it will be another Great Pyrenees. I heard llamas are good and donkeys are good but I will stick to my Pyrenees. Hope this helps. I never lost a sheep or a lamb when I had him.

Thanks RB and Olive. My sister-in-law breeds and trains Bouvier de Flanders and Border Collies for herding and tracking, and has a herd of about 30 or so sheep. As I said, she has lost about 5 or 6 lambs this year to coyotes. She had heard that LGDs were rather unreliable with people and could tend toward aggression. I'm sure it depends on breed and training or lack thereof, but it seemed to me with as many people as it seems use them, they couldn't be too unreliable. Can't imagine people would have them if they couldn't get near their own sheep!! She would like to talk to someone who has used them before she decides on breed or LGD over llama or donkey. RB, if she has questions, could I give her your e-mail address?

 

[Opa]

If my oldest son's experience with mules and donkeys is any indication I don't think I would use them as a guard animal. While they did keep coyotes away, they also killed two foals and several goat kids. His donkey jack was especially agressive towards anything smaller than he.

I have been remiss in welcoming all of the new folks to our thread. It has grown to what is probably the largest state thread on the entire BYC site. This is due to the fact that we have assembled just a wonderful group of friendly and helpful people. The popularity and growth of Chickenstock certainly bears proof of that and I would like to personally extend an invitation to everyone to come this next June.