- Jun 29, 2009
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Found this board while looking for information on Maran egg colors. I lost my whole flock last year to three neighbors dogs who dug into my pen. I was heartsick.
Normally my dogs (two very well trained Beaucerons) guard the flock but we were out of town overnight and the dogs did not have access to the pen. I have started over this year with a mix of red stars, marans, rhode islands, buff orpington and araucana-ish hens as well as several standard bronze turkeys. I will reduce the flock once I have picked out my favorites, but love the ruckas of the three month old chicks.
I was glad to see the numerous threads regarding dog owners. I have made sure that at the very least my dogs are ambivolent to the chicks while I am around. I have had to ask my girl to spit out a chicken on occasion when she has entered the pen with me. She happily obliges and gives me that "I was just tasting it" look. But for the most part the dogs are a necessity and have kept the neighbors dogs, coyotes and other predators at bay without helping themselves to any of the flock. They have even done a pretty fair job at herding the turkeys and most importantly, have never attempted to get in the pen to help themselves.
Anyway, I look forward to browsing the wealth of stories and info here.
Elizabeth
Normally my dogs (two very well trained Beaucerons) guard the flock but we were out of town overnight and the dogs did not have access to the pen. I have started over this year with a mix of red stars, marans, rhode islands, buff orpington and araucana-ish hens as well as several standard bronze turkeys. I will reduce the flock once I have picked out my favorites, but love the ruckas of the three month old chicks.
I was glad to see the numerous threads regarding dog owners. I have made sure that at the very least my dogs are ambivolent to the chicks while I am around. I have had to ask my girl to spit out a chicken on occasion when she has entered the pen with me. She happily obliges and gives me that "I was just tasting it" look. But for the most part the dogs are a necessity and have kept the neighbors dogs, coyotes and other predators at bay without helping themselves to any of the flock. They have even done a pretty fair job at herding the turkeys and most importantly, have never attempted to get in the pen to help themselves.
Anyway, I look forward to browsing the wealth of stories and info here.
Elizabeth
