PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[scottcaddy]

I had to google the bird <BG>, I agree It's a very nice looking bird! Enjoying the thread!
Thanks for starting it!
Scott

 

[centrarchid]

NEED FOR BETTER PREPARATION AGAINST NIGHTTIME RAIDS OF YARD DURING OFF-SEASON

This fall and winter so far have been pretty easy on birds with respect to very low success rate of predators. Dogs have been doing very well but I still go out to help once in a while in hopes of getting a treed coon. For me to be a more competent wing man for dogs I have got to be more prepared for when Scoob makes request I participate. I have a working list that speeds reaction time since some baddies are hard to ID if I am too slow. Seems like most of my participation is while snow is on ground.

Things have placed strategically for me to pickup as heading to door include the following:

Flashlight with good batteries to see ditch that seems to move, briar's that like me too much, and the electric fence that I tend to forget about
Jacket to keep warm
.22 bolt action rifle (with rounds in pocket of jacket I am wearing, not another jacket)
Pair of shoes (1 left, 1 right, not two of either as that hurts when running)
All of Trueman's toys picked up off floor so I do not stub toe or fall over
Pants on so when neighbor comes out to help I do not wish jacket was bigger
Key to house when I lock myself out

 

[centrarchid]

DYNAMICS OF LGD'S CHANGING AS DOG TWO MATURES

Today three dogs, two pit bulls and a husky approached pen area from south. They repressent a pack I thinned a bit last summer. Their territory boarders ours and in past Scoob would play with females allowing them to come too far into yard. That conflicts with Lucy's interest and she now participates in boarder defense. Today rival pack came up to within 100 feet of house before Scoob and Lucy attacked with Scoob in lead. He even went after females but paid particular attention to male husky. Husky briefly appeared to hold ground but Lucy piled on causing the husky to bolt wiith tail between his legs with Scoob and Lucy keeping up speed of exit. Lucy is nearing age of first heat but not fully mature. She will become even more effective in her own right and Scoob is changing as a result. We should be a full strenght by end of 2013 production season. She is also very fast so fox is going to be taking chances once free-range chicks and juveniles start.

 

[aart]

Nothing to comment on other than I enjoy reading the updates of your process. Thumbs up!

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like my two dogs would be classified as perimeter guardian dogs which contrast with flock guardians. Typical LGD breed's most consider would be of the flock type while my dogs patrol perimeter and pursue threats away from flock. A poster in another thread indicated both types should be used and never should only one dog be on duty which agree with on latter point. First point will need to be explored further. Additionally, poster provided a link to a discussion group concerning LGD's with membership rules that only pure breds be considered. Long-term I very much not liking that rule owing to the very limited gene pools of those imported breeds. Developement of a an American version based on multiple imported breeds and possibly a non-LGD should be given fair consideration or at least not be discounted. Sometimes keeping a breed in tip top shape requires more than simply breeding best to best within a breed.


This means I may still get the akbash when sheep and goats started. Akbash would stay tigher with ruminant flock as bred to do and pointers would patrol much wider area as needed to protect dispersed chickens. Problem is akbash would still be a bit confined on an 18 acre patch with only a dozen sheep and goats. I am clearly no more than a hobby farmer. But my chickens are safe and thriving.

 

[centrarchid]

Two bald eagles barrelled through low and fast getting penned birds I was near stirred up. About a dozen and a half juvenile dominiques were out foraging in open but nothing to be feared, Scoob was watching eagles very closely as they flew over. Eagles seemed to be flying back to roost near Missouri River probably within shadow of capitol building.

 

[centrarchid]

Coyotes are having social problems again. Resident pair is chasing somebody and that somebody runs into where dogs are in bid to get away from pair. Then dogs chase or at least bark at the persecuted coyote. My dogs are barking in response and clearly wanting their turn to chase somebody. Most of other dogs in area are too old to chase anything faster than an overweight oppossum.

 

[centrarchid]

Coyotes are at war. I can hear a pack due north of house and another not more than 1/2 mile to west. Dogs in trailer park are howling in response while Scoob and Lucy are sitting quitely and making occasional quite forays around perimeter of property. They seem to use barking / howling dogs to track the warring coyote factions. Surviving coyote pups likely got boot from natal territories and must float about until they can pair with somebody to start their own. None of the coyote pairs howl on my place or very close by likely because Scoob runs them off. They know Scoob. Last year this time Scoob tackled a female coyote that refused to run away, apparently becuase something else in opposite direction scared her more. Was likely a calculated risk that Scoob would not maul her but he did escort her off in direction she was okay with. Coyotes look huge until Scoob stands next to one. The hair is desceptive but their "twinky" feet gives proper perspective with respect to size of overall animal under fur.

 

[KatieBugg]

I also have a blue heeler, I started him with a grown flock when he was 8 weeks old, and is in now 9 months old and excellent for all predators hawks, fox, you name it. It alos helped that I have an 8 year old Jack Russel that was already a great protector, the two together have killed 3 fox so far.



To OP: That GSH is a beautiful dog!!

 

[centrarchid]

I also have a blue heeler, I started him with a grown flock when he was 8 weeks old, and is in now 9 months old and excellent for all predators hawks, fox, you name it. It alos helped that I have an 8 year old Jack Russel that was already a great protector, the two together have killed 3 fox so far.



To OP: That GSH is a beautiful dog!!

I am in Holts Summit as well. Are you getting red or gray foxes? I am west of town where reds are only visitors but grays are closer to town where red cedar trees grow in what look like plantations coming up in feilds that were abandoned about 20 years ago.. Biggest problem for me is the roaming dogs that are seldom as individuals and almost all are large. Pitbull crosses factor in way too much since they seem to be the cool dog to have.