PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[scottcaddy]

LONE COYOTE GETTING SASSY

Tonight a coyote was in apple orchard howling and barking at what appears to be the pack to the southwest. Scoob and Lucy barked back at coyote but as far as I could tell coyote's biggest concern was to south which it seemed to reluctantly retreat to when Scoob and Lucy went after him or her.

Additionally, opossum killed the other night is missing in high grass. That means high risk for is showing up much juicier in next couple days as Lucy's play toy.

You'll be able to find it in this heat sooner, I would think, Good Luck!!
Is the lone Coyote looking for a new home?

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

You'll be able to find it in this heat sooner, I would think, Good Luck!!
Is the lone Coyote looking for a new home?

Scott

It appears to be a yearling; looks like its been freshly minted but full size. I am guessing it is last years pup from pack it seems to interact with.

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: Ok then, mabey getting pushed out, low man on the pole?
Hope it don't like your land! Good thing you have Scoop and Lucy to keep them moving!
Scott

 

[Daisy8s]

NEW CHALLENGE DOGS NOT SUITED FOR

Trueman could be every bit as damaging as any other predator. He has already demonstrated the capacity for grabbing and crushing very large and feisty live crayfish in his little hands.

Predator management of this sort will have to be my area alone. I can keep Trueman out of brooders and incubators but free-range birds will be subject to his harassment. I know this because he carries my DNA. This summer he is going to be trying to catch free-range juveniles and especially chicks under hen care. Fencing will slow him down for a while but it may come down to hens popping him. If like me, then he will be trying outsmart hens. Game hens are hard to outsmart and they will chase him all the way back to house flogging his butt all the way.

First, let me say that I absolutely love that you describe your toddler as another predator. Parents of toddlers fully understand the astounding destructive ability of little humans in such a deceptively cute form.

Second, I appreciate your realistic approach to free-ranging kids and chickens. I still shake my head at some, on this forum, who announce unequivocally that chickens and kids do not mix and nobody with kids should ever have a flock. My boys are bigger...10 and 6...but after two years around the rooster I have quit running to the rescue when they holler. They know how to behave around the chickens and if they get into trouble I know it's due to them provoking the rooster, not the other way around. (big caveat here that my rooster is not aggressive, and the yard is plenty big enough for everyone to have their own space.)

 

[scottcaddy]

Quote: After managing to raise 3 girls, and have several grand babies, I think that the PREDATOR term is very well said! There is nothing that they will not grab and if it tries to get away, grab tighter

Reminds me of a kitten, if it moves, GET IT!!

Scott (gotta love them)

 

[centrarchid]

My little predator is becoming increasingly like me. Yesterday evening he chased a free-ranging harem (2 hens: 1 rooster) around yard for about 1/2 hour. Chase was very slow but birds recognized the intent and did cackle occasionally. He is now at the stage where I was allowed to go down to a major walk where a large number (~150) free-ranging games milled about and a cockyard where we had a lot of roosters and best hens. Based on my grandfathers accounts and my spotty memory I got flogged a lot for being a "stinker butt" messing with birds and their doings. My grandfather thinks I should have been flogged a lot more that I was.

Just for record, as typed the above Trueman let out a little wail (cry) while playing on front porch. He tried to eat another chicken "pooped" (our word for poop) and decided it tasted like crap. He, like the birds and dogs also has taken to eating the very abundant craneflies. Everybody seems to like those once you get past the long skinny legs. He still saves room for "panny cakes".

 

[centrarchid]

WILL BUILD A DOG TIGHT FENCE ON NORTHEAST CORNER OR PROPERTY

Northeast corner of my property I have a trailer court with about 9 units as neighbors. One possibly has two pit bulls that are definitely man-aggressive towards me and dog aggressive to even other dogs of same owner even when of different sexes. Some of those same dogs have been housed routinely where chain allows access to about 8 feet into my property and one of the dogs tried to take a piece of me as I documented issue last night. I have had to work on Scoob not to be aggressive against neighbor dogs in their property so outright fights have not occurred but last night it almost did. Neighbor owning dogs and I are not on good terms and he appears to use dogs as a form of intimidation. Leash laws do not apply here which has benefited my dog use but it also leaves risk of man-aggressive dogs being an issue. Multiple discussions between neighbor and I have centered on his dogs living on my property and he invokes precedence where he and even dog have lived her longer than I. A partial fence is in place made of four strands of barbwire but it is not dog tight resulting in one of the dogs charging through and about 20' into my property as I surveyed bamboo patch. Law enforcement has been notified but they say laws are not restrictive enough for them to deal with even aggressive dogs. Next step is to construct dog tight fence using cattle panels where part of cost will be met by landlord of trailer court (relative of my wife). Measurements will be taken this morning. Neighbor has been very negative when I suggested a better fence will be constructed. That issue will then be taken up by his landlord if he takes actions against improvements. Part purpose behind bamboo was to obstruct sound and sight between our property and trailer court. It will work to that end but neighbors are increasingly using my property behind in manners I do not approve of.

Somebody is going to be seriously hurt by these dogs eventually; I am taking steps so that it will not be me or mine.

 

[centrarchid]

TODAY WE INTALLED PET DOOR FOR DOGS (AND DARN CATS AND TRUEMAN)


During much of day and all night we have been keeping front door open as well as windows. Initially this made it so I could hear what was going on so I personally could deal with problems. Chickens were at during those early days confined or provided roost on front porch or outside master bedroom windows. For last 2,5 years it has been so dogs with much better hearing and others can come and goes as they please. Dogs seem aware of everything even when in house and use it as a refuge from extreme weather and a protected feeding station. Down sides has been more work for heat pump, more work cleaning house, mosquitos and other insects coming in, and critters dogs catch being brought inside. We can now say heat pump and insect issues will be greatly reduced. Cost was a little over $300. I also will not need to adjust door when winds pick up at wee hours of morning so could save me an hour of sleep each night.

 

[scottcaddy]

TODAY WE INTALLED PET DOOR FOR DOGS (AND DARN CATS AND TRUEMAN)


During much of day and all night we have been keeping front door open as well as windows. Initially this made it so I could hear what was going on so I personally could deal with problems. Chickens were at during those early days confined or provided roost on front porch or outside master bedroom windows. For last 2,5 years it has been so dogs with much better hearing and others can come and goes as they please. Dogs seem aware of everything even when in house and use it as a refuge from extreme weather and a protected feeding station. Down sides has been more work for heat pump, more work cleaning house, mosquitos and other insects coming in, and critters dogs catch being brought inside. We can now say heat pump and insect issues will be greatly reduced. Cost was a little over $300. I also will not need to adjust door when winds pick up at wee hours of morning so could save me an hour of sleep each night.

The Cats and Trueman will like the door

Good luck keeping him inside now.

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

SETTING UP ELECTRIFIED POULTRY NETTING FOR COHORTS OF BROODER REARED CHICKS

This production intent is to rear about 300 birds through at least 20 weeks of age. They will be out and about free-range starting at 5 weeks. They are particularly vulnerable to Coopers hawks though about 8 to 10 weeks so a rooster will be kept with each group until after that point. The electrified poultry netting will keep out ground predators and dogs will escort those willing to try to defeat netting. A weak point will be built in so dogs can jump it to get in if they need to. Netting has been ordered from Kencove Farm Fence, Inc. The product to be used is orange version of 10/40/3.5 in a 164 foot length. The fence will form a perimeter around some relatively tall and dense cheat grass that will provide shade. Strips will be mowed into the patch so birds have easy going and fresh plant growth to consume. If all goes well multiple units will be setup as summer progresses although vegetation types will differ to include tall fescue and early successional growth of oak and hickory woodlot.