PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[centrarchid]

MULTIPLE HEAVY RAIN EVENTS

Over last couple of days we have had considerable rain with 2" or more per storm. Ground is saturated and water is literally bubbling up out of ground into cock pens where water stands at least 1" deep. Birds are still standing in that mess. Free-range pullets make no effort to avoid torrential rain and appear to be go after insects of some sort coming to surface to breath. Pullets are actually foraging in standing water which is something I never witnessed prior to moving here. Dogs are having a blast running down wet paths a full tilt but this does not make free-ranging birds happy as they have no warning dogs are coming through. Electrified poultry netting is in and will be setup assuming lightening will allow. Pictures will be provided of wiring and overall setup. The netting is very different from the equivalent product sold by Premiere. First length is green rather than orange which will be acquired next month.

 

[centrarchid]

TABLE OF ESTIMATES FOR ELECTRIFIED POULTRY NETTING

As I increase acreage pressed into service for rearing juveniles the distances between paddocks will increase making dogs job more difficult. Electrified poultry netting will help against most ground dwelling predators but will not be effective against raptors as noted previously. Dogs will still have to deal with raptors and thus still be able to get in. Owing to older cohorts not being compatible with younger if paddocks too small, I priced out options where area fenced in will be as multiple or simple a larger paddock. Larger paddocks as not as expensive with respect to cost per unit area but charger may be a limiting factor since such fencing needs more energy to keep hot. Unit price for fencing was $170 after taxes but could have been as low as $139 if acquired directly from manufacturer online but I will pay taxes if it supports local businesses. Lineal feet is the number of lengths x 164 feet. Side length is assuming paddock to be square which is easiest calculate area from. Circles would be more efficient on fencing side but not with respect to deployment. As paddock size increases cost increases but cost per acre contained drops from the high of about $4,400 down to $220 / acre. I do not think a single charger would be able to keep so many length hot so that would be a complicating issue.

 

[scottcaddy]

I use hot wire for our horses and would suggest that you use at least 2 if not more chargers. If 1 pen gets shorted out for any reason, all are dead, not just the pen with the problem. I learned this the hard way of course

Adding ..that wet weeds will short out a fence in a sec.
Good luck, I have been thinking about using the netting myself.

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

I put a lot of effort into mowing to keep fences already in place hot. Fence failure not immediate issue again because dogs are the backup plan. I need to put more effort into fences with all this rain.

 

[centrarchid]

TURTLES ARE MAJOR DISTRACTION

Over last month both dogs have been collecting three-toed box turtles and bring them to front porch. Sometimes as many as four are present in group at a time. Over last couple days we have also taken to treeing common snappers with count now at four. Three were the smaller plate sized dudes and one was about 15 lbs. Dogs tear things up when it comes to snappers. I can not waite until turtles hunker down for summer.

 

[scottcaddy]

TURTLES ARE MAJOR DISTRACTION

Over last month both dogs have been collecting three-toed box turtles and bring them to front porch. Sometimes as many as four are present in group at a time. Over last couple days we have also taken to treeing common snappers with count now at four. Three were the smaller plate sized dudes and one was about 15 lbs. Dogs tear things up when it comes to snappers. I can not waite until turtles hunker down for summer.

They are some good eating, I like Snapper Stew!!

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

We used to have a festival every year where turtle soup based on snappers and soft-shells was the main attraction. Some folks also fried it. My brother and I as kids used to catch many turtles for such. Common snappers here are quite abundant but I do not see large adults unless looking around larger lakes and down in the bottoms. Most we consumed were caught in water. These animals I am seeing this time of year are looking for summer habitats and shortly females will be laying eggs.

 

[centrarchid]

Below is plan for free-range area for juvenile birds to be out today, assuming weather allows mowing and deployment of electrified poultry netting. Funky mowing pattern is to provide cover from elements and some cover from hawks regardless of time of day. Hawk cover will not provide refuge like a briar patch can. A bullstag Dominique will be added to give Coopers Hawk hell if it does go after juveniles. Juveniles should be too heavy for hawks to fly with once they are released from tractor in about a week. After mowing of strips, the planted forage should provide a flush of tender growth birds can eat. The area represent will be about 40 feet on a side.

 

[centrarchid]

REALITY AS IMPOSED BY LAWN MOWER


Below is photograph showing site where juvenile free-ranging paddock was setup. It is centered on the cheat grass in middle of image. Darker grass closer to observer is tall fescue growing in fenn that is also a high way for weasels. They are difficult for dogs to deal with in high grass.




Below shows pattern cut out with lawn mower. It does not match original plan well but will do for this first go at it.



Trueman, Scoob and Lucy checking out pathway fencing will be placed in middle of. Grass is over 4 feet high.



Keeping fence hot will be a challenge with plant tops falling over so easy. Perimeter strips may need to be cut wider.




A breeding harem of American Dominiques led by Dooby (cock in foreground) currently free range area to be used to juveniles. Adults are truly free-range being able to go anywhere they want.



It does not mean Trueman can't give them a little chase now and then.



Netting prior to unrolling, It is in place now but lighting in inadequate for photograph. I need to round up a 1.0 joule charger next to keep it hot.

 

[centrarchid]

DEAD DUCK IN DRIVE, NEIGHBORS DUCK, BAD LUCY

Three nights ago Lucy went over to neighbors at about 0200 to grab a hen duck off nest and killed her before bringing her back and leaving it in driveway. I had to run it over with car as backing out to find it. I could smell something was amiss when Lucy came into house immediately after deed. Needless to say we had words and the duck carcass was used as a lot of nouns and verbs. I left the carcass on front porch and remind her of it every time she even looks at it. She seems to be getting point at last. Telling neighbor following day was not fun but necessary. Bright point was being able to point out a nest with nearly 30 eggs in it. Neighbor indicated he would finish them in incubator. I will be replacing duck and getting a couple for Lucy. Lucy no longer harasses our drake but that has come at a cost. Drake now chases free-ranging hens and attempts to mate with them. Scoob has no tolerance for drake going after his hens and does break it up once chickens start cackling in protest. Hopefully Lucy will stay on mission better from now on. To put this into perspective, Scoob was still a problem at one year but he is all business now.


SCOOB AND DOOBY STILL FIGHT

Dooby, the American Dominique shown in first post of thread on couch with Scoob as a pup, is currently free-ranging with six hens to produce young for show. Dooby does not like anyone, including Scoob walking through his harem. Result is Dooby attacks Scoob and they go back and forth fighting as they did when young. There is usually no contact between them. When all is calm they will lay within feet of each other watching over hens. Soon another rooster will be rotated on to hens and fighting will stop. Only Dooby is worth fighting for Scoob.



FIRST 2013 COHORT OF CHICKS IN TRACTOR

Four nights ago 19 chicks (4 weeks post-hatch) where moved from brooder to chicken tractor inside electrified poultry netting. This evening at about 1800 they were released by propping tractor up so birds could walk in and out. The came out flying with some going up higher than fencing is tall. Birds thoroughly explored the paddock until dark then returned to roost inside tractor. I then lowered chicken tractor back down to contain them for night. They imprinted on tractor as a roost sight in just over 72 hours versus the full week I generally allow them. This means more rapid transition to free-range mode of keeping.