PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[centrarchid]

LUCY IS GETTING WAY MORE PERSIMMONS THAN SHE SHOULD


I went out this evening for a few hand picked from tree fruit. Lucy was doing same like a deer standing on her hind legs for several seconds at a time sniffing the fruit. She was cherry picking the good ones just like I do. She also eats the seeds like the coyotes do. I wonder if she will also crap the persimmon turds only where I can see them.

 

[centrarchid]

DEFINITIONS RELEVANT TO LIVESTOCK / POULTRY GUARDING DOGS


Logic I have been following based on below. For me, even fish can be livestock and dogs are used to defend hybrid striped bass.

Popular definition listed on wiki which approximates USDA’s - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livestock
Livestock are domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. This article does not discuss poultry or farmed fish, although these, especially poultry, are commonly included within the meaning of "livestock".

My state of Missouri - http://statutes.laws.com/missouri/t17/c267/267_565
(11) "Livestock", horses, cattle, swine, sheep, goats, ratite birdsincluding but not limited to ostrich and emu, aquatic products as definedin section 277.024, RSMo, llamas, alpaca, buffalo, elk documented asobtained from a legal source and not from the wild and raised inconfinement for human consumption or animal husbandry, poultry and otherdomesticated animals or birds - See more at: http://statutes.laws.com/missouri/t17/c267/267_565#sthash.l77H7N3g.dpuf

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I think my point is made effectively above with respect to definition of livestock and according to at least some folks poultry including chickens can be considered livestock.

Yet, definitions are always in flux / subject to change owing to usage. It took forever to find the state related terminology and I tried to find similar for Illinois and Indiana (both states I lived in before). Legal codes are not easy to search through which is a big part of the reason behind need for lawyers. Many of the codes are old but have been modified many times as species have been considered for production in a given state.
It was interesting to see many states are very particular in they spell out definitions pertaining to agriculture while others are not so detailed. The latter groups are thus more ambiguous and probably more likely to have legal conflicts involving citizens.

During search I also saw considerable variation with respect to dogs and no references where found in legal code that defined what a livestock guarding dog actually is. If definition is to be adopted I bet it will be based on what dogs do rather than pedigree. That appears to be case with law enforcement dogs which represent many breeds that are not always what I would think of as something that would be partnered up with an officer.

 

[Baymule]

Not finished catching up on this thread, making a post so I can find it again. I love what you have done with your dogs!

 

[centrarchid]

DROPPING TEMPERATURES CAUSING DOGS TO BECOME MUCH MORE BARKY AT NIGHT


Scoob and especially Lucy are stepping up patrolling activities as temperatures are dropping. Lucy is out and about effectively the entire night frequently getting into bouts of barking. Scoob centers his activities on the front porch where he seems to scrutinize Lucy's communications and joins in periodically. Occasionally he comes into house and recruits me but we have not had a real problem on our place for quite some time. What may be going on involves owls which both dogs have really come into their own about chasing. The owls are far from quite when they come in and the dogs seem to have no problems seeing them in the relative dark to my eyes. Currently the owls have more than ample rodents but eventually a great-horned is going to get ballsy which will cause all sorts of fun. A few late hatch free-range birds are still small enough to easily pack off so we are still vulnerable but dogs seem very much aware of the owls visits so far. Soon I will have to pen up even late hatch birds in the pasture which is going to make husbandry more demanding.

 

[centrarchid]

COLD SNAP CAUSING ANOTHER CHANGE

Temperatures have really dropped pushing hawks on their southward migration. I have noticed the juvenile flock largely confined by poultry netting are now sitting tight in the vegetation and making racket now and again. The cause of the racket has been Coopers Hawks that are all flying from northeast to southwest. Seems like one comes over about every half hour. Each over pass causes chickens to make racket. Dogs take note but so not go to chickens like usual. I now see a shift in dog's strategy. The dogs sit in heavy vegetation as well while looking at chickens making fuss. Lucy in particular also watches hawks causing the fuss. I think this has been going on a lot so dogs have adapted waiting for hawk to actually come down and attempt to take a bird before moving in. Zero birds have been lost but I am guessing they have gotten some scares. Front porch flock is also hunkering down but does not make racket when hawk flies over. A few adult hens with chicks are mixed into overall flock and they seem to be making the bulk of the racket. Such hens would also be most likely to confront hawk owing to their having chicks on ground.

 

[centrarchid]

OVERFLIGHT OF GEESE

Just moments ago Scoob came into house all riled up growling to recruit me into action. I expected to find a raccoon treed but no, both dogs where barking at something flying way overhead. I think they were snow geese based on sound because I could not see them. Just another false alarm.

 

[Tara Black]

I love reading this thread. Your dogs seem so smart and just perfect for their jobs.

 

[centrarchid]

SKUNK IS CLOSE BY


Lucy is dead set on catching a skunk that appears to have gone down into a buried pipe. This is not going to be good because the idiot is sure to get sprayed. She will stash it somewhere for a few days to let it ferment then eat the darn thing at point green stuff comes out as she chews on it. I guess she thinks of dead mustellid like many people think of limburger cheese.

 

[Scott H]

Fermented skunk. ....yummmm

 

[shmccarthy]

I absolutely love keeping up with this thread! I am almost done reading through all the entries.
Centrachid, how did you know when your dogs were ready to be left alone with your chickens? I am training my lab to watch over the chickens and he is doing quite well. He used to be very bad and tried to chase and grab them and now he walks around them and doesn't try and chase them nearly as much. I had him out with me yesterday when they were free ranging and he was ignoring them completely. One of my flighty Sebright roosters walked by and got spooked by him and he got a little riled up but he immediately stopped when I said "leave it" he is young and responds to commands very well. I would like to be able to leave him with the birds for short periods of time.
What clues did you look for before you trusted your dog with your birds?