PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[centrarchid]

FENCE IS HOT

Dooby the rooster and Scooby got zapped by fence today. Dooby was not very dignified in his response and Scooby started back house until I called him back. Jumping through fencing is OK but not walking. Dooby got his by touching it with his comb. Today is Dooby's last day with free-range hens, tomorrow Voterboy gets his three weeks started.


TICKS VERY HEAVY

Yesterday I applied the tick and fleas drops after noting both dogs each having literally hundreds of ticks on them. Ticks are the most abundant I have ever seen and would cause health issues if not addressed.

 

[centrarchid]

Coop / chicken tractor used to house brooder reared juveniles during first few weeks.





Note gap at bottom so youngsters have little trouble finding way in.



Juveniles in high grass. Twenty juveniles in image but I can make out only 4.

 

[centrarchid]

KILLING OF SNAPPING TURTLES LIKELY TO START


Scoob appears to have figured out how to kill snapping turtles. He has had enough practice catching one about every other day since early May. His trick is to get turtle to make multiple lunges with head in rapid succession which turtle does readily, then Scoob gets into sort of a dance biting at head using turtle's own shell as cover. He grabs the turtle's extended head then it is pretty much over. Scoob then starts shaking and delivering rapid bites to turtle's head and neck. Snappers can bite pretty hard but do not have Scoob's speed or endurance and certainly not his strength. We had a pleasant weather change with cool down and both dogs are exhausted. A raccoon apparently made a run on neighbors place causing dogs to chase it back down hill.

 

[scottcaddy]

KILLING OF SNAPPING TURTLES LIKELY TO START Scoob appears to have figured out how to kill snapping turtles. He has had enough practice catching one on average every other day since early May. His trick is to get turtle to make multiple lunges with head in rapid succession which turtle does readily, the Scoob gets into sort of a dance biting at head using turtle's own shell as cover. He grabs the turtle's extended head then it pretty much over. Then then starts shaking and delivering rapid bites to turtle's head and neck. Snappers can bite pretty hard but do not have Scoob's speed or endurance and certainly not his strength. We had a pleasant weather change with cool down and both dogs are exhausted. A raccoon apparently made a run on neighbors place causing dogs to chase it back down hill.

That is a nice trick to know, I would like a dog that could learn that!

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

MESSING WITH TURTLES

Scoob and Lucy found another snapper. I shot a few photos and filmed it.

 

[centrarchid]

In addition to the snapping turtles, we have lots of three-toed box turtles. Images shows that Trueman noticed Lucy behind me with turtle in her mouth. He is in a hurry to look at it.



Trueman thinks box turtles are cool.




He then gets riled and says "see!"

 

[centrarchid]

FIREWORKS CAUSING STRESS

Neighbors, most more than a mile away, are shooting off fireworks. Birds on roost seem to have trouble sleeping but it is the guardians having the biggest problem. Scoob and Lucy are barking and growling at the booms and flashes as they run about. Scoob keeps trying to lure me outside to assist in his frustration. We usually get a good 30 days of such before it stops. Looks like this year we will not have to worry about fire risk as promoted by last years drought conditions.

 

[centrarchid]

SETTLEING DISPUTES

Scoob and Lucy have been interacting with a couple free-range harem masters that get into scraps when I walk about with feed buckets. Details in following link concerning harem masters.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/796463/ongoing-battles-between-two-harem-masters#post_11486282


Both harem masters ignore territory boundaries when I have buckets resulting in the battles that are starting tom be aggravating. This morning I allowed scrap to go on until Lucy found them. Lucy started to harass both birds even penning them to the ground but they continues to stop. This went on for a couple of minutes before Scoob came over and busted up action. He is better at it for some reason. I wonder what goes on in Scoob and Lucy's minds as they interact with fighting roosters?

 

[MelSoCity]

My pitbull Goose is my chicken protector. He does not allow them out of his sight. I love this because people that aren't familiar with the breed often view them as a dangerous or vicious breed.The vet says Goose is a great advocate for the breed.

 

[centrarchid]

My pitbull Goose is my chicken protector. He does not allow them out of his sight. I love this because people that aren't familiar with the breed often view them as a dangerous or vicious breed.The vet says Goose is a great advocate for the breed.

I am familiar with the breed and those in my immediate vicinity have demonstrated repeatedly what the breed known for in the negative light. I do have no problem saying the owners are cause.