PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[centrarchid]

THE PLEASURE OF GETTING FLOGGED


Today I let two hens with their broods out of the breeding pens they had to them selves for the last 3 weeks or so as the eggs were incubated. A game hen (Sallie) came out with her brood and after shaking me down for possible mealworms she took the bitties into heavy cover. A short time latter the darn duck approached a bittie that lagged out in open. Sallie saw that and literally flew over to flog the duck sending him running. She hovered for a few seconds behind the duck as she put it to him. A little later I entered the pen occupied by the Missouri Dominique hen by crawling to clean out nest for next hen to use breeding pen. A chick got scared and hen proceeded to flog my head that was only two feet above ground. No real damage was done but it does startle you.

 

[scottcaddy]

THE PLEASURE OF GETTING FLOGGED


Today I let two hens with their broods out of the breeding pens they had to them selves for the last 3 weeks or so as the eggs were incubated. A game hen (Sallie) came out with her brood and after shaking me down for possible mealworms she took the bitties into heavy cover. A short time latter the darn duck approached a bittie that lagged out in open. Sallie saw that and literally flew over to flog the duck sending him running. She hovered for a few seconds behind the duck as she put it to him. A little later I entered the pen occupied by the Missouri Dominique hen by crawling to clean out nest for next hen to use breeding pen. A chick got scared and hen proceeded to flog my head that was only two feet above ground. No real damage was done but it does startle you.

Yes it does, I had a normally nice Roo flogg me today while I was feeding his pen. I don't know just what kicked off his attack, but it has rained here for the last 5 days and all of the birds are on edge. He left me alone after a quick reminder who is bigger.

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

BUSY DAY

Trueman and I went to lab at work to collect chicks hatched with aid of a student. We walked about 1/3 of mile from parked car to actual lab climbing a large gate, stealing blue berries from 1/2 acre patch, then came across a herd of almost 20 billy goats foraging through several acres of the trial plots of squash and peppers. That was a problem requiring calling of campus police to reach farm manager to have someone get them back into correct pen. Trueman gladly helped drive them until we got to reservoir where he could chase tadpoles which had be double tasking. After a good half hour a student came to deal with goats so Trueman and I could get to original concern. After that we walked back up and hit blueberries one more time. More blueberries were on ground that most people produce in a season.

When we got home it was time to feed birds on cockyard. Trueman saw to chasing the juveniles and actually caught a few. He is better at catching them than his 20 months would indicate. Sadly he just got a baby sister (Iris) that will be following in his steps as being a predator. She is still very cute but that will soon change.

 

[Daisy8s]

Congrats on the new baby!

 

[centrarchid]

Thanks, loosing sleep but having fun with little squirt from both ends.

 

[centrarchid]

Something cool I will be looking into. See following link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16845256

Of particular interest are the following dog breeds.

Cao de Castro Laboreiro
Cao da Serra de Estrela
Cao de Gado Transmontano

 

[scottcaddy]

Something cool I will be looking into. See following link.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16845256

Of particular interest are the following dog breeds.

Cao de Castro Laboreiro
Cao da Serra de Estrela
Cao de Gado Transmontano

Sounds like a very nice dog, but can I afford one?

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

Sounds like a very nice dog, but can I afford one?

Scott

I could not. It is interesting to note that additional breeds exist to those already used in US. Some might be suited more to some areas of US than breeds currently in use in those same areas.

 

[centrarchid]

FOX CAME IN AND REPELLED WITHOUT INCEDENT


After feeding this morning I surveyed flocks and noted cock of free-range American Dominique flock giving the alarm for ground predator as was looking down path towards pond. Rooster was slowly approaching what he saw as he cackled. It took about 60 seconds for Lucy to come in from direction of house and directly towards what rooster was cackling at. It was then apparent that a fox was about. Scoob went directly to cackling rooster but promptly turned and followed Lucy's trail when she opened up on trail. Both dogs then bolted down into woods. Apparently fox is using the same paths I cut with mower instead of the high grass. This makes it easier for birds to spot it and dogs to track it. I have not lost a single bird to predators this despite moving entire operation out into a much more open area. This is attributable to second dog and placement of electrified netting in a few key areas. Last years drought may need to be factored in as well since it likely reduced the abundance of predators coming into this production season.

 

[centrarchid]

TROUBLE AT NEIGHBORS ACCORDING TO SCCOB AND LUCY

A storm is brewing and just a few minutes ago Scoob and Lucy got riled and went to neighbors then promptly came back. Scoob came into house and started recruiting me to follow. As I went out door I could hear neighbors geese making a ruckus causing Scoob and Lucy to race in that direction but they seemed to be looking up as they ran. I stood out on road for about 5 minutes before dogs decided all was clear then we went to check on our birds. Neighbor has a single male Perro de Presa Canario that is nearly twice Scoob's weight that could be put to service on problem but he did not even bark as far as I could tell from my vantage point. Neighbor did not appear to be aware of ruckus despite all being within 150' of house. I am almost 900' feet away and my dogs were checking things out. I think Great Horned Owl is snooping around.


Less interesting note is with respect to hens rearing chicks in cockyard. First such hens do not do as well as hens roosting well away from cockyard despite cocks doing little or nothing to harm chicks. To cut losses I have begun to police up broods so they can be forcibly weaned and reared in chicken tractors. Scoob has gone back to his very well developed skill of finding broody hens hiding out in high grass. All Scoob has to do us get within 10' of hen with chicks and he will find. I think he uses sound moistly. He then holds point until I am ready to come over and pick them up before finding next hen. He holds point for pushing 5 minutes. He can also speed finding chicks that scatter into weeds.