PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[centrarchid]

Hi all
I'm eraser aching different livestock guardian dog breeds as flock guardians and came across this thread. Has anyone heard of Akbash dogs? There is a breeder not far from me who raises her pups around her poultry so I thought this might a good route to take.

Yes, Akbash is one of those used where I work. Those around here are little lighter in build / lankier than Great Pyrenees and seem more heat tolerant. They are much faster than Great Pyrenees. They also like to run to the fight more while the Great Pyrenees hold back more with sheep / goats. I do not know if either tactic is better for protecting chickens.

Farm manager here that has had working experience with multiple breeds strongly favors Akbash over other breeds for working here I central Missouri. I like their attributes and think they would better suited for guarding poultry than most other LGD's when predators are coyote sized and down. They can still handle most stray dogs but two or more LGD's still needed for multiple threats.

 

[scooter16]

I have been reading this thread slowly, wanting it to last as long as possible....kind of like a really good book !! I have a Predator/Prey question. Does it help keep foxes, owls etc. away from your chickens/ducks by stocking land with quail or partridges which would then be easier prey ???? Just wondering if this saves the chickens at all??

 

[centrarchid]

I have been reading this thread slowly, wanting it to last as long as possible....kind of like a really good book !! I have a Predator/Prey question. Does it help keep foxes, owls etc. away from your chickens/ducks by stocking land with quail or partridges which would then be easier prey ???? Just wondering if this saves the chickens at all??

I think increasing the local abundance of prey suitable for foxes and owls will increase the interest of those predators in those same areas. Most of the visitations by fox that I have observed involved the predator coming first for the abundant voles. The chickens are then simply targets of opportunity. In many ways chickens are easier to catch than many wild prey species. Larger chicken size is trumped by predictability of location and often inept escape responses. Chickens almost jump into the predators mouth.


Currently owls and foxes are passing me up because smaller rodents and rabbits are so abundant pretty much everywhere. They do seem to factor in risk of other predators (my dogs) and may have other concerns like avoiding rivals (coyotes / hawks) or parasites. Parasites seem to factor in for deer movements as they seem to avoid deer and horseflies this time of year. All this will change about time of first frost which is also time I whittle the free-ranging flock down.

 

[centrarchid]

LUCY WAS GOOD AND BAD

Last night coyote packs from two directions, a group of raccoons and even a great-horned owl where about. Scoob and Lucy where going back and forth across property after howling coyotes that appeared to be scrapping over our patch again. Pack to southwest is always around but those to the east came just last night. Great-horned owl was hooting to west but did not seem to get close. Shortly after midnight at least one, probably a sow coon with kittens came up fenn from woods. They were well south of roosting chickens so not real threat. Lucy seems to have noticed them first but Scoob engaged the sow in a running battle down the hill to the same brush pile with all the tunnels. Lucy ran another into were old ground hog burrows are located. No catches.


After first light Lucy was harassing some of the free-ranging stags and pulled feathers from some. Feathers will be replaced soon anyway but she has got to leave birds alone. Birds at house never bothered.

 

[centrarchid]

SUMO WRESTLING OVER CHICK GROWER ON GROUND

My dogs have always been problematic around feed and feeders used for young birds. Today I scattered it on ground so feeders could be cleaned. Today Trueman went over to a group of about 30 birds, half dozen were adult American Dominiques and began slapping them hard on their backs causing flock to explode then come running back to resume feeding where Trueman would wack them again. I got on to Trueman and he stopped but he remained near location as I went about tending fence. Trueman could then be heard but not seen in same location as he laughed while exerting himself. I went of to check finding him down on all fours trying push Scoob away from feed. Trueman was pushing against Scoob's head and neck using his own head and neck. Scoob continued eating but otherwise seemed to be having fun. When they finally quit, Trueman began eating the feed well.

 

[scottcaddy]

SUMO WRESTLING OVER CHICK GROWER ON GROUND

My dogs have always been problematic around feed and feeders used for young birds. Today I scattered it on ground so feeders could be cleaned. Today Trueman went over to a group of about 30 birds, half dozen were adult American Dominiques and began slapping them hard on their backs causing flock to explode then come running back to resume feeding where Trueman would wack them again. I got on to Trueman and he stopped but he remained near location as I went about tending fence. Trueman could then be heard but not seen in same location as he laughed while exerting himself. I went of to check finding him down on all fours trying push Scoob away from feed. Trueman was pushing against Scoob's head and neck using his own head and neck. Scoob continued eating but otherwise seemed to be having fun. When they finally quit, Trueman began eating the feed well.

I have found that all 3 of my DD's and 4 of my GB's will eat critter feed as they are helping with the chores. good luck!

Scott

 

[centrarchid]

Concern I have is it is being picked off ground from heavy chicken traffic area. Worms and cocci I do not know if they pose a rick to humans.

 

[aart]

Concern I have is it is being picked off ground from heavy chicken traffic area. Worms and cocci I do not know if they pose a rick to humans.

.....and salmonella, as well as others probably. Risk for sure, especially young kids whose hands are in in mouth frequently, but also immunity advantages.... it's a balance. You're a scientist, you know this.

 

[centrarchid]

DISCOVERED MULTIPLE PARTIES GETTING INTO WHOLE CORN STORAGE BIN

Both dogs like getting into feeders and so does Trueman. To control this most is stored in some sort of bin which is now being left open and thought dogs were all the problem there. I just discovered when changing a diaper that Trueman is also defeating my storage system. Trueman seems to like swallowing whole corn. He also has consumed at least one glass marble.

 

[scottcaddy]

DISCOVERED MULTIPLE PARTIES GETTING INTO WHOLE CORN STORAGE BIN

Both dogs like getting into feeders and so does Trueman. To control this most is stored in some sort of bin which is now being left open and thought dogs were all the problem there. I just discovered when changing a diaper that Trueman is also defeating my storage system. Trueman seems to like swallowing whole corn. He also has consumed at least one glass marble.

I understand what you are dealing with!! I have found whole Oats, Wheat, Corn, and something that I didn't quite know what I was looking at (and was not playing around in the kids pooh to find out what it was). Marbles and coins were almost an everyday thing.

Good Luck!!

Scott