PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[centrarchid]

I would get in trouble with the old hen for calling my brood livestock. I have seen claims of such by parties espousing value of LGD's but little ones are not what I would invest the dog's efforts in. Little humans like mine would require even more confinement than many folks here use for their little sheep and goat herds.

 

[enola]

Your stories about Truman remind me so much of my son. Truman is going to be very independent, even more so as he matures. We were living in WV literally in the "sticks". More than once he ventured off to "explore" before he was even old enough to know the meaning of the word. He survived his childhood and is now the father of two fine sons. One of them is already showing signs of following in his father's footsteps!

 

[centrarchid]

 

[CAjerseychick]

Am a little confused, what do you mean by Molloser? We had Boxers for 15 years they were quite people dependent (great dogs but bonded to their peeps) not sure how they would have done a flock guardians....maybe a combo family farm dog type....working dog, yes....
BTW your kids are adorable.....

 

[centrarchid]

Am a little confused, what do you mean by Molloser? We had Boxers for 15 years they were quite people dependent (great dogs but bonded to their peeps) not sure how they would have done a flock guardians....maybe a combo family farm dog type....working dog, yes....
BTW your kids are adorable.....

Most of the popular livestock guarding breeds are derived mostly from the same type of livestock guarding dog in use by the ancient Greeks and represent the Molloser type dogs. Most of those dogs are white and relatively large boned and many are still in use as LGD's. Their is also a several breeds at least that where bred down from the LGD's and currently used for other purposes. Some were used at one point or another for fighting and some used for simply guarding. Since Victorian times many are simply used. well, for looks. Especially those in the show lines the looks is extremely important.


It is also interesting to note that not all LGD's are white or with lots of longish hair. Some, like from parts of Spain and Portugal are short-haired with color. Surely there are other LGD breeds out there that have not been recognized by those that see only Molloser dogs as LGD's. That problem already goes on here now.


I would be extremely surprised if there is not another line of dog or two used as LGD's that are outside of the Molloser clan. Almost certainly some have breeds from outside crossed into the existing LGD's and that probably occurred long before pedigrees where established.


Pre-existing breeds more suited for poultry I think will be outside the standard Molloser type and they would make for an easier foundation to work from if for no more than to help with identifying ideal qualities of an ideal poultry guarding dog.


Photographs of kids were not representative. They cleaned up or touched up with Photoshop prior to posting. Trueman in particular is a mess.

 

[centrarchid]

Purpose of these images was to show an intensive system for rearing goats and sheep. Each group shown has one dog, all are surrounded by heavy duty electrified netting and animals are moved about frequently but kept on small paddocks. In ,many ways this is core to how poultry can be raised but forage type and form may need to be modified. Currently my setup has dogs on outside but they have been allowed to learn how to get in when they need to. I also mow to provide a structurally diverse foraging area yet leave some cover from raptors. Many of my birds are small enough for a red-tail or even a Coopers Hawk to pack during first few weeks so cover makes hawks life more difficult and dogs can actually get to problem. Also I am exploring use of roosters in with vulnerable chicks for the entertainment of the hawks. Hawks and owls are handily biggest concern I have inside those paddocks when chickens are involved. It may even be worth while to have goats / sheep in with chickens which something I have planned for all along.

 

[centrarchid]

Additionally, there is a lot more than just predator management to this. The forages are something most people, including myself are not taking full advantage of. Benefits can be anywhere from 0 to 100% of the birds nutritional requirements are being met but most folks are much closer to the lower end of the spectrum, especially when the plant community is dominated by low growing grasses typical of a lawn maintained by mower or close grazing. A multiple paddock system with rotation and plantings could help improve pasture quality impacts on poultry production. My birds eat a lot of greens but some plant species and parts are much better with respect to nutritional quality and the ability to support foraging pressure.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Ohhh I understand better now actually we looked at a Ranch that breeds those Spanish dogs you referenced (its a couple hours drive away)-- She breeds Spanish Mastiffs and Pyreenean mastiffs really liked how she ran her outfit and treated her dogs.. the Spanish Mastiff is certainly and interesting looking dog, huge, 180-200lbs and reminds me of a Fila or Bloodhound but heavier boned...
(We ended up with the standard LGD cross- Pyr/anatolian-- only because there is a surplus of them around here, people overbreed and their was a flyer at the Feedstore, and there was all this mystique to the LGD, wasnt sure I wanted to start out with a 200lb dog of a type knew to us)...

Yes I do hear that about goats deterring ariel predators.... we havent gotten out the electric netting yet and am contemplating letting them roam about on our little spread with the dogs and chickens, once I can trust dogs....

(PS you photoshopped your kids? No way you are kidding ha ha funny)....

 

[Scott H]

TODAY WE INTALLED PET DOOR FOR DOGS (AND DARN CATS AND TRUEMAN)


During much of day and all night we have been keeping front door open as well as windows. Initially this made it so I could hear what was going on so I personally could deal with problems. Chickens were at during those early days confined or provided roost on front porch or outside master bedroom windows. For last 2,5 years it has been so dogs with much better hearing and others can come and goes as they please. Dogs seem aware of everything even when in house and use it as a refuge from extreme weather and a protected feeding station. Down sides has been more work for heat pump, more work cleaning house, mosquitos and other insects coming in, and critters dogs catch being brought inside. We can now say heat pump and insect issues will be greatly reduced. Cost was a little over $300. I also will not need to adjust door when winds pick up at wee hours of morning so could save me an hour of sleep each night.

I was reading through this thread wondering when I was going to get to this. Pet door allows immediate investigation of any noise without 2 legged assistance.
Sounds by the price of it you got a good one. Withstand 50 mph wind? Ours was about that price (more than the door it's installed in) and is sealed all the way around with magnets. It sees lots of use and I catch our standard poodle on the game can regularly in the middle of the night. I have not seen a nighttime predator on the game cam since installing it. He hates raccoons!

 

[CAjerseychick]

I was reading through this thread wondering when I was going to get to this. Pet door allows immediate investigation of any noise without 2 legged assistance.
Sounds by the price of it you got a good one. Withstand 50 mph wind? Ours was about that price (more than the door it's installed in) and is sealed all the way around with magnets. It sees lots of use and I catch our standard poodle on the game can regularly in the middle of the night. I have not seen a nighttime predator on the game cam since installing it. He hates raccoons!

We have dog door.... Its been sitting in kitchen all summer, its huge, not sure the Door (old wooden one) can withstand installation of doggie door (its sized for a St bernard...)....