PLANNED POULTRY GUARDING DOG

[mychoock]

This is a very interesting thread. I have been wondering about what I would like to train my next dog to do, and protecting our property and animals is at the top of the list. The dog we now have is wonderful about protecting her territory but I would not trust her with chickens, nor do I have time to properly train her at present. She is 9 years old, and I am pretty happy with everything she does for us. But the next dog? Yeah, he will get chicken training.

 

[centrarchid]

MULTIPLE DOGS MEANS DOG SPECIFIC COMMANDS TO REDUCE CONFUSION

I have two dogs differing in age about 18 months. First dog is approaching two years of age and does pretty much everything correctly with respect to poultry. Pup is another matter as she still chases particular birds belonging to a subflock of 15 juvenile birds based in roost to west of house. Confusion has been when elder dog doing his job or not causing trouble while pup harasses a particular bird. Verbal reprimand of "leave it" has been employed effectively for elder dog and requires minimal wind to get point across. Pup required a great deal more emphasis when I commanded her to stop by saying "leave it" and she occasionally operated under assumption I could not stop her. When she continued I increased volume which caused Scoob to cringe / cower as if confused. What I had to do to control situation was run pup down when she chased a bird and while pressing her down holding her snout I said "bad" in a growly voice. This process had to be repeated a couple times over a couple days. Now I can say "bad" causing pup to stop whatever stupid she is engaged in and Scoob is not affected. This makes sense as I already use different names and whistles to call them in. Same system also employed for a small number of trained birds although with birds signal also have bird specific visual components.



HAWK ATTEMPTS CATCH ON BROODY HEN WITH MYSELF AND DOGS CLOSE BY

A red-tailed hawk, most likely a migrant, tried to catch a hen brooding chicks today. Hawk somehow caught only tail pulling out all but about 3 feather from side of tail. Chicks had apparently dove into high weeds and hens extreme excitement had hawks attention directed at her. The distraction lasted only a few seconds before Scoob was noted by hawk to be barrelling in with everything bit of speed he had. Hawk flew clear with Scoob chasing until it flew over woods. Hawk could have stayed and fought but in all likelihood that would have resulted in Scoob killing it. Hen does not look so good now but she was going to be loosing those feathers soon anyway. Scoob this evening got more riled as pullets cackled as flying up into sweet sumac trees so his fuse has been shortened a bit but he will calm back down after a couple days.

 

[centrarchid]

BEING ON RECEIVING END OF SCOOB'S AGGRESSIVE APPROACH


Last night I went out to but up last two broods of season. One just started to roost up while another was only three days old so roosting on ground under hen. I went out after Scoob who went down patrolling woods so he did not know I was about. After collecting all bitties and placing them in a bucket, I went of to hen roosting on ground and treated her roughly to give her a good scare before placing her in an elevated location for balance of night. Hen squawled just as she would if being attacked by a raccoon or other predator. About 30 seconds later I could hear what sounded like a small horse running at me full bore while growling. It was Scoob barrelling back up from woods to get at what was getting at his bird. He just about plowed into me before he figured out who it was and veared off. Scoob as all excited and give hen very thorough sniffing which did not calm her nerves but does help with process of rapidly breaking broodiness.

 

[centrarchid]

Early this morning a red fox entered edge of yard and attempted to grab a hen from a pen. Fox got a about six feathers and Scoob's very aggresive attention. Scoob apparently almost caught fox. Lucy followed Scoob on patrol after chase and she spent time investigating the small feather pile. Fox took a very big risk. Such events required for predators to know what appears to be easy eats are guarded by larger and very capable predators that will get you. Coyotes in area are stirring possibly forcing the smaller red fox to hunt away from its typical routes. I think coyotes might be ejecting pups or having territorial disputes. Bow season for deer may have resulted in a gut pile enabling coyote(s) to hunker down for a while because I have been hearing them more lately relatively close to house.

Scoob and Lucy looking on as penned birds in distance get riled by civil defence alarm firing off for oncoming storm.



Trueman (son) looking out from perch he shares with Lucy as they monitor birds in front yard.



Trueman standing up for first time. As of yesterday he goes out among free-ranging games but he no longer tries to catch them. Birds close enough I had to crop them out.

 

[centrarchid]

RED FOX ON ROAD MAKES SCOOB GO BONKERS ON TRIP FROM STORE

Every Saturday and Sunday Scoob and I load into SUV for trips to Tractor Supply Company and farmers coop to get supplies. Scoob lives for such trips and Lucy needs time alone now with birds so she can work her bad habits out. This morning we stopped by McDonalds on way back for hotcakes and sausage for rug rat before continuuing home. One road about two miles shy of home we saw a red fox trying to drag a oppossum carcass of road. Once Scoob figured out what it was he went bonkers in cab of vehicle and really wanted to get out. He was riled even after we got home. Immediately after getting out of vehicle he began running all over areas where pens and free-ranging birds where located and being aggresive as doing so. Lucy joined in but did not seem to know what threat was. The Scoob began to run back up road to where fox was actually seen. I had to intercept him or he would have gone all the way to where fox was located. Lucy is also starting to get ballsy but still could not whip a oppossum.


Fox was a grizzled gray making it look old.

 

[centrarchid]

AMERICAN PITBULL WITH ACTUAL POTENTIAL FARMDOG POSSIBILITIES


Over last four evenings what appears to be an American Pitbull Terrier, not the crossed type,has been visiting and not been causing trouble of any sort with my dogs or fowl. He interacts freely with my birds and they already have decided he is not a threat. He also appears to be residing casually with some folks about a 1/4 mile that also have free-range chickens and free-range miniature goats of some sort and not causing trouble either. He is a fairly handsome, brindled and appears to be quite people friendly. Color pattern is brindle with white patch on chest. This guy might make an excellent guard dog for backyard poultry or goats. Age I estimate at just over a year and weight in the 45 to 50 lb range. He does not mess with chicken feeders like my dogs so that is another major plus. Answers to Stupid. Anybody need such a dog?

 

[Daisy8s]

First, love the pics of the dogs and Trueman. He looks so serious in his intent to get out and explore!

Second, why do you think Lucy is making faster progress than Scoob at that age? Because she has Scoob's example to follow? Because she's female? Just because she's a different dog?

Finally, I enjoyed your description of Scoob thinking you were a predator and coming through the weeds like a small horse. A few days ago I was outside the fence in winter clothing my dog hasn't seen in half a year and she charged up to the fence in full deterrent stance and bark...wow, it was awesome. Made me grateful I have her should any unsavory persons come visiting. The funny thing, though, was how embarrassed she looked once I spoke and she realized it was me.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

BEING ON RECEIVING END OF SCOOB'S AGGRESSIVE APPROACH


Last night I went out to but up last two broods of season. One just started to roost up while another was only three days old so roosting on ground under hen. I went out after Scoob who went down patrolling woods so he did not know I was about. After collecting all bitties and placing them in a bucket, I went of to hen roosting on ground and treated her roughly to give her a good scare before placing her in an elevated location for balance of night. Hen squawled just as she would if being attacked by a raccoon or other predator. About 30 seconds later I could hear what sounded like a small horse running at me full bore while growling. It was Scoob barrelling back up from woods to get at what was getting at his bird. He just about plowed into me before he figured out who it was and veared off. Scoob as all excited and give hen very thorough sniffing which did not calm her nerves but does help with process of rapidly breaking broodiness.

Ok, what did you mean about collecting all Bitties and putting them in a bucket? Am I missing something, here? I don't understand...

Also, I looooooove your Scoob! He is awesome! I didn't think a German shorthair would make a good poultry gaurd, either. I guess it does...

 

[centrarchid]

First, love the pics of the dogs and Trueman. He looks so serious in his intent to get out and explore!

Second, why do you think Lucy is making faster progress than Scoob at that age? Because she has Scoob's example to follow? Because she's female? Just because she's a different dog?

Finally, I enjoyed your description of Scoob thinking you were a predator and coming through the weeds like a small horse. A few days ago I was outside the fence in winter clothing my dog hasn't seen in half a year and she charged up to the fence in full deterrent stance and bark...wow, it was awesome. Made me grateful I have her should any unsavory persons come visiting. The funny thing, though, was how embarrassed she looked once I spoke and she realized it was me.

Lucy is advancing faster. Individual difference is part. Females do tend to mature faster in my experience. Scoob does provide alternative outlets for her shenanigans that he did not have. When Lucy wants to wrestle which she does a lot, Scoob obliges.

Trueman now goes out front door intended only for dogs this time of year so he is serious. Trueman also seems to have come to some arrangement with dogs concerning food. He is allowed to play in their bowls of food any time and his mother busted the little bugger slipping the dogs some pancake while we were having breakfast. Biggest concern I have upcoming is the dogs bring kills on to porch and sometimes into house; Trueman will likely be found on floor petting a dead raccoon or oppossum which will almost certainly be nasty. Trueman has shown he likes nasty.

 

[centrarchid]

Ok, what did you mean about collecting all Bitties and putting them in a bucket? Am I missing something, here? I don't understand...

Also, I looooooove your Scoob! He is awesome! I didn't think a German shorthair would make a good poultry gaurd, either. I guess it does...

I was stealing chicks from hen after dark when she was easier to handle. The bitties were placed in a 5-gallon bucket so they could not jump out causing me aggrivation. German short-haired was not by first choice with respect to breed, pup was free and I had lots of experience using hunting dogs as LGD's. First choice was a free Great Pyrenees but it would have been several weeks behind and I had reservations about feed bills and aggression issues. We have several LGD's at work and several are more people aggressive than I desire around infant son. Also want to acquire sheep later and I am more confindent in my abilities with a breaking an adult hunting dog of harming sheep than an independent minded adult Great Pyrenees that had not been properly imprinted on sheep.