Predator Guards

[ArraAchicksMama]

Let's talk about PREDATOR GUARDS/anything that helps ward off predators ESPECIALLY at night. Aside from your hardware cloth wrapped coop and run and the coop apron, what have you got that's proven to work?
PS I live on a 10 acre property next to a state forest.
Thanks!

 

[Penpal]

An intact male dog seems to help. A dog that will attack intruders will help, something like a rat terrier that you can train to leave the chickens alone.

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

An intact male dog seems to help. A dog that will attack intruders will help, something like a rat terrier that you can train to leave the chickens alone.

I have only 2 dogs, a boy and a girl, and both are fixed. They sleep inside the house. I will train them to be chicken guard dogs but at night, they will still sleep inside the house.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A trained LGD and an electric fence are probably your best bets. I don't use either (I have an LGD but she's a house dog and chicksn aggressive to boot).

 

[chickengr]

I have only 2 dogs, a boy and a girl, and both are fixed. They sleep inside the house. I will train them to be chicken guard dogs but at night, they will still sleep inside the house.

you need at least 2 dogs outside at night. what predators do you have? don't ignore "2 legg" predators. many chickens get stolen.

 

[early riser]

Let's talk about PREDATOR GUARDS/anything that helps ward off predators ESPECIALLY at night. Aside from your hardware cloth wrapped coop and run and the coop apron, what have you got that's proven to work?
PS I live on a 10 acre property next to a state forest.
Thanks!

I also live on ten acres next to state forest. Have about 40 hens and roosters. Total free range on pasture and woods. Have two male Australian shepherds one intact and a newly acquired great pyrenees. The Aussies are great and the intact is fast and has done several hawk saves. Within two days of pyrenees arrival (dearly loved dog of a friend who died) noticeable increased range of chickens! This dog does nothing but guard. Amazing! Her bark is an echoing sound that is more like an announcement of a rooster. But deep and soft. Not annoying. She covers the whole territory and then some. As I understand if you have 100 acres they’ll patrol 200. Sounds about right. Only problem so far I couldn’t do this without at least the Aussies but am loving all three. Never worry about a thing. Leave the pyrenees out at night but prefer her in the safety of lanai where protection for house two legged predators are the worst!

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

I also live on ten acres next to state forest. Have about 40 hens and roosters. Total free range on pasture and woods. Have two male Australian shepherds one intact and a newly acquired great pyrenees. The Aussies are great and the intact is fast and has done several hawk saves. Within two days of pyrenees arrival (dearly loved dog of a friend who died) noticeable increased range of chickens! This dog does nothing but guard. Amazing! Her bark is an echoing sound that is more like an announcement of a rooster. But deep and soft. Not annoying. She covers the whole territory and then some. As I understand if you have 100 acres they’ll patrol 200. Sounds about right. Only problem so far I couldn’t do this without at least the Aussies but am loving all three. Never worry about a thing. Leave the pyrenees out at night but prefer her in the safety of lanai where protection for house two legged predators are the worst!

Wow thank you for the story. What is "lanai"?

 

[early riser]

Wow thank you for the story. What is "lanai"?

Screened in patio area. Some people have pools but mine is a garden. In Florida

 

[ArraAchicksMama]

Screened in patio area. Some people have pools but mine is a garden. In Florida

My concern is when I free range them an hour or 2 during the day, supervised. Idk how ballsy these predators are. At night they will all be locked in the safety of their coop.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

My concern is when I free range them and hour or 2 during the day, supervised. Idk how ballsy these predators are. At night they will all be locked in the safety of their coop.

x3, live on acreage next to Nat'l Forest, and I free range them for half the day, lock up at night. I've had zero day time predator problems. I do see hawks and eagle during the day but so do the chickens and they stay close to the tree/brush line. I've seen deer and even cougar and bobcat during the day but still not problems. Daytime dog alarm is likely what is most helpful. I think nightime is a greater challenge if chickens are not locked up during sunset. There is no chance I'd have a dog sleep outside but I do have my screen door to my room open enough that my indoor dogs will smell anything going on out there and want out.