Silkie thread!

[beethechicken]

I like the plastic housing idea in all Omelet's chicken coops except that they don't have wood perches.  The Eglu Cube starts as a good idea but is really small inside for the space it takes and too small really for more than a couple hens - I don't understand how they say 10 chickens will fit.  Well, maybe they can squeeze in but where's the 4 sq ft per chicken for 10 hens?  Customers complained the Cube ladder didn't reach the ground, a chicken broke it's leg using it, and it's not a solid ramp so that Silkie's can't use it comfortably and possibly fall through between the rungs.  Someone said their German Shepherd jumped on the Eglu Cube wire cage and it collapsed!  After reading all those reviews on the Cube I decided to get something sturdier.  I mean, Omlet is on the right idea with sturdiness in the housing but not sturdy enough runs.  Omlet does make a walk-in cage where the Cube or other Eglu's can be placed safely inside but it makes the yard look ugly to have a big old walk-in lion-cage looking thing ~ !  As a chicken tractor the Eglu Go with run looks like a good tractor.  I don't think in my yard it would be sturdy enough though as a permanent nighttime roosting coop against raccoons, possums, or stray dogs.  I haven't lost any chickens but once we had a dog attack it made us extra wary.

Yeah I found it annoying there were no perches in the run so I inserted a few wooden bars across the wiring and they love them! Inside the house the floor has strips of plastic across so they can actually perch on the floor! In one corner there is a little laying box (which I'm not using at the moment but it looks good) and for me as I have four bantams they seem to have plenty of space to move around if need be. But I suppose with bigger breeds I can see the problem of no space

In terms of nighttime predators the only ones I have to worry about are foxes and the occasional badger and so far they haven't figured out the way in - they'd actually have to rip out two strong layers of thick plastic - so for me I find it perfectly suited to my needs. In the daytime the only predators I need to worry about are the farmer's dogs but as they're free range chickens for a portion of the day there's not much I can do apart from usher them to the run quickly!!

I agree the Cube look rather dangerous hence why mine is The Eglu Go

 

[Duck Drover]

Awesome!!
Not all of them are thick coated, there are a few with shorter coats like the Anatolian and ones bred in the middle east, turkey, hotter areas. But you're right that they're all over 100 pounds.

We have an Anatolian and she is very thick coated even though it is short compared to long haired breed. The undercoat sheds constantly with a "blow out" twice a year. Because she is retired we have her in the house to live out her senior years in comfort and the amount of hair she sheds is unlike any breed I have owned.

 

[Sylvester017]

I had an Australian shepherd for 12 years. Best dog I ever owned. I loved that dog so much. They are crazy smart and very dedicated to their owners. They would make a great guard dog but here is the thing. They are extremely high energy. They need a job. I don't think one could just sit and guard the chickens all day. If you have property to roam it could probably be taught to protect your property from predators and keep out strangers. They are very high alert dogs. Without a job they can become destructive. Chase cars, chicken anything that moves lol. Ours used to heard kittens lmao. So cute. Their are special dog trainers you can hire to teach this to. I believe an aussie could be trained but I recommend a dog that's bred for setting/guarding. One with lower energy but high alert. My best friend actually uses pit bulls and has had great success. None kill her chickens or livestock. She didn't even have to train them. Just being raised with them was enough. Last year her pit bull snatched a hawk right out of the air that had caught a chicken. It was amazing. My aussie just had such a strong drive to chase and heard that she aye my chickens. Not on pupose but their instinct and energy is high..

You said that so well about the Aussie Shepherd assessement! All dogs are sweet and hard to find any breed that doesn't adore their owner. But high energy dogs do need a job to do -- much like a Border Collie we had. They are "herding" breeds rather than "guardian" breeds. Without a job that keeps them moving they get bored, are useless, and can get to the point of being destructive - ours wandered into the neighbor's chicken coop to eat eggs a couple too many times and had to be removed. I too am of the opinion that the guardian breeds are a better flock choice -- Maremma, Ovcharka, Caucasian Shepherd, Anatolian, Pyrenees, Sarplaninac (Yugoslavian Shepherd), etc etc etc, and some have used Malinois though I would classify them more of a working or police dog. Some swear their Labs are great around chickens and wild game birds but I never had one. Our DD's Pitbull never bothered my Silkie when I had to have the bird in the house for recuperating. But again, that may have been because we were present to monitor. The Pit who was professionally trained never obeyed the "leave it" command when it came to chasing or killing skunks, possums, rabbits, or anything that moved outdoors. I know how sudden movements can in an instant charge up instincts in a dog to chase or play rough so I am ever cautious about recommending anything but trained guardian dogs to be alone around poultry.

Wikipedia summed it up very accurately from all the info gathered about LGDs: "Livestock guardian dogs [LGD] stay with the group of animals they protect as a full-time member of the flock or herd. Their ability to guard their herd is mainly instinctive, as the dog is bonded to the herd from an early age. Unlike the often smaller herding dogs that control the movement of the livestock, LGDs blend in with them, watching for intruders within the flock. The mere presence of a guardian dog is usually enough to ward off some predators, and LGDs will confront predators by vocal intimidation, barking, and displaying very aggressive behavior. The dog may attack or fight with a predator to protect the flock, if they are not able to drive predators off otherwise..."

I've also researched that 2 or more guardian dogs work in tandem to circle predators or watch that a 2nd predator is not in the shadows to go after the flock while the 1st predator is attempting to lure a guardian away from the flock. The average suburban backyard chicken owner doesn't have to worry about these situations but a sizeable acreage with free-ranging flocks should consider this info. Large flock owners most likely know this stuff and can educate us even more I bet!

 

[ShrekDawg]

We have an Anatolian and she is very thick coated even though it is short compared to long haired breed. The undercoat sheds constantly with a "blow out" twice a year. Because she is retired we have her in the house to live out her senior years in comfort and the amount of hair she sheds is unlike any breed I have owned.

Really? That's interesting. Although not really that surprising since I figured it wasn't short short like a boxer or something. Is it sort of like a Lab coat? I feel like they'd still do pretty well in the heat though considering their lean build and where they originated from? It's interesting they shed so much though. And nice you let yours retire with you

So is yours friendly with people and other animals or? I've heard they can be less stranger and "other animal" friendly than Great Pyrenees or at least can take a little longer to get to that point.

 

[Sylvester017]

Not all of them are thick coated, there are a few with shorter coats like the Anatolian and ones bred in the middle east, turkey, hotter areas. But you're right that they're all over 100 pounds.

Even the so-called shorter coats are extra-coated below the outer coat, something like the German Shepherd coats. They look short but are really thick when you run your hand through them. But thanks for the input. I love big 100-lb dog breeds whether guardian or not with their lovely broad heads and muscular bodies and fierce loyalty to their owner, herd, or flock. For a short-hair large breed my DD loved the Rotts and we cycled through 3 of them in our lifetime. Smart, intelligent, hyper, eager to be command-driven that I can see why they are excellent police dogs or horse/cattle dogs. But I would never trust them around our poultry - they simply are too hyper. I was amazed at the long list of guardian breed dogs. Some of them on the list I would question but I was really surprised to see the Komondor on the list of guardians -- although with those long curly coats they sure could pass as one of the sheep in a flock

!!!

 

[ShrekDawg]

You said that so well about the Aussie Shepherd assessement!  All dogs are sweet and hard to find any breed that doesn't adore their owner.  But high energy dogs do need a job to do -- much like a Border Collie we had.  They are "herding" breeds rather than "guardian" breeds.  Without a job that keeps them moving they get bored, are useless, and can get to the point of being destructive - ours wandered into the neighbor's chicken coop to eat eggs a couple too many times and had to be removed.  I too am of the opinion that the guardian breeds are a better flock choice -- Maremma, Ovcharka, Caucasian Shepherd, Anatolian, Pyrenees, Sarplaninac (Yugoslavian Shepherd), etc etc etc, and some have used Malinois though I would classify them more of a working or police dog.  Some swear their Labs are great around chickens and wild game birds but I never had one.  Our DD's Pitbull never bothered my Silkie when I had to have the bird in the house for recuperating.  But again, that may have been because we were present to monitor.  The Pit who was professionally trained never obeyed the "leave it" command when it came to chasing or killing skunks, possums, rabbits, or anything that moved outdoors.   I know how sudden movements can in an instant charge up instincts in a dog to chase or play rough so I am ever cautious about recommending anything but trained guardian dogs to be alone around poultry.

Wikipedia summed it up very accurately from all the info gathered about LGDs: "Livestock guardian dogs [LGD] stay with the group of animals they protect as a full-time member of the flock or herd. Their ability to guard their herd is mainly instinctive, as the dog is bonded to the herd from an early age.  Unlike the often smaller herding dogs that control the movement of the livestock, LGDs blend in with them, watching for intruders within the flock. The mere presence of a guardian dog is usually enough to ward off some predators, and LGDs will confront predators by vocal intimidation, barking, and displaying very aggressive behavior. The dog may attack or fight with a predator to protect the flock, if they are not able to drive predators off otherwise..."  

I've also researched that 2 or more guardian dogs work in tandem to circle predators or watch that a 2nd predator is not in the shadows to go after the flock while the 1st predator is attempting to lure a guardian away from the flock.  The average suburban backyard chicken owner doesn't have to worry about these situations but a sizeable acreage with free-ranging flocks should consider this info.  Large flock owners most likely know this stuff and can educate us even more I bet!

Very true

 

[ShrekDawg]

Also I would add that although Malinois and GSD are technically herding breeds, they're more working dogs at this point. Although GSDs are often family pets at this point too and there's soooo many different lines and types it's hard to say anything specific or applicable to the whole breed. But they do tend to have more of an off switch, they can work but in home or off duty are calm. Whereas the Belgian Shepherds (of which there are 4 varieties, the Malinois being one), particularly the Malinois, tend to be GO GO GO GO, always needing a job and something to do, and TONS of work and exercise, and tend to either have no off switch or not for a long time. But of course there are exceptions to the breed. And of course serious working line GSDs can be just as GO GO GO or hard. The other Belgian Shepherd varieties I think are a little bit calmer but still pretty high energy. In the U.S. they are considered seperate breeds (with the Groenendael variety being called the Belgian Sheepdog here) but other places they are just one variety of 4. There is the Belgian Malinois, Groenendael, Tervuren, and Lakenois.

 

[ShrekDawg]

No, Google.

Just goes to show ya how rare this variety is (the rarest i think) and how many people search Malinois and how many people don't even know other varieties exist.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Even the so-called shorter coats are extra-coated below the outer coat, something like the German Shepherd coats.  They look short but are really thick when you run your hand through them.  But thanks for the input.  I love big 100-lb dog breeds whether guardian or not with their lovely broad heads and muscular bodies and fierce loyalty to their owner, herd, or flock.  For a short-hair large breed my DD loved the Rotts and we cycled through 3 of them in our lifetime.  Smart, intelligent, hyper, eager to be command-driven that I can see why they are excellent police dogs or horse/cattle dogs.  But I would never trust them around our poultry - they simply are too hyper.  I was amazed at the long list of guardian breed dogs.  Some of them on the list I would question but I was really surprised to see the Komondor on the list of guardians -- although with those long curly coats they sure could pass as one of the sheep in a flock  !!!

That's definitely true! Sorry, I should have clarified, I guess I knew the coat wasn't short like a rottie or boxer or anything and had thought you meant all the guard dogs had actual long coats, not just thick. Although that said I must admit I didn't realize the coat was quite as thick as it was and I have seen pictures of dogs with both coats so it must depend on lineage or maybe in summer it gets thinner. But yeah, I love big dogs too. They're great. Ours is Black Lab/Great Pyrenees. And didn't know rotties were hyper. I always thought they were more chilled and laid back. Maybe with enough work or exercise they might be haha unfortunately my friend thinks Rotties and pit bulls are vicious and will kill you. Found that out watching the movie Max at her house lol "those dogs and pit bulls are so vicious, theyll kill you" i tried to explain that "no, they're actually very sweet and goofy dogs unless they're like trained to attack" but was met, again with, "no, they're vicious." And I was like "no they arent" she came back with "rottweilers? Are you kidding me!?" So i just stopped arguing at that point. She doesn't know like anything about dogs and clearly has inherited the general publics mentality of yes, they WILL kill you and you must be afraid of them. My mom is afraid of them too, saw them at a dog show once and she kept being like "stay away from those dogs" and "i would never have one of those in my house" it's just very frustrating cause although i have never had or met one, i know/knew 2 people online that do and both of theirs are very goofy and playful. I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for you. Also, I soooo wanted to say "if they're so vicious then how did they train them for the movie?" But I didn't. But I mean seriously, if they're sooooo mean and vicious and aggressive and will turn on you and go after you and attack for no reason and kill you then they must have had a helluva time training them and having them around all of those people on the movie set.....

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sorry, got on a tangent/rant lol but yeah, there are sooo many guardian breeds. And LOL true.