What creature will defend against chicken predators?

[littledel]

rifles are a known cause of lead poisoning. Especially to varmits.

 

[Biochick]

Two puppies or dogs make a game out of the chase. Always get one dog at a time.
I have learned they pay more attention to each other than the trainers.
Two puppies can really get into more trouble than one.

 

[Lorije1]

A donkey will most certainly attack predators. We have found coyotes in mush piles at my uncles ranch. He hasn't lost a calf to predation since he got the donkeys.

 

[Dust Bunny]

donkeys are great guards they HATE dogs! and ive read that turkeys protect against birds of prey, but i cant confirm that

 

[Chickhick]

I have an Anatolian and she is a fantastic guardian dog. She lives with the chickens and hangs out with them all the time. Make sure there is a rooster to teach the pup to respect the flock when she is young.

 

[Dust Bunny]

Quote:
i like the whole using your roo to teach respect seems very natural.

 

[kota1369]

IN RESPONCE TO GERMAN SHEPHERDS TO WATCH YOUR FLOCK


I fostered a 3 yr old GSD last summer who was extremely pregnant. We taught her right off the bat not to look at the chickens.
She had 10 out of 14 puppies survive and the first time they saw chickens was 1 foot away through a window. I kept one of those
puppies. She is a guardian dog in progress. German shepherds where originally bred for herding, protection and scent work.
They were created to protect who they are taught to protect. My girl helps me herd the chickens back to their house and run.
This is still all done on leash as she is only 9 mo. old and I am extremely lazy about outside dog training in the cold.
Here is momma dog 6 weeks after she arrived at my home.

Notice she could care less that there were chickens next to her.
I am a firm believer in teaching them from day one what the rules are. If you FAIL to teach your dog the rules, then do not expect
them to know them. Many breeds are excellent with chickens if you dedicate yourself to training your dog.
As for the other part of the thread, llamas and donkeys WILL protect their flock. I do think it would take a pack of large dogs meaning
2 or more.... to kill an ostrich as they are extremely good kickers and are heavy. Or, you could put your birds in a hoop house in the day
time so you dont have to worry about them.
Good luck to you

The lady with 4 dogs, 4 city chickens, 2 meat rabbits and a lizard

 

[Chickhick]

The great thing about Livestock Guardian Dogs, as opposed to dogs trained to guard livestock (even the working/ herding breeds used for protection work), is the hundreds of years of breeding to reduce the playing, chasing, and herding behaviors. I'm sure that many breeds can be trained to guard, but Anatolians don't need training, just a little reminder from the rooster every now and then as they grow up. There isn't a strong desire to play, so there is very little you need to do. They know instinctively what to do. Most other working breeds (other than LGDs) have been bred to follow human lead, so they need human direction. Anatolians work on their own while you are inside doing your own thing or sleeping.

My Anatolian loves me and includes my family in her flock to protect. They have great judgement and knows instinctively what is a threat and what is not. A lot of peple think that the "Shepherd Dog" part of "Anatolian Shepherd Dog" means that they herd. Not so... they are the shepherd's dog, not a dog that is a shepherd. I have also had Border Collies for 12 years, and there is a world of difference between what is needed to train a herder versus a guardian breed. I do love both types of dogs, but when choosing a breed for a purpose, I'd choose the one that has the insticts to do what you want for that particular case and doesn't have characteristics that need to be controlled in that situation.

That being said, it is pretty difficult to tell an Anatolian what to do or not to do, because they REALLY think their jugdement is better than yours. If they think they have a better view for keeping an eye on things from where they are, they aren't likely to come when called, but it isn't out of defiance, they just think you must be mistaken in what you THINK you want them to do!

Also the whole boundary thing; you really need physical boundaries to be crystal clear for the Livestock Guardian Dogs. They will use their own judgement on where their territory extends to if you don't have them securely fenced in.