What do you use to guard your flock?

[eggsrcool]

Good fencing and a cockerel. Otherwise, we dont have any problems with predators or pests

 

[Redwood Forest Bantams]

GPs are a different dog breed to say the least.. I have always had hunting dogs, who by breeding really want to please.. The GP has been bred for one thing, and that is to protect it's flock with little interference from a human. Oso is a loving dog, but has no interest in playing or interacting with humans short of following me around the property while I do chores..

He sleeps 23 hours a day, but is very quick to sound the alarm and investigate any "threat". I love GSD but I have two other dogs (Beagle and a Vizsla), that fill the niche as "pet and hunting partner". GSD in my experience love their owners and love to spend time with them.. I find the single mindedness of the GP to be just what I needed.

I am a firm believer in having the right dog for the job at hand, and for me the GP has fullfilled this role as guardian. I dont ask anything more of him than what he is there for

 

[luvchicks8]

one mean rooster

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Well written and exactly what I was trying to say about the breed differences.

I just took my whole pack for a long run, swim in the pond, and walk/run along the river bed which is dry this time of year. They all had a great time and it's probably the most energy spent I've seen from the GPs in awhile. As you said, they tend to sleep all day and mine bark all night because we have so many predators. After researching the breed, that's exactly why we got the GPs. We need large dogs that can guard our flocks and herds - we also have goats and geese and peacocks. And I don't have the time and energy a few more GSDs would require. I also need LGDs that will stay with the herd and not demand 100% of my time and energy or run off and leave the herd if they hear/smell something. That's one "flaw" of the GSDs - when they pick up the scent of something they take off into the woods chasing it and leave the flock/herd unattended. I'm hoping once the GPs get used to the idea of it being "their" herd/flock they will stay with them. If it came to it, I could put them in the goat enclosure where goats, geese and chickens live. But I'm still hopeful they will learn who/what is in their care and that they will be an honor to their breed some day. With most large dogs, you just have to get through the puppy stage.

 

[lildinkem]

GP's are nice dogs, but are not known for their smarts. At least that is what a breeder told me. I am sure there are exceptions.
I use 4 German Sheps 2 Spaniel mixes, 3 Newfie Pitbull mixes and a Springfield .22.

 

[ruth]

Quote:
Yep, no Rhodes Scholars in our two. In fact, we call Addicus "Vinnie Barbarino" cause to me that's who he looks like "duh, what, who????" We got them strictly to be livestock guard dogs cause this is a big place surrounded by thousands and thousands of acres of woods and rivers. The coyotes have party behind our barn every night. Our GSDs needed some help with nighttime predator watch.

However, our GSD, Rex, will go get the paper, bring in the groceries, and both he and Scarlett know how to open doors and work handles, locks and the doorbell. They also have an annoying or endearing talent for bringing home any dead chicken (parts, pieces, rotted remains) that they find in the woods and gently place them in the coop or right outside the coop if the coop is closed. I guess in their minds, they are bringing them home. Luckily it's not often but we do occasionally lose chickens that go deep into the woods. Rex has been bringing home any dead ones ever since I found the first few feathers of one something got and showed them to Rex and told him to "find" - next day, the dead chicken showed up in the coop. He's been "finding" them and brining them home ever since.

 

[duck walk]

I must add that as well as the Doberman girl I posted the pic of, I have three more Dobermans, two good roosters and two very loud ganders who sound the alarm day or night if anything is amiss in the yards...

 

[amarook]

From a distance
When I have my chickens out I put Oskar on his run, and he keeps the chickens away from the neighbor's garden.

And,

He's not that big yet, but he's good at watching over them. My one cat wants my bantam hen BAD, but Clovis keeps himself between the cat and the other chickens.

 

[djmooney]

two old english game roosters. they wont let anybody neer their hens when their not fighting with each other

 

[NotTheMomma]

I have pound pups for guardians. Seriously! Shadow is a bassett mix, that is about 16yrs old. He is fine with the chickens as long as they don't come close to me. Then he chases them away. Magenta is a beagle. She is 8 yrs old. She did kill a 6-8 wk old chicken. Since then, I've held her down, called the chickens over, and got one to jump on her belly. It pecked her, though that wasn't my intent. She is scared to death of a chicken now. Lulu is a 19 month old mini dachie. She has been pecked by the chickens more times than I want to know about. They love pecking her tail! She goes in the hen house with me, and is out with them most of the day. Some of the hens play tag with her, or rather, chase her around, and Lulu isn't smart enough to know they want to eat her!!!

I honestly believe that the predators smell that we have dogs. Shadow is only male dog, and he marks all around the coop and run. All three dogs are inside dogs though. At least twice a night, I let them out for potty breaks. They always circle the coop, and run and bark away. I'm hoping it is at least keeping things away. The coop is a wooden shed, that we converted. The pop door into the run is closed every night. The people door has two locks on it. Metal tin roof, so I don't think anything can get through that. The chickens roost in the rafters, so are a good 6-7 ft in the air at night.

During the day the chickens are free ranging. I'm out there several times a day, and the dogs go out with me. I don't 100% trust that Shadow wouldn't kill one if he felt threatened by them. Magenta I use to worry about, but I know she is so afraid that she won't even walk past them to get back in the house!!