What's the best dog for protecting the flock?

[ncgnance]

Quote:
I just had to tell you that your story touched me. Too many times I've had to call the humane society to come pick up a starving, hurt, confused, and usually helpless dog that someone dumped out in the country. Your Petie is a very lucky dog to have found you. Most of us just can't afford to keep all the unwanteds. Bless you....

 

[McGoo]

For all you dog lovers - I was given a book/gift for Christmas that is soooo great and it sounds quite a bit like Gila_Dog's story. The book is called Merle's door and written by Ted Kerasote. It won the outdoor book award. The title does not do it justice.

 

[silkieluvr]

My vote is definately on Border Collie. My dog Ty (ex cattle herding dog) is just great. He barks if there is something wrong, likes the goats, watches closely over the chickens and horses, and is just a great dog. He is always at my side and he gets along with every person and dog he meets. He's about 6 years old now but still going ALL the time. Unless you have an acre or more, I wouldn't recomend them because even in his senior years he is very high energy, though I don't even have to exercise him as he is always running from pasture to pasture!

 

[ruth]

Hi - if you've read any of my posts or viewed my personal page you'll know about my GSD Rex. Here he is guarding his newest babies that just hatched Valentines Day.

There's a baby on Rex's foot.

Rex stays outside, along with a mutt/stray Lucy, and they won't let even the scent of anything get on our property. Our chickens free range the farm and we are surrounded by thousands of acres of predator filled woods (and skys with hawks) and so far, after a year, no losses. Thank God and thanks Rex.

 

[McGoo]

Ruth,
thanks so much for the photos... they really say it all. Clearly there's no chain link fence that could work half as well as Rex.

How old was Rex when you started raising chickens? Do you have any other farm yard animals that he protects?

Thanks

 

[ruth]

Thanks McGoo - he was about 4 years old when I got the first batch of baby chicks last year. Can't say that I "trained" him - he just seemed to know. I held the baby chick and cuddled it and told Rex how much I loved it and let him sniff it. At first he was really excited and tried to get in box and barked but I just cooed and petted the baby chick and after about 5 minutes he caught on that I loved the baby chick and he laid down by the box and guarded them ever since. Initially he would not let the other dog, Lucy or any of our 4 cats come near the box or pen of chicks. He's relaxed about it now and they all "guard" the free ranging chickens.

Rex and his first batch of babies last year. He was such a nervous mama/daddy he wouldn't come out of that bathroom except to go pee/poo and then would run right back in. Wouldn't let any of the other pets near the door.

Here's Rex and his girls checking out their first snow last month on our new farm.

Rex and the girls at our other home in Covington.

Even Lucy hangs out with the chickens.

And here's our guard cat Morris who loves to sleep in coop nest boxes right beside them.

I guess the trick to detering predators is to have a lot of predators of your own hanging out with the chickens. Any other predator would have to run the gauntlet to get to chickens.

 

[sunnysidecluckers]

Well my dogs are not big but they have lots of guts. I let my hens freerange out back and I have a yorkie and a dachshund who watches them for me. I do see hawks flying around and one has even landed on the fence next door. My dogs bark and chase the wild birds and they have even chased off the hawk.

good luck with finding your warrior dog!!!

 

[Keisha]

We've been looking into getting a better protecting dog for our chickens too. We have 4 dogs, 3 inside one outside, and a goat that thinks hes a dog. The black lab outside is wonderful with the chickens, and does not kill them, and he is an all around friendly dog with all the animals, but he doesnt seem to scare the coyotes, or minks, owls, or hawks off at all. We lost alot of chickens last year.. The three inside dogs, a rat terrier, a jack russel, and a poodle live inside but wouldnt protect our chickens either im sure... And Chase the goat isnt good for much...

 

[menageriemama]

I have a Rhodesian Ridgeback and she is wonderful around the chickens. I let them out to free range, and never fail, she sits and watches them benovolently the entire time! They are wonderful homestead dogs, they dont smell like dog and they have a great coat that really doesnt shed much at all.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I have no idea how our Billy (the goat) will be with chickens, but he is good for one thing. He always makes me smile with his antics.