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Pasture raised chooks
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<blockquote data-quote="farmerjan" data-source="post: 1643138" data-attributes="member: 25884"><p>If they are fenced with a good electric netting, a guard dog will only be guarding the outside area as the actual area for the hens is too small for extended periods of time. Great Pyrs are NOT the dog to get as they wander much more than other breeds. They "decide" the area they are supposed to guard. But regardless, a LGD needs perimeter fences to assure they will stay put. </p><p> I agree with discouraging the dogs if the fencing is working well. Most guard dogs also are oriented to their "people" as part of their flock or herd, and it is imperative to have some constant interaction with them. </p><p>I understand the idea of rotating out the flocks, but to me the 6 weeks or so molting out the hens, to have bigger eggs the second year will outweigh the negatives. Salmonella should be a whole lot less a problem if they are regularly moved and rotated. And that will save the output costs of new hens, but you know the area better. I raised approx 150 in free-range conditions, no elec fencing. Lost a few to foxes but it wasn't that many. Locked up each night and let out in the morning after about 10 so that 2/3 of the days eggs were mostly laid already. Problem I got was with the "friendly neighborhood BALD EAGLE" that decided that it was an easy way to get his daily meal. Tried letting out later, sitting up there for a few hours to discourage them, you name it. Caught one with a bird on the ground when I made a random stop and it stood it's ground with me. I didn't want to get torn by those talons... and it finally took off... Lost 123 to that eagle that year and gave it up. A dog might have helped for that but without electric fencing, they wouldn't stay there as the perimeter fence was mixed field fence, barbed wire, etc.. Neighbors all "loved to see the eagle" and then bitched about the cost of free range eggs... You can't have it both ways.</p><p>Pasture raised would have meant electric netting and such... I couldn't do it with working full time too.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="farmerjan, post: 1643138, member: 25884"] If they are fenced with a good electric netting, a guard dog will only be guarding the outside area as the actual area for the hens is too small for extended periods of time. Great Pyrs are NOT the dog to get as they wander much more than other breeds. They "decide" the area they are supposed to guard. But regardless, a LGD needs perimeter fences to assure they will stay put. I agree with discouraging the dogs if the fencing is working well. Most guard dogs also are oriented to their "people" as part of their flock or herd, and it is imperative to have some constant interaction with them. I understand the idea of rotating out the flocks, but to me the 6 weeks or so molting out the hens, to have bigger eggs the second year will outweigh the negatives. Salmonella should be a whole lot less a problem if they are regularly moved and rotated. And that will save the output costs of new hens, but you know the area better. I raised approx 150 in free-range conditions, no elec fencing. Lost a few to foxes but it wasn't that many. Locked up each night and let out in the morning after about 10 so that 2/3 of the days eggs were mostly laid already. Problem I got was with the "friendly neighborhood BALD EAGLE" that decided that it was an easy way to get his daily meal. Tried letting out later, sitting up there for a few hours to discourage them, you name it. Caught one with a bird on the ground when I made a random stop and it stood it's ground with me. I didn't want to get torn by those talons... and it finally took off... Lost 123 to that eagle that year and gave it up. A dog might have helped for that but without electric fencing, they wouldn't stay there as the perimeter fence was mixed field fence, barbed wire, etc.. Neighbors all "loved to see the eagle" and then bitched about the cost of free range eggs... You can't have it both ways. Pasture raised would have meant electric netting and such... I couldn't do it with working full time too. [/QUOTE]
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