My chickens and their guardian dogs,
My Great Pyrenees Nanuk who came to us as a "failed" sheep guardian. Growing up on a chain and then at about a year old he was given to a sheep farm and tossed in with the sheep. He was a little too playful with the sheep and also was accused of causing the death of a few lambs. When the chickens were little he really looked like he would kill them if given a chance, but about 8 months later he is good with them and acts very appropriate, I have been watching him closely from my kitchen window, but in the last 2 months I have seen nothing but very appropriate behavior.
Doesn't he look like a proud chicken guardian?
Bella, my Golden Campine, she gets in and out of the goat pen and any other fenced off area
Lucy looking at Teddy, my Anatolian Shepherd puppy in training to be a poultry guardian, he is showing great potential. He and the other puppies in the pictures turned 14 weeks old yesterday, I kept these four who have all shown great potential as poultry guardians because they have shown very little to no desire to chase, in addition to showing an interest in the chickens. It seems like they really want to know them, without being pushy, they are all very respectful and approach with caution. I always feel that the chickens are also a good feedback, as they feel comfortable around the pups even when they puppies come storming into their yard they stay calm.
the chickens are very curious about anything those puppies are doing, they will steal bones and other treats from them and are actually quite aggressive about it, the puppies just let them do it, they have learned to respect the chickens, because the chickens have learned that they can actually intimidate the pups, one of the Delaware hens is especially assertive with them and is quick to peck them at the nose if they get close enough
My Anatolian Shepherd puppies Enya and Teddy looking for "treats" that the chickens leave behind
Enya found herself a nice spot in the chicken coop to hang out
My Anatolian Shepherd puppy Samantha gets a little playful with the chickens sometimes, but she doesn't touch them, she is very cautious about keeping enough distance to be save from being pecked at, today she ventured into the hen house and was a little bit surprised to have two of the hens fly out right over her head, she wasn't quite sure about it, but took it in stride
Leydi is the mother of my puppies in training, she wasn't exposed to chickens until she was 3 1/2 years old, she has always been very good with them after our initial introduction,
One of my barred Leghorn hens
Sophie my rooster
Tobi wearing a chicken saddle to protect her during mating, otherwise the rooster "rides" out all the feathers on their back and they are bald.
hens taking a break, the two white ones are my Delawares, in the back is Buffy, one of my Buff Orpingtons
My Great Pyrenees Nanuk who came to us as a "failed" sheep guardian. Growing up on a chain and then at about a year old he was given to a sheep farm and tossed in with the sheep. He was a little too playful with the sheep and also was accused of causing the death of a few lambs. When the chickens were little he really looked like he would kill them if given a chance, but about 8 months later he is good with them and acts very appropriate, I have been watching him closely from my kitchen window, but in the last 2 months I have seen nothing but very appropriate behavior.
Bella, my Golden Campine, she gets in and out of the goat pen and any other fenced off area
Lucy looking at Teddy, my Anatolian Shepherd puppy in training to be a poultry guardian, he is showing great potential. He and the other puppies in the pictures turned 14 weeks old yesterday, I kept these four who have all shown great potential as poultry guardians because they have shown very little to no desire to chase, in addition to showing an interest in the chickens. It seems like they really want to know them, without being pushy, they are all very respectful and approach with caution. I always feel that the chickens are also a good feedback, as they feel comfortable around the pups even when they puppies come storming into their yard they stay calm.
the chickens are very curious about anything those puppies are doing, they will steal bones and other treats from them and are actually quite aggressive about it, the puppies just let them do it, they have learned to respect the chickens, because the chickens have learned that they can actually intimidate the pups, one of the Delaware hens is especially assertive with them and is quick to peck them at the nose if they get close enough
Enya found herself a nice spot in the chicken coop to hang out
My Anatolian Shepherd puppy Samantha gets a little playful with the chickens sometimes, but she doesn't touch them, she is very cautious about keeping enough distance to be save from being pecked at, today she ventured into the hen house and was a little bit surprised to have two of the hens fly out right over her head, she wasn't quite sure about it, but took it in stride
One of my barred Leghorn hens
hens taking a break, the two white ones are my Delawares, in the back is Buffy, one of my Buff Orpingtons