LGD question - freeranging

[KrysMT]

hi y’all!
We recently purchased a 15 week old Great Pyrenees who was brought up with chickens since the day she was born. I have a free range flock, 40 acres, ponds, cows, bees, barbed wire fencing... I know I can’t allow her until she is fully trained and old enough to protect them and trust them with her.

Her job on the farm will to keep predators away from the flock. I joined several GP boards for questions about things I can do to teach her to stay on my farm and protect the flock. Most everyone who has replied to my question has told me if I don’t have her and my chickens in a fenced area then I’m basically not doing it right.

I want my chickens to free range the property! They stay right around our house and barns but have the choice to go in the fields. My question is has anyone had success in properly training their GP or LGD to stay on your property without “proper” fencing?

 

[cassie]

The Pyrenees I have personally known tended to wander.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree about the fencing. Having her at the neighbors, or dead in the road, or stolen, won't be better! She's also too young and small to be safe out there, from other big dogs or coyotes. Training a LGD takes lots of time and effort.
Mary

 

[KrysMT]

I agree about the fencing. Having her at the neighbors, or dead in the road, or stolen, won't be better! She's also too young and small to be safe out there, from other big dogs or coyotes. Training a LGD takes lots of time and effort.
Mary

Oh no. I’m not considering her even being outside like that until at least 2 years. We have an electric fence company coming out today.

 

[texsuze]

Good fences make for good neighbors. That said, our (not so good) neighbors would rather piecemeal and patch the 3 runs of fence we share with them than go in halves with us for new fencing. As such, their two GPs have trespassed onto our property at least 4 times that I have seen, crawling underneath the fence. Their two goldens have also trespassed onto our property. My point is, if you have neighbors adjoining your property anywhere, it behooves you to consider them in your management decisions, since no one operates as an island these days. Both your chickens and your dogs will have a longer life with some type of fencing, IMHO.