Michigan

[vkulesh]

Quote:
It means Livestock Guardian Dog. I am getting a started Maremma puppy, about 5 months old, the end of July.

Vicki,

I think you need to start building those 6-ft fences. My understanding of LGD is that they will guard all the property they can pun their feet on. So if you give them 10 acres, they will want 100 (kinda like me). I love how maremma's look - great dogs.

 

[Opa]

Still waiting to see if I'm going to get any more chicks from this hatch.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=2298715#p2298715

 

[zephyrcreek]

Has anyone tried a donkey or burro to protect their livestock? I know they work well with Wolves and Coyotes, but not sure about the smaller critters like fox and possum. I put my meat pens in with my Mustangs as we have watched them chase skunks, rabbits, pheasants, etc. out of the pasture. We have even found dead bodies of birds and rabbits that were flattened and looked like the horses had killed them. I just don't know if the will care if the critters are by the birds if the horses are on the other side of the pasture. If nothing else I should have some very well fertilized fields next year!

 

[zephyrcreek]

Quote:
Super Cute!

 

[A2SciTeach]

I'm curious about how the wildlife laws affect our ability to kill predators such as foxes. I went to the DNR site and there was information on damage control for particular species, such as raccoons and coyotes but nothing on fox. I did find a pamphlet on damage control regulations, part of which I have copy and pasted here:

Any person undertaking wild animal damage or nuisance control must have one of these permits. Exception:
raccoon and coyote may be taken on private property by a property owner or designee at any time if they are
doing or about to do damage on private property (a license or written permit is not needed). Also, opossum,
porcupine, weasel, red squirrel, skunk, ground squirrel, and woodchuck may be taken year-round with a valid
small game hunting license. The regulations controlling these permits are found in the Wildlife Conserva-
tion Order (available online at www.michigan.gov/dnr or in the information circular). The major difference
between permits issued to landowners and those issued to businesses, agencies, and organizations is that the
latter group is pre-authorized to undertake control measures on specific species in certain areas and at certain
times upon complaint of the person suffering damage without individual inspections and individual permits
being issued by DNR personnel. In addition, control measures for some wildlife species may be authorized
by a conservation officer or wildlife biologist when legitimate damage is occurring without the necessity of
issuing a separate Wildlife Damage Investigation and Control Permit form to the nuisance animal control busi-
ness, agency, or organization.

My question is, when is it legal to kill wildlife, what exactly can be killed, which methods are permissible to use and when is a permit required?

 

[vicki2x2]

Quote:
It means Livestock Guardian Dog. I am getting a started Maremma puppy, about 5 months old, the end of July.

Vicki,

I think you need to start building those 6-ft fences. My understanding of LGD is that they will guard all the property they can pun their feet on. So if you give them 10 acres, they will want 100 (kinda like me). I love how maremma's look - great dogs.

I am worried about that too Victor, but hopefully Remi will respect my fences. I am leaving him with his breeder for some training, that is why we are not picking him up until he is 5 months. She will keep them and start their training for you, expose them to any livestock you have, teach them to respect fences, not jump, etc. Of course, you must continue to reinforce their training when you get them, after all, they are still puppies. From what I have read, they have a very strong, natural guarding instinct, even as puppies.

 

[vicki2x2]

Quote:
Donkeys are territorial, so they will usually protect their territory, and will stomp anything that comes into it, dogs, cats, fox, possum, etc. Though some are not as protective as others. However, whether they will care if said critter runs off with your chickens or not is hard to say, I doubt it. They would have to bond with your chickens and that not be very common, but could happen. Llama's are often used with better results than donkeys for livestock guarding, as they rarely injure their new charges. Donkeys have been known to stomp newborns to death, as they don't recognize them as one of the "herd".

 

[zephyrcreek]

Wow, is my computer messed up again. It says the last post was at 5:19 and it is now after 11pm. Hmmm

Thought I would share another pic.

Black Java - 4 days old

White Java - 4 days old

 

[Huston's Happy Hens]

Evening Everyone -
I have 6 Buff Orps that are 5 wks old - I'm wondering what the thoughts are on putting them outside soon - I have a coop w/an enclosed area for night time or if they are chilly during the day they could go in there and we'll have a light on for added heat - they are primarily feathered w/some down still - don't want to rush it if they would be in danger, but they're making a mess in the basement! thanks for your thoughts -

 

[citalk2much]

Quote:
Way to cute!