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Post by liz on Mar 1, 2005 12:09:40 GMT 1
Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone has any suggestions that might help. I found our cockerel dead this morning in our collies kennel ! It is the third cockerel that he has killed. He never goes near the hens but just doesnt like the cockerels. The one he killed this morning (Tommy) has been with us about a month and Pepsi has never shown any interest in him. We had even put the hens and cockerel in a run to discourage Pepsi from showing interest but he still managed to get the cockerel. Has anyone had a similar problem ? Thanks Liz
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Mar 1, 2005 12:45:14 GMT 1
Moss, my ex's collie that lives with me, would, I am sure, kill any of the poultry if left to his own devices and has to be watched like a hawk when near them. Here I have several cocks and hens that are capable of having a go at the dogs if they feel threatened and perhaps in your case it is the cock that tries to protect its flock, thus placing himself in more danger.
Vera will be the best person to advise you, I'm sure, as collies tend to be bolder, especially when something doesn't respond to its herding instincts (which are really inherent hunting instincts that have been utilised through training for herding purposes.
I keep a gander that will Keep both Kira and Scampi in their places if they are perceived as a threat to any of the poultry, but his behaviour would have the opposite effect on Moss. It surprised me when the ex-working lurcher, Scampi, proved to be afraid of the gander and cockerels, as I'd have thought him to probably retaliate when pecked or attacked. Kira (a foxhound X but very small) is less afraid of them but fairly respectful of the chickens that have been known to peck her nose and draw blood. However, she sees the gander as 'sport' and a playmate, perhaps because he tends to use his beak on her back or quarters. She has been known to attempt to sneak around and up to him, then grab his tail feathers playfully!
Al
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Post by LurcherGirl on Mar 3, 2005 0:40:32 GMT 1
To be honest, I don't have any experience with dogs and life stock - being a city girl... However, personally, I would never take the risk and leave a dog unsupervised with life stock unless I was 150% confident that it will be ok with it.
Collies are obviously a herding breed, therefore will react to fast movements. It is well possible as Alison mentions that the cockerel behaves more eratically when protecting the hens and therefore catches the collies attention, where as the hens would probably just be walking around calmly.
As you know that your collie has killed before, he has now got experience and will probably not hesitate to do it again as he was successful before, he needs to be kept away from the cockerels if you are not there to supervise and keep them safe.
Vera
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Post by wiccaweys on Jul 20, 2005 9:47:49 GMT 1
Sadly some collies just can't help theirselves, especially some of the sharper ones.
My own Buffy is a s*d with anything feathered, clucking or crowing. She'll never be any different, so she doesn't go where the chucks are. That doesn't mean she can't see them - and our two girls are devils for teasing her on the other side of the fence.
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Post by trallwmfarm on Nov 21, 2005 11:02:57 GMT 1
get your self a lunge line and lunge whip
Let him go in and then either yank the rope or crack the whip.If you are used to horses and body language the dogs just KNOW you are serious.
My Scruffhounds used to go deaf when it was time to go in and then we noticed that if we were lunging horses all the dogs would go indoors and its because of the sound. If I have a dog that wont go in then I crack the whip and they all come in They have never ever been touched by it but they respect its sound. It also encourages new dogs to leave the Turkeys alone.
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Post by trallwmfarm on Nov 23, 2005 21:00:02 GMT 1
I must point out that we dont whip our dogs and most time the permanants would just laugh at us but the new ones will take notice for about a week before they too find us funny. However the Turkeys enjoy the protection they get.
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Post by LurcherGirl on Dec 11, 2005 22:44:58 GMT 1
Please don't try that, particularly if your dog is on a collar... you could do serious injury to a dog! Vera
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Post by trallwmfarm on Dec 17, 2005 22:24:42 GMT 1
perhaps yank wasnt the best choice of word. but we use long lunge lines and parelli ropes. I obviously wouldnt use the same strength with a dog as I would a horse but done correctly it works.Mine are usually spindly Lurchers so a puff of wind and a look would knock some of mine over.
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