Hello from the farm,
People often ask how we protect our chickens from predators. More specifically, whether we have Maremma guardian dogs.
We don't. Mostly because our Blue Heelers would have very strong opinions about that arrangement.
We have two Australian Blue Cattle Dogs. Technically they are one of the most capable working breeds in the world. Intelligent, loyal, energetic, bred to move stubborn cattle across enormous distances. Our two have chosen a slightly different career path and actual livestock management is not currently one of their focus areas.
So instead, we use alpacas. Alpacas, it turns out, are extremely effective at deterring foxes. They take their job very seriously. The dogs, however, do not approve of them. On any given day it turns into a mild standoff between the alpacas, who are convinced they are in charge and the dogs, who believe the alpacas are some kind of weird deer to bark at.
Between the alpacas, electric poultry netting and the automatic doors on the chicken caravans, your egg supply is very well protected but our two blue dogs remain as working dogs who don't work.
