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Talked to a neighbor who free ranges her flock of 12 and it changed my whole setup
She said her hens lay way more since she let them roam her half-acre yard, and I was scared of predators but she just uses a livestock guardian dog. Has anyone else tried mixing a dog with their chicken setup or is that too risky for smaller backyards?
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betty_scott182mo ago
Oh that whole "she uses a livestock guardian dog" part really caught my attention. I mean I totally get where you're coming from with the fear about predators, that's like the number one thing that kept me from free ranging for years. But honestly I've seen a few people in my local chicken group use guardian dogs even on just regular suburban lots and it seems to work out okay as long as the dog is raised right with the hens from the start. It's not like you need a huge farm or anything, the dog just needs enough space to patrol and a strong bond with the flock. Maybe it's just me but I'd be more worried about the dog getting bored than anything else in a small backyard. I really think it could work if you pick a calm breed that's known for guarding not herding, like a Great Pyrenees or an Anatolian Shepherd mix.
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the_luna2mo ago
Oh yeah, free ranging with a good LGD is a game changer for sure. I did exactly this on my third of an acre lot a couple years back. Got a Great Pyrenees pup and raised her with my first batch of chicks. She's been amazing. She patrols the fence line and just hangs out with the hens all day. The key is to start them young and make sure the dog sees the chickens as family, not toys. For smaller spaces, a male Pyr might be too much, a female or an Anatolian mix tends to be a bit more chill. Also, double up on your fencing even with the dog, just in case.
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