Why am I losing ducks with my LGD on duty?

[Angeliki Manouselis]

Not all LGDs guard poultry well. Also, the large tree in the poultry yard is probably how the bobcat is getting in to get the ducks. Check to see if there are any overhanging branches that the bobcat can get to outside the fenced area where the dogs are. Anytime you have a large tree in a poultry yard and lose poultry check up in the branches and tree canopy for carcasses. Some predators will make the kill and take the carcass into the tree to eat it. If the bobcat is getting in that way, your LGD may not smell her since the bobcat is up high. She is still very young and inexperienced at 2 years old and may not realize that the danger is coming from overhead. Also if she was bred, and weaned puppies before you got her at 2 years old, that means maybe 3 months out of the LGD business while caring for pups. Being bred would have meant several weeks heavily pregnant, and another 6 weeks (at least) feeding and caring for puppies. It sounds like the previous owners were not too knowledgeable since a large breed like an LGD should be at least 3 years old before being physically mature enough to breed and raise a litter.

It is good that the other dog wants to stay out with her. Between the 2 dogs they might be able to let you know when the bobcat comes around.

Wow, you just made so much sense to something that happened during the week when all the ducks got taken. I found a half eaten mutilated duck underneath the tree, and I was just so confused on how this happened. It makes sense now, the carcass fell from the branches. Dammit. Well I cannot get rid of this tree, but I am trying to trap the bobcat. Hopefully my dogs will become better at guarding as they mature more. I'm sure the previous owner wasn't very knowledgable, she did say it was an accident but who really knows. Indie will be getting spayed very soon. I also didn't take into account that she is about 20lbs underweight too. I am slowly getting some weight on her.

 

[Ridgetop]

Glad it helped.