hegar wrote: ↑Fri Dec 20, 2019 1:08 am
You do have two handsome dogs. I used to have dogs too, but now my wife will not agree to get another one, because our grandchildren do not live close to us and it is not easy to find someone to take care of the animal when we are away. What kind of breed are those two?
When I was a teenager, living in Germany, I also did raise chickens and pigeons. Those Guinea hens do look somewhat exotic to me. I am used to bantam hens and regular chickens.
Harald
Thank you, Harald. They were super-cute as pups, too. Some pics for your enjoyment.
Yeah, I don't go on vacations anymore - only "stay"cations, ha ha
The dogs are Maremma Sheepdogs or Cane da Pastore Maremmano Abruzzese, originally from Italy. Actually their dad is a first generation American, ha ha. They are Livestock Guardian Dogs or LGDs and bred to protect livestock, originally sheep, from predators. We have coyote, foxes, racoons, possum, skunk, and aerial predators going after our birds, so we got the dogs to protect them so we can let the birds out to free range and eat ticks.
Here is a pretty cool article and <4 min. video at the end about the breed being used in an experiment to protect native penguins in Australia from imported predators that almost wiped them out:
https://thebark.com/content/maremma-she ... e-penguins
I was a teenager in Germany, too. Small world.
Yeah the Guineas look a bit strange with no feathers on their heads, but I am so used to them now, I would probably find feather-headed chickens strange.
What dogs did you have? Maybe you could have a small one that could travel with you?
- Pups_weed.jpg (90.29 KiB) Viewed 20603 times
- Next Day Accommodations_ Being Checked Out By Guinea Fowl.jpg (132.41 KiB) Viewed 20603 times