Denisa Danne

Do any of you have problems with hawks? We haven't gotten any chickens yet but we will as soon as we move. Our friends in the same area are having trouble with hawks eating their chicks and smaller chickens. How can you get them to be free range? Just building a huge area with chicken wire? Thanks!

Thank you both! I have raised 3 dogs and I know its a ton of work! I do want an adult dog so I won't have to go through the puppy stages again. I just wasn't sure which breed is better for this type of job. I love German shepherds so I think that's what we will be getting. This is all very exciting to me. Thank you again for all the knowledge!

Yes, I'm sorry I meant to say that collies are more of a herder breed than a guard dog. I have owned a lab-German Shepard mix and a husky-German Shepard mix and they were so hard to control.
Always wanting to jump and play. They were adopted by my mother in law because we were in the process of moving and she fell in love with them...so I just let her keep them. My father has a German Shepard and he is a wonderful dog. He is older and not trained around farm animals so I don't know if I can trust him with them. Do you recommend getting a puppy German Shepard and training him/her around the farm animals? Is there a type of training program I should do? or just the basics? Sorry I am very new at this. Thanks for you patience.

Thank you John....haha I did hear they are great escape artists!
And thank you Su Ba...I was thinking german shepard or collie..but I heard they are more of a herder breed.

Hello everyone! I just found this awesome site and wanted to join!
First I will be moving to Naples and I will have some good acreage.
I wanted to know what farm animals are good for starting out?
I already know I want chickens but are goats or sheep better to have when I take the next step?
I was also curious if someone knew of good guard dog breeds that can handle the Florida heat? Not only would he/she be guarding my lives stock but us as well
because I have a 4yr old and we will be living alone till my husband gets stationed in Florida. Thanks a bunch!!