The security animal of choice for various herds and flocks is the Maremma Sheep Dog.
Bred in Italy, Maremmas have been used to guard livestock from predators for thousands of years. It is their natural instinct to protect the stock they are put with.
Our hens are free to roam from morning to night out of their housing into the paddock. We have never lost a bird to a fox or wild dog or eagle. We credit that to our three beautiful Maremma sheep dogs who are on guard around the clock.
Our Maremmas started off guarding the goats and had no problem realising that new members had been added to their family of animals to guard and protect.