Good News Story About Mareemas Used To Protect Chickens From Foxes

[cheekycairn]

Hens knight at Daylesford Organics

Sarah Hudson

June 23, 2010

EIGHT years ago, Brendon Eisner and his wife, Kate Ulman, moved to a 20ha Muskvale property.

They had a plan to establish a small, organic garden, with enough produce for themselves and a small business.

Today, that business, Daylesford Organics, not only supplies some of Victoria's best restaurants - including Daylesford's Lake House and Melbourne's Circa - but last year won a Vogue Produce Award.

More recently it was ranked sixth in Australian Traveller Magazine's best gourmet experiences.

Aside from producing seasonal fruit and vegetables, the couple also have 1000 free-range chickens, which are guarded by their two Maremmas, Bingo and Banjo.

"We back on to the Wombat State Forest so we have a big fox problem," Mr Eisner said.

"When we first got the chooks we lost 70 in one hit and about 200 in total.

"Since getting the Maremmas we haven't lost one. They live full-time with the chickens.

"I often come out in the morning and see them sitting there in the middle of the flock, cross-legged and majestic."

http://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/article/2...atest-news.html

The photo that accompanied the print article was great too.

[Moselle]

Shame, no photos. Yes, maremmas are proving to be quite a discovery here in Oz, doing what they do best. They are an asset and every livestock farmer should have one or two or three.....sure beats the alpacas.

[Tassie]

Yes - great livestock guardians. There was a fellow down here with angora goats - nearly went out of business because of wild/stray dog attacks - until he got a Maremma. No more trouble.

[FranVT]

If you click on the link to Daylesford Organics (which I now really want to visit, just quietly) it brings up a lovely photo.

[poodlefan]

I loved the story reported here a while back about them being used to protect nesting penguins on an island in SA.

The owner's description of his dogs seeing penguins as "chickens in dinner suits" was a classic.

[Little Gifts]

My sister has used maremmas on her farm near Cowra for the sheep and boar goats they farm for around 8 years now, as well as protection for her when hubby is away as they bond very closely with their flock (human or animal). She also gave her daughter one to watch over her young children as they live on a very remote property outside of Walgett and there are water bores and things on the property. So if the children wander the dog follows and remains on guard.