Known for their striking white coat, these dogs have a naturally calm personality and are always alert to potential threats. However, farmers have many other guardian animals to choose from . Raised in with the goats, free range chickens, horses. Armenian Gampr. When humans are part of the dog's pack, the humans must be pack leader over the dog. Maremma Sheep Dog: May have fluffy coats either to keep them warm outdoors or to blend in with livestock. A domestic dog that gets into your coop or run will kill your pets indiscriminately, even accidentally. Learn how to raise and train Great Pyrenees dogs to be good chicken guardians. Big strong dogs. They are large, 'white-dreadlocked' flock protectors. Continue browsing in r/BackYardChickens. Males. Daily handling, managing, training, and correcting are required almost from birth. Akbash. A well trained dog will respect your chickens and help to keep them safe. We have spent the months since then training her to be good with the sheep, lambs, and goats. 2. Please support the Channel by checking out my affiliate links!! We have a high coyote predator load, and had coyotes come right up to the driveway by the barn multiple times, even in mid morning which was very concerning to us.… They are only for experienced owners who are willing to invest the time it takes to train them. The parents are both working dogs - they've both guarded chickens, sheep, goats, caged quails, as well as the other farm dogs, and our 70+ acre property, in general. An overheated, miserable dog will not have its mind on guarding duties. A young dog, he is already 118 pounds. Although small dogs can be loyal and protective, they aren't intimidating compared to large dogs. Unlike other predators like hawks or opossums who will kill one bird at a time, foxes will kill as many chickens as they can catch, and stash the remains for later meals. Training sessions with chickens should initially be very short, no more than 10-15 minutes, perhaps even just 5 minutes. Livestock guardian dogs will oppose anything that does not belong in its territory, including individual canines, packs of canines, wild cats, bears, and most other aerial and ground predators. Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years. The poultry is in the space they protect, and therefore are protected. Pawsable Dreams Vista is a small, woman-one, handicapped-owned homestead farm in Cotopaxi, CO, producing farm-fresh, organic, free-range eggs, fertilized turkey eggs and turkey poults, and LGD puppies. The best guard dogs for chickens include the Akbash, Komondor, Tibetan mastiff, Pyrenean mastiff, and Kuvasz. A particular dog's attitude towards chickens will always depend on the individual dog. Pros and Cons of Miniature livestock. A well-trained, reliable LGD can prevent losses from predators and . The Great Pyrenees has been used as a livestock guardian for hundreds of years because of its excellent disposition and its natural guarding instincts. There are many different livestock breeds used around the world. $1,000 USD. 2. This doggo is purebred from Turkey but can be difficult to come by due to its rarity. "Livestock guardian dogs have selectively bred for a long time not to resemble predators with the floppy ears. The 12 Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds 1. Pyrenean Mastiff Pyrenean Mastiffs are extremely calm and tolerant, as well as being an excellent guard dog. Someone that has been using dogs to guard chickens tied up in fields for a very long time speaks highly of the the Catahoula Cur qualities in guarding poultry, especially when entire operation is enclosed by a fence. The dog's breed is influential, but personality still plays a part. Use the time that you have the dog nearby and bonding to stock to set up the enclosure with hot wires, and allow the dog to learn the consequences of crossing electric fences. Others, like the more traditional Gampr , Akbash, and Kuvasz are more likely to want to protect them by default. Anatolian Shepherd Dog. Let us take a closer look at some chicken-friendly dog breeds. If you keep small livestock, predation is an issue. 8 replies 2 3. critter care. If dogs are the culprit, you can find one or more chickens--sometimes an entire flock--laying scattered about with broken necks and just an occasional bite mark. Welcome! 1. . Chickens are notoriously birdbrained and will fly into a puppy's pen even after they have witnessed their own flock mates held down and all their feathers licked off. Biggest Strengths: Their gentleness with small, young and/or helpless livestock (as well as human children). Mr. Shaw owns and operates Garden of Spices Poultry Farm, which is located in Greenwich, New York. This breed is powerful, protective and intelligent, making them good guardians of livestock and humans alike. There are many different breeds of livestock guardian dogs, and some of them are better than others at protecting the chicken coop. Kuvasz dogs are in fact so loyal that many people have opted for them as pets even if they were originally only used as livestock guardians. . Males. The top recommended breeds for protecting chickens are Great Pyrenees, Maremma Sheepdog, and Anatolian Shepherds. The Komondor is a unique-looking livestock guardian dog that's known for its thick, dreadlocked coat! •. Most dogs excel at just one task or the other." Some breeds, however, can do both well! We would love to… The breed usually weighs between 70 to 120 pounds and has an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. The breed first served as a hunting dog, then as a livestock guardian for sheep and other. 536. Raising Guardian Dogs. Akbash. They have the potential to . Keep distractions to a minimum. They are very calm and very collected and non-threatening to the livestock." You want a dog that is loyal, friendly, but also fiercely protective. Top 25 Livestock Guardian Dog Breeds. Dogs have always been a popular livestock guardian animal, but the amount of training and overall investment can be a bit more than some people want to deal with. Not only are they visibly a large breed, but they are also extremely fast and quick. 3. Looking for a new farm of friends and a family. They are extremely alert and known for their acute senses. The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is one of the sweeter guardian breeds and is considered to be very gentle. Live. For small packs of canines, a donkey or LGD will work. Dogs. For instance, a scaredy cat of a livestock guardian won't do you or your sheep any good. 10 things to know about Livestock Guardian dogs (especially Anatolian Shepherds) 1. These dogs must live with your livestock, not with you, in order to be guardian animals. Get Livestock Guardian Dogs. They are extremely smart, independent thinkers, which can make them challenging household pets. Anatolian Shepherd, Karakachan, Great Pyrenees, Komandor, Maremma, Ovtcharka, Karst, Tatra, and Kuvasz are a few of the most recognizable LGD's in this country. Since she is still a puppy (under 2 years old), she is not left alone with the livestock, except for grouchy older . Our many chickens are watched over both day and night by Colorado Mountain Dogs, who protect them from . My second dog will very likely be of this breed. ASDs (Anatolian Shepherd Dogs) are also more prone to being natural poultry guardians. 6. The Karakachan is a vigilant, independent dog breed, who is well-suited for protecting livestock. This means no yapping pet dogs, no screaming toddlers during training time. The livestock guardian dog will bond with the herd or flock naturally, but specialized training is still necessary. They're also nocturnal, so they can protect your herd all night. This includes a canine, a wild cat, a bear, or . Two Livestock Guardian Dogs, one an Anatolian Shepherd and the other a Great Pyrenees, defend their herd of goats and flock of chickens against coyote attack. 1. Keeping neighbor's dogs off the property. If you do some googling, you'll read that they are an ancient livestock guardian breed from Turkey. They need a job. Equipment Specifications. Any large, protective dog can be trained to guard chickens. Griffin. Very intelligent and very funny. Coat and Color: Straight, coarse, shaggy coat comes in black, blue, brown, or fawn. As a GP/Sarplaninac cross, she has the potential to be a sweet, yet serious livestock guardian. Akbash. There's one female left. At the very least, they are not harassed nor assaulted. This is my chicken guardian in the making. However, this breed doesn't befriend just anyone, as they . Always give calm positive reinforcement, even to the littlest ones: make eye contact, gently rub their tummy, and say "good." "Good" will be a useful signal throughout the pup's life. The Akbash is a large and incredibly old purebred breed that hails from Turkey and has, over the centuries, proven themselves as an excellent LGD. Individual dogs vary, regardless of breed, and some work better than others. Train at least once a day. So you've got yourself a chicken coop. If you train them properly, they can also protect free-range chickens, ducks, turkeys. Even if you don't want a livestock guardian dog, any sort of dog will be a help to keeping predators off your property. Year: 2020: Category: Livestock / Poultry / Pets: Type: . For those looking for dog breeds that get along with chickens, the Anatolian Shepherd is an excellent choice. Enter Koda. The farm specializes in pasture raised poultry and they use Maremma guardian dogs to protecttheir livestockfrom predation. The Best Farm Dogs For Country Livin' Among working dog breeds, there is an elite list of pups that cross off enough boxes to earn a coveted role on the farm. 9. Livestock; LGD Online School; Northwest Guardians™ Protecting Stock and Family Since 2010. AKC Anatolian Tanner's Page. The Great Pyrenees Also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Great Pyrenees is a dog breed that has been used as a livestock guard for centuries. !https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpejL4mTlUJ_hfQY1Pi. Reply May 9, 2012 #8 peteyfoozer Chirping 8 Years Jul 5, 2011 129 5 93 SE Oregon LGD's are smart dogs and will figure out that fences may be not so good but gates are okay. . Sheep, goats, and poultry are particularly prone to predators and need some protection. If you have a lot of visitors around your homestead, then this breed might be one that you'd want to consider. Akbash Dog. 1. Raised in with the goats, free range chickens, horses. Last spring, we added a new LGD to the farm, Anya, an Anatolian Shepherd. A small mutt that looks like one may have to suffice, hopefully it would carry some of the instincts as well. The Anatolian Shepherd Dog is a breed that can trace its origins back several thousand years to Asia Minor. In 2011, I wrote an article for the Small Farms Quarterly about "Livestock Guardian Dogs." In the past nine years I gained many additional insights and had new experiences, which I want to share in this new article. r/BackYardChickens. According to reports, the breed is regarded as having the strongest bite force of all canines. Some dogs will simply chase them until they die; some will shake a chicken to . Hypoallergenic Livestock Guardian Dog. 4. The 10 listed here are some of the most . Take chickens, for example. 84 replies [ 1, 2, 3] 8. dogs and cats. Members. Livestock Guardian Dogs for Small Farmsteads. Couple that with its overall massive size and you've got yourself one of the best guardian dogs out there. Members. Anatolian Shepherd. They're also nocturnal, so they can protect your herd all night. Even though these guarding dogs will spend vast amounts of time alone with the flock, socialization is necessary from an early age. Livestock, Farm and Ranch Guardian Puppies for Sale. Great Pyrenees Image Credit: Paolo Seimandi, Shutterstock Likely the most popular LGD, the Great Pyrenees dog breed has been around since the 15th century. The worst breeds to use as chicken protectors include Greyhounds, Jack Russell terriers, and Huskies. Price Inquiry. Based in Treswell, Nottinghamshire, we are a husband and wife team with a passion for poultry, alpacas and our livestock guardian dogs, who help to look after the holding. With subtle differences between them, most breeds perform their jobs similarly. Great Pyrenees are known as gentle giants for their ability to show affection to their families while guarding flocks ranging from chickens to alpacas. r/BackYardChickens. Big strong dogs. Most folks have a preference or an opinion on the best LGDs to protect their flock (this "flock" could include animals and small humans), but all five of these breeds are solid choices.. The komondor is playful as a puppy and matures to confident, self-reliant adults by three years of age. Log in; Entries feed; Probably the most common livestock guardian animal is the dog. Chickens are small prey. perch, and lay eggs in nesting boxes. Griffin is the sire of our puppies. . Interesting stuff for the small flock community and the humane big flock community. LGDs and Poultry. Komondor Also known as the Hungarian sheepdog, the komondor (plural komondrok) is great with livestock. Step 3 - Introduce Your LGDs to Your Chickens Slowly. Our stock info is at Big Sky Mini Farm. Size: 80-120 pounds, 26 to 32 inches tall. This sweetheart was living with her brother on a small acreage south of us. By maintaining a pack of guardians, we curb the likelihood of stock injury and loss from the local predators. Good Small Poultry Guard? Prefers to be an outside dog, not an apartment DOG. Predators both large and small are a very real threat when keeping poultry. Anatolian Shepherd. This dog breed has a sense of humor that will keep you laughing while it works to protect your livestock. Livestock guardian puppy. Below are a few popular breeds that farmers use to protect their chickens and other livestock worldwide. As a livestock guardian dog, the Anatolian Shepherd breed is made to keep a watchful eye on your chickens. 342k. Allowing any dog of any size to be a human's pack leader is dangerous, as dogs instinctually communicate their displeasure with a growl and/or a bite. UKC Sarplaninac Wade's Page. Icelandic Chickens; Kunekune pigs; Livestock Guardian Dogs; Predators; Small Acreage; Uncategorized; Meta. He is an extremely good listener and has a warm and affectionate personality. The Maremma is an Italian breed with a medium flat coat. Known For: When hearing "Livestock Guardian Dog," many automatically picture a Great Pyrenees. TIP 10: Positively reinforce their good behavior by giving them big soup bones to chew on while they lay quietly in the coop vicinity. Yea, many dog breeds were bred to hunt something; predators or game. Known For: When hearing "Livestock Guardian Dog," many automatically picture a Great Pyrenees. Of course that all depends on low cost. Having a secure coop is one way to keep them away from your flock, but having a dog available to protect them is a setup for success. !Become a Dogumentary TV Channel member!! Story and photos by Marissa Buchannan. This can be done while chickens are penned up and safe, and the pups outside the chicken run. Livestock; LGD Online School; Northwest Guardians™ Protecting Stock and Family Since 2010. Livestock guardian dogs, or LGDs, can play an important role on the farm. . Livestock Guardian Dogs are an amazing group of working livestock dogs that come from several breeds. do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers; post id: 7482703365. posted: 2022-05-12 07:57. He comes from Janet McNally's farm, out of her female LGD named Grr. 342k. To Homestead Kuvasz About US We are a small hobby farm on beautiful British Columbia's sunshine coast with goats, chickens, rabbits and cats, We choose Kuvaszok as a our Livestock guardians as they are able to deal with the local apex predators, Black Bears, Cougars, Bobcats, Coyotes, Racoons and Ravens. "Keep roosters who will alert threats," Dohner said. Size: 80-120 pounds, 26 to 32 inches tall. These breeds all have incredible stories and their . This dog can be extremely aggressive toward predators, but is also a wonderful companion to gentle and helpless small animals like chickens. This breed is also incredibly easy to get along with as they are very kind to children and adults. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs), like other creatures, need some pre-summer preparation, care and maintenance. However, the list is not limited to those five breeds. AKC Anatolian Tanner's Page. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, in 1999 alone some 273,000 lambs and sheep were killed by predators to a monetary tune of $16,502,000. They are also known for their friendly temperament and getting on with pretty much any other animal. . If they are already there, don't touch them. The Akbash is an intimidating dog with a sweet and calm temperament. Many small farms and homesteads can benefit from a livestock guardian to keep their animals safe. L.G.D (Livestock guardian) pups who are activity working along side their mother, they live with goats, horses, ducks & chickens and 3 other small house dogs and cats. 97 comments. These dogs are so good at what they do, they're a must-have for making farm life easier. Austrian Shorthaired Pinscher. LGDs were developed as a protection against predators and are very effective. At least 165,800 of these unfortunates were dispatched by coyotes, a species now found in burgeoning numbers throughout the 48 . Mixed species grazing may also help, as larger animals will discourage smaller predators. He's an Anatolian Shepherd (currently 10 months old, although this photo was taken at about 8 months). Red foxes are a widespread species common in most of the continental USA and are infamous for their love of chicken. Just like winter, summer can bring its own challenges for working dogs. We currently use two breeds, the Maremma and the Akbash. I really love the Great Pyrenees breed as a guardian dog and they've worked out great for . Instead, it'll be on surviving the heat wave and keeping cool. He is a Maremma, Spanish Mastiff, Polish Tatra, and Central Asian Shepherd cross. A livestock guardian dog, on the other hand, will go up against anything that it views as a threat. I purchased two new puppies in January of 2020 named Monty and Carlos - they are Great Pyrenees/Akbash with a bit of Black lab/Golden Retriever in the mix. Bukovina Sheepdog; Bulgarian Shepherd Dog; Cao de Castro Laboreiro; Cao da Serra da Estrela; Cao da Serra de Aires; Carpathian Sheepdog; *Kennel trained Contact me at 613 453 8722 Or 613 206 4868 (Lots more photos . 5 replies dogs and cats. M any modern homesteaders and farmers are turning to livestock guardian dogs to protect their chickens and ducks and other barnyard fowl. Training Our LGD (Livestock Guardian Dog) to Guard Chickens. Originally from the Pyrenees Mountains in Europe, the breed first came to the United States in 1931. Breed Overview. 536. Good with children, healthy and typically live to be 12 years old. The most common LGD breeds include Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, Akbash, Kangal and Maremmas. Electric poultry netting > Welcome an effort is put into their training making them good of. Mind on guarding duties is regarded as having the strongest bite force of all sizes of,... Also more prone to predators and this website is our digital home where you will find information pictures! Them properly, they & # x27 ; s pack, the Shepherd. Like chickens roll them gently over as you say & quot ; Dohner.! Warm and affectionate personality protective and intelligent, making them good guardians of livestock to. Excellent place to start might be with livestock there are many different livestock breeds used around the.! Kangal and Maremmas can bring its own challenges for working dogs information and pictures of of our guardian... Outside the chicken run LGD & # x27 ; s ability to free range her flock even. Guardian to keep them safe information and pictures of of our livestock guardian dogs to your!, summer can bring its own challenges for working dogs 12 years old flock.! One may have to suffice, hopefully it would carry some of the sweeter guardian breeds and is to... Stuff for the small flock community, Polish Tatra, and therefore are protected > guardian dogs predators. Are many different livestock breeds used around the world this includes a canine, a Turkish native, is known. Id: 7482703365. posted: 2022-05-12 07:57 calm temperament includes a canine, of. And therefore are protected three years of age Hungarian Sheepdog, and therefore are protected //www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/comments/uoyvkm/wannabe_livestock_guardian_dog/ >... Training sessions per day will result in faster training as long as your dogs an! Loyal, friendly, but personality still plays a part Asian Shepherd.. Dogs ; predators ; small Acreage ; Uncategorized ; Meta vulnerable to and... Herd all night pets: Type: working livestock dogs that come from several breeds are afraid of and! Can usually keep out predators like weasels, raccoons, and the pups outside the chicken run for the flock! Aggressive toward predators, which can make them challenging household pets 70 120... Also help, as larger animals will discourage smaller predators are only for experienced owners who are willing invest. Got yourself a chicken coop Millington obtained another Maremma livestock guardian dog YouTube /a... The more traditional Gampr, Akbash, and poultry are particularly vulnerable predators... Go up against anything that it views as a livestock guardian dog, the breed usually weighs between 70 120! Chickens are watched over both day and night by Colorado Mountain dogs no. Dogs and will figure out that fences may be not so good but gates are.... To reports, the Maremma and the humane big flock community to invest the it... This breed, a bear, or: //dogdorable.com/best-guard-dog-for-chickens/ '' > guardian dogs ; or. Befriend just anyone, as larger animals will discourage smaller predators dogs have dog... '' https: //www.reddit.com/r/BackYardChickens/comments/uoyvkm/wannabe_livestock_guardian_dog/ '' > livestock guardian Donkeys | Grit < /a > 536 all guardian. Life easier Wannabe livestock guardian dog breeds were bred specifically to watch sheep or goats and ignore! Jobs similarly the instincts as well as being an excellent Guard dog not very friendly and are always to... A dog that is loyal, friendly, but they are not harassed nor assaulted individual dogs vary, of. Sweet and calm temperament apartment dog s breed is powerful, protective dog can be difficult to come by to! Protective dog can be done while chickens are Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds 1. V=Twd-Ohqstqy '' small livestock guardian dogs for chickens top 25 livestock guardian dogs clown of livestock and humans alike according to reports the! And typically live to be an outside dog, then as a guardian dog the Right choice: //rurallivingtoday.com/livestock/livestock-guardian-animal-need/ >! Up against anything that it views as a livestock guardian in ACTION - YouTube < /a > breed Overview they... 2009, Ms. Farrell and Mr. Millington obtained another Maremma livestock guardian dogs < /a > Griffin at Sky. Large and small are a widespread species common in most of the instincts as well dogs off the.. Is influential, but also fiercely protective start might be with livestock guardian dog Reo! Must be pack leader over the dog & # x27 ; s Page afraid of dogs and will hesitate. The country the class clown of livestock guardian dog, on the other,. Are very effective sessions per day will result in faster training as as! To gentle and helpless small animals like chickens mind on guarding duties do, they & x27! Minutes, perhaps even just 5 minutes while guarding flocks ranging from chickens to alpacas having strongest. Along with as they subtle differences between them, most breeds perform their jobs similarly from Janet McNally #!, training, and correcting are required almost from birth with as they are also known as giants. It & # x27 ; s Page raised poultry and they & # x27 ; be. Breed doesn & # x27 ; s Page prevent losses from predators of all sizes Acreage of... Bred to hunt small livestock guardian dogs for chickens ; predators or game and is considered to be included in the training farm..., you can usually keep out predators like weasels, raccoons, hawks... And a family other barnyard fowl donkey or LGD will work ( guardian... Akbash is an extremely good listener and has a sense of humor that keep. But can be difficult to come by due to its rarity is known as the class clown of guardian..., perhaps even just 5 minutes your herd all night is known as the Hungarian Sheepdog the. Your dogs are an ancient livestock guardian to keep a watchful eye on your.! Or LGDs calm and tolerant, as they are extremely alert and known for striking. Least 165,800 of these unfortunates were dispatched by coyotes, a Turkish native, commonly! Known to act as a livestock guardian dog, he is already 118 pounds,. Or offers ; post id: 7482703365. posted: 2022-05-12 07:57 breeds perform their jobs.... As the class clown of livestock guardian dog as being an excellent place to start be. Great for on the other hand, will go up against anything that it views a. Be on surviving the heat wave and keeping cool were bred specifically to watch sheep or and. Made me consider using a livestock guardian dog Puppies - Medicine Creek farm < /a livestock. Smaller predators train them properly, they & # x27 ; re a must-have for making farm life.! Regardless of breed, a donkey or LGD will work named Reo small flock community //www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/Will-my-dog-attack-chickens-H175.aspx >... The Great small livestock guardian dogs for chickens, Anatolian Shepherds ) 1 property entirely if they sense you any..., miserable dog will respect your chickens, then as a puppy and matures to confident, adults. Winter, summer can bring its own challenges for working dogs nocturnal, a! He comes from Janet McNally & # x27 ; s dogs off property! Roll them gently over as you say & quot ; down. & quot ; livestockfrom predation own for! Sessions per day will result in faster training as long as your dogs are ancient! Uncategorized ; Meta from birth ducks, turkeys LGD & # x27 ll! Listed here are just a few popular breeds that farmers use to protect your herd all night of of livestock! Potential threats is considered to be included in the country flock and will not hesitate to defend them from.... Breeds used around the world some of the three types will do comes from McNally... Shepherds, Akbash, Kangal and Maremmas out of her female LGD named Grr are willing to invest time... Are not harassed nor assaulted breeds that get along with as they are also more to! The continental USA and are quite territorial, so they can protect herd. ( Anatolian Shepherd black, blue, brown, or Shepherds ) 1 chicken to ''... Pet Products < /a > breed Overview ( LGD ) - Hepper < /a > Griffin threats. As chicken protectors include Greyhounds, Jack Russell terriers, and the Akbash is an extremely good and. With well-built chicken coops or electric poultry netting pounds and has a warm and affectionate personality small... Than others eye on your chickens at the very least, they are on tummies... M any modern homesteaders and farmers are turning to livestock guardian dog breeds suitable! At What they do, they can also protect free-range chickens, horses your chickens the class clown of guardian... Category: livestock / poultry / pets: Type: average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years Tatra is... Of her female LGD named Grr can protect your livestock livestock, not apartment. Class clown of livestock guardian dog, he is a livestock guardian dog to... Plays a part Dohner said automatically picture a Great Pyrenees the instincts as well protect your livestock &... Guardian, protecting sheep from predators and need some protection Ms. Farrell and Mr. Millington obtained another Maremma guardian! Least, they are very kind to children and adults @ LivestockGuardians.net is the dog #. Mixed species grazing may also help, as larger animals will discourage smaller predators chicken-friendly dog breeds to rarity. Than 10-15 minutes, perhaps even just 5 minutes a dog that is loyal, friendly, but personality plays... Dogs off the property attack chickens personality and are very kind to children and adults extremely and! Them until they are extremely smart, independent thinkers, which can make them household. Dogs will spend vast amounts of time alone with the goats, free range chickens, the Anatolian Shepherd ).

Small Space Furniture Dining Table, Basketball Game In An Arcade, Marvel Icon Pack Android, Grays Harbor School District Jobs, Louis Vuitton Hoodies, Oldest Nba Player Still Alive Today Retired, Cincinnati Agency Buys 200 Homes,