Anything to stop a dog from killing chickens??

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ssledoux

ssledoux

Songster
12 Years
Mar 14, 2007
101
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139
Okay, I'm a bit concerned. We have a boxer that is WAY to interested in the chickens I brought home today. I haven't gotten my chicks yet, but my sister gave me 1/2 dozen year-old hens for eggs (mine all got killed last summer).

When he was still a pup, this boxer killed a single chicken. One night ALL of my chickens got killed (but we know it wasn't him because he was locked up in his crate). I figure that was dogs, and it was partly my fault for not locking up the fort knox pen they sleep in.

Anyway, after that happened I swore off chickens because I hated finding them like that. Of course, it's been a while and I miss having them so I am starting over.

Now I find myself with a year-old boxer that I KNOW will kill any that escape the pasture (and they do eek out or fly over the fence sometimes).

Is there anything I can do? I love this dog, but I really, really want to keep my chickens!
 
get the dog used to the chickens and vice versa..

Constant supervision on lead everytime you go out to feed them, immediate corrections when he show interest in them.
 
I know you probably can't do this but if you put a dog with a flock of geese that has goslings the Geese will peck it, and after that the dog will leave anything with feathers alone.
 
i empathize with you. it's hard. how is your obedience training going in general? i had to work intensely with my young dog when i lived at a place with free-rangers, and was able to get her to leave the chickens alone. it takes a long time and daily sessions and consistent corrections. based on the dog's solid basic level of obedience and respect for you, which is being established in that first year. and punishing with isolation/separation from you and the fun when it shows inappropriate attitude towards the chickens...and unfortunately, the risk that it might slip up during the training and get one of your little darlings. you might want just want to fence the chickens in a tractor or run, to protect everyone from heartbreak. but it is possible to train the dog, if you are up for the challenge. i've heard stories of dogs with high prey drives being trained to be friends with their chickens. good luck!
 
We have a year old boxer mix. She killed one of our hens when it escaped several months ago. She is way too interested in the birds all the time. The birds are penned to keep the dog out, not the birds in!.

She is getting better, but we always supervise her. We have our youngest chicks in the house and I think that has helped a bit. But, she would chase one in a heart beat. She's not trying to be mean. She thinks it's a game.

The hen died of shock more than any injury.

Just be careful and always supervise the dog. It's a pain, but it's just what you have to do if you want to keep the dog and the chickens.
 
Spend more time with your dog, take him on a LONG walk every day, he needs exercise and boxers are VERY high strung and need LOT'S of exercise, letting him out in a back yard is not enough, he needs walks and stimulation, do some basic obedience training with him, ig you stimulate him then he won't be as dead set on your chickens. Be firm with the dog, you are the pack leader and you must control him.
 
p.s I have two brittany's and I take them out for an hour and half every day, a lot of people get dogs and become or already are 'lazy' owners, most dogs were developed for a purpose of doing work, put your dog to work, if you do not have time and patience for him then find him a home that will
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