Any Dog Breed good for guarding free range chickens?

[Bear Foot Farm]

I would recommend against the marema, based upon a friend's experience and other things I have read about that breed. I will recommend for a great pyrannese, based upon another friend's experience with hers, and for the anatolian shepherds based upon long term posts by someone on another chicken forum.

You can't judge a breed based on one individual

Personally , I wouldn't recommend ANY of the TRUE LGD breeds for "free ranging".
They are notorious for wandering.
They shouldn't be raised as "yard dogs".

Don't confuse "guarding" behavior with "territorial" behavior.

Most any dog will defend it's territory, and since chickens never roam very far, any "yard dog" that doesn't bother the birds will "protect" them
Just don't kid yourself into thinking the dog is truly concerned about the birds.​

 

[JoJo 95]

I guess my next question probably seems obvious, but, is it best to get a puppy and raise it with the chickens - as opposed to vice versa?

The best thing to do is get a young puppy. Now to some people this may seem cruel but this is just partt of a dog's survival instinct. Get a pretty mean rooster and let the puppy chase it. After getting his butt kicked a few times introduce him to a smaller, nicer chicken and let him learn that the chickens won't bother him if he doesnt bother them. This usually works.​

 

[nzpouter]

any breed as long as they are well trained can guard your chickens... we use bull terriers and pitbuls... we prefer the predators not to leave when they come....

 

[ekemily]

haha... love the pigs.. lookin for a hand-out much?

 

[noodleroo]

I love how the pigs seem to 'know' not to cross the threshold. Looks like lots of love at your house....

 

[MammaMoose]

I love the "guard" pigs. My collie lays down outside their run. I don't let them play together, though. Dog thinks my girls are chase toys...or really big doggie treats.

 

[PorterinCT]

I would be careful with leaving ANY breed out on its own in a heavily infested coyote country... I live in
Connecticut in the burbs and several LARGE dogs have been killed by coyotes in neighboring towns (golden,
collie, gray hound). A horse was even attacked a few years back. Coyote's hunt in packs and are very, very clever.
The Golden that got killed was a mere 30 feet from the house and the poor owner witnessed the whole tragic thing.

I have a Pembrook Welsh Corgi that is great with my free range Guinea hens, but I would never allow him
to be outside unattended. Remember, most dogs with a high pray drive with will hunt possums, raccoons, etc
will have a hard time controlling in around chickens. Occasionally, my Pemmy's herding instinct kicks in
when the male guineas are chasing each other and he runs after them to "control his flock".

We just lost a guinea to a red tail hawk at high noon in the middle of the day when I was 30 feet away -
no dog could have prevented that attack!

I think taking the precautions of locking your flock up at night, and perhaps, installing a hotwire around your
property may help

Good luck!

 

[noodleroo]

Quote:
I worried that my collie might think they were 'squeeky toys' but she understood that they were 'mine'. They're bigger now and they still like to lay right next to her...

 

[PepsNick]

I have a Havenese. You probably haven't heard of them, but they are good dog guards for my 5 chickens and Haveneses were used as old-time chicken protecters and herders when you want your chickens to go inside. My havenese never hurts my chickens.

 

[PepsNick]

And yes, pigs also.