Australian Shepherd as a Poultry guard dog?

[SkyBlueJar]

Since AS aren't up to the task - what breed of medium-sized dog could do a good job of keeping chickens safe from predators?

 

[IAFarmGirl]

Since AS aren't up to the task - what breed of medium-sized dog could do a good job of keeping chickens safe from predators?

I wouldn't say that AS can't to the job but they are very similar to borders and so have some of the same issues. The right one would make an excellent LGD but you could also consider a lab, retriever, prynees, newfoundland, heeler, or a combination of any of these. Regardless of the breed it is more about the training than anything. It's just that for some dogs the LGD comes naturally.

 

[Backyard Bob]

I have worked with Aussies my whole life. I know how to train them! I think I'll give it a go with one of my females!

 

[KMSonthecoast]

I have a Border collie from a purebred mom and we think an Aussie or Heeler dad...he is a great chicken guardian to keep the eagles/Hawks/raccoons away...but I am not sure he would keep other dos away (he would more likely pay with them...)

 

[NCChickLovers]

We have an Aussie and she's our Chicken guard during the day. We will start leaving her out with them at night when we have the coop built, but until then, we keep the girls in the tool shed (one of those really nice ones with the vinyl siding and the garage door). but she does a good job. She's never been trained to do any kind of herding or anything, so it really came as a surprise when she started to just lay there an keep her eyes on them. It's really cute to watch, too. When one gets too far away from the rest, she's start whining and walking back and forth between the loner and the rest of the flock. I have videos of her making sure they're ok. And, they love her.

 

[centrarchid]

You can train many dogs to be aggressive. I inadvertently did with so respect to delivery trucks (UPS that kept tearing up driveway) and neighbors car that to me drives too fast. Dogs quickly pickup on what you are unhappy with and get unhappy too and go after problem. With predators at night, every time birds got riled I got up in a bluster fetching gun and flashlite, then headed out to the ruckus. Dog thought that was very fun and started doing it even when I did not go. At some point dogs start listening to birds very closely.

 

[happyfrenchman]

I have an Aussie, have had him for years... he is a great dog and I love him as much as one could, but as a full time flock guardian, he would not be very effective... he does patrol the property and his presence I believe is a deterrent to many predators. He is even cognizant of Hawks... However he would just as soon be in the house in the Air Conditioning. Or playing ball. The chickens... he loves them and is very motherly and gentle with them, but if he were left out there with only the chickens for company, he would not be happy. He is too social. He does bark at strangers etc... but not as a flock guardian... as a flock companion yes... I would trust him with even the tiniest chicks... and his presence in the yard is a form of guardianship. But not full time. They are great dogs however and I would recommend them for someone with chickens because they are shepherd dogs.

 

[redstar14]

Mine is a ok guard better than collie

 

[centrarchid]

I have an Aussie, have had him for years... he is a great dog and I love him as much as one could, but as a full time flock guardian, he would not be very effective... he does patrol the property and his presence I believe is a deterrent to many predators. He is even cognizant of Hawks... However he would just as soon be in the house in the Air Conditioning. Or playing ball. The chickens... he loves them and is very motherly and gentle with them, but if he were left out there with only the chickens for company, he would not be happy. He is too social. He does bark at strangers etc... but not as a flock guardian... as a flock companion yes... I would trust him with even the tiniest chicks... and his presence in the yard is a form of guardianship. But not full time. They are great dogs however and I would recommend them for someone with chickens because they are shepherd dogs.

Your dog does not sound too different from mine. My dogs spend bulk of time at house which is centrally located with respect to flocks. They are also partial to the air-conditioner but they seem able to hear the birds 125 yards from house very easily and rush out whenever birds get riled. My dogs do go out and patrol regularly. They don't have to bump heads with predator every time, rather they simply let predator know they are present and give an occasional chase. Kills these days are relatively infrequent even though dogs run the bad guys regularly. They do not behave like guardians of sheep and goats where the latter types of dogs are likely not to be as effective as mine are when protecting an area supporting dispersed flocks.

 

[Sophia5]

Apparently a good type of guard dog is a Jack Russel if you keep it chained up near the chicken house.