Best Chicken Guard dog

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote:
This is my first year with chickens. Chance is 11yo. I let him smell and see the chicks in the brooder and supervised him when the chicks were out 10-16weeks. If he looked like he was going to show interest, I redirected him by saying his name. With my second batch of chicks now8.5 weeks, he doesn't show any interest. He actually follows the big kids around and eats their poo.

 

[tjbeckman]

I have a couple Mini Doxies, I am going to see how they do with our birds. I will have to keep an eye on them since they are a hunting type dog but I am hoping that they just want to play....we will see....

 

[greatblueheron]

This is my first year with chickens. Chance is 11yo. I let him smell and see the chicks in the brooder and supervised him when the chicks were out 10-16weeks. If he looked like he was going to show interest, I redirected him by saying his name. With my second batch of chicks now8.5 weeks, he doesn't show any interest. He actually follows the big kids around and eats their poo.

I'm very new with chickens as well. My chickens are a little older but my dog has never been around them. I bet mine will eat their poo too. Thanks for the reply and hello from across the Willamette!

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I whole heartedly believe it is all about training and much less about breed. Pick a dog that fits your overall lifestyle and that you know you can care for well. Work on great basic training and introduce the birds and the dogs overtime. Work on it everyday - it going to be a process. Make sure your dog is not bored or under exercised - that will make everything more difficult.

You may also want to consider checking out local shelters and visiting the dogs and seeing if any click well if you and your family. They even have puppies if you really want a puppy but sometimes a little bit older dog is more calm from the start.

Here is my pit mix shelter dog, she is one of three rescues I have around my flock.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote :
I have 7 month old hens and a rooster, 3 9 week old pullets and 3 eggs under a broody, and going to be putting 4 day old silkies under the broody when the eggs hatch. Like ChickensRDinos says, it is all about training. Invest lots of time to training.

 

[3riverschick]

I have a backyard coop. I have Rhode Island Reds. 2 hens and 1 rooster. I was thinking about getting a dog to protect the chickens because we have a lot of coyotes and foxes here. What would you suggest? I was thinking Pyr, but I was hoping to get something a little smaller and wouldn't eat me out of house and home. Any help is much appreciated!
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How about one of those Old Scotch collies. http://www.oldtimefarmshepherd.org/ http://www.scotchcollie.org/
This breed tends to be farm raised. and available in the US. Look for the name Gina Bisco. She is very active with these dogs.
They work like collies but are smaller. poultry guardian story: http://www.scotchcollie.org/2012/04/scotch-collie-puppies-in-georgia/

Best,
Karen

 

[happysongbird]

I have always heard to never leave a dog alone with the chickens. I have an Australian Shepherd mix who is about 6 years old. She is well trained, but sleeps in the house at night. How would I train her to guard during the day?

 

[kian]

I am reeeeeally happy with my Great Pyrenees. At first I thought he'd want to guard them from the "inside" as it were, he's ended being really great.


Though he does enjoy a game of chicken bowling every now and again!

 

[acooper2011]

I have a 4 month old Great Pyr. and he is awesome. He already lays wherever my hens are and watches. They jump all over him. Also, he is really low maintenance for a large breed.

 

[AlleysFarm]

I have a border collie/aussie mix who is great around all the farm critters. although he does like to try to herd the goat and the ducks.