Blue Heelers - Will they kill my chickens?

[cbohn80]

yep, unfortunately most herders are breed not to attack sheep, chickens and ducks are fair game in their minds

 

[BigDaddy'sGurl]

Didn't read all the replies, but will say that the only real "massacre" I've had to endure that left me with multiple beloved birds killed was at the jaws of a blue heeler.

Not saying they are all like that, but in my case it was not a good situation for the neighbors to have that dog. Luckily, after a couple of complaints and having to replace the birds with comparable birds from their own flock, they rehomed the dog to a non-chicken owning family.

 

[dainerra]

the breed really doesn't matter. Dogs think that chickens are toys. They run, make funny noises, flop all over the place. POUNCE. Bird is crushed, but there are 5 more still running around so on to the next one. Some dogs will never bother the birds, others will stop at nothing to get to them. Some will just drool on them, some will chew on them. A few will even actually eat them, but not as many as you would think. Most just play too rough and then drop them when the toy is "broken"

Ask your neighbor to help you. Start now when the dogs are pups and teach them to ignore the birds. Just a few minutes of work every day and you will know that your birds are safe. Put the dogs 1 at a time on leash and take them to where they notice the birds. Tell them "leave it" and give a pop on the leash. The second they look at you, say "YES" in a happy voice and give them a treat. Once they are comfortable at this distance, then move closer. If they lose interest in you and focus only on the birds, back up and start again. Eventually, you will take off the leash. The goal is that the dogs just ignore the birds. You don't need to make the dogs afraid or to avoid the birds.

Of course, this is going to take cooperation with your neighbor. He needs to make sure that the pups are kept confined, otherwise they will discover the chickens on their own. Of course, if he is responsible, he will already plan on keeping them confined. The easiest way to train good habits is to prevent the bad ones.

Since these are puppies and don't live with you, I would work with them on occasion, even once they are reliable. Since they are pups, they are going to go through phases of disobedience like any kid. Periodic training sessions will help keep them on track. Once the dogs are about a year old, then they will be pretty reliable.

 

[babyrnlc]

My mom has a blue healer. She is the smartest sweetest dog ever. She is like a human. I swear she understands everything we say. WE share the same property. When we first got chickens we lost 4 chicks to one of our dogs and I suspect her. (the lab was too fat to get inside the coop door)

I can leave my german shepherd mix outside with my girls all day while they free range and we never have an issue (my lab must be locked up, she wants to chase and play with the chickens.)

Clair (the blue healer) is fine if we are right there with her. She will nip at them and we have to scold her and she will leave them alone. She is VERY interested in the chickens and watches them closely. Annie (the gsd mix) ignores them for the most part (unless I have been inside for a while and come out, then she proceeds to herd them into the coop, I guess she figures it must be bedtime if I am coming out)

 

[kuntrygirl]

Well, I didn't see the dogs out roaming this morning when I left, so maybe they are locked up. My neighbors are the best neighbors in the world. I have been knowing them since I was 3 years old. We were the first families (our parents) to move in this particular rural area 40 years ago, so we have NEVER EVER had any problems. I'm sure they will keep the dogs on their property. I was just curious in the event something happens (as someone noted) and they get loose what could happen. Someone mentioned about dogs climbing fences and I know that dogs do climb fences. I had a pit bull years ago and she could climb a fence AND a tree, so I have seen it happen with my own eyes. I do have my chickens in a fence but anything is possible and the dog could get in. I don't rule anything out.

 

[coyotesmommy]

Quote:
excellent advice.
but never leave the dogs and chickens out unattened. just like small children they will forget what they have been taught and in less than a 1 minute you will have a dead chicken or as the dog sees it a broken toy.

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
very true!! that comes under "stopping habits before they start"

Chasing chickens is a self-rewarding behavior. There is a huge payoff in fun whenever a bird runs squawking from the dog, so even one time of chasing will take weeks to train out.

 

[P-Funk]

As a land surveyor I have run into countless dogs in my day. Blue heelers are the only ones who actually bit me. Be afraid. Those little squirts should have kept to Austrailia.

 

[NatureBoy86]

It all depends on the individual dogs personality. Some WILL kill chickens, some wont. I have 2 pits, one will chase and hold my free range chickens, the other would never chase or attack unless instructed to. No tricks or methods will change a dogs will

 

[bambi]

herding dogs can be the worst, keep your fences secure and periodically put cayenne pepper around your borders. dogs hate the pepper and a few good sniffs will deter him for good

I disagree with this statement. I have 2 Border Collies and neither one has ever tried to snap, chase the chickens. They help put them up at night and they take their job very seriously......any harassment toward them and there will be trouble ,just ask the our cat she sported missing fur for several months for traying to stalk the chickens. many possums have lost their lives to my herding dogs