Can a 3 year old husky be taught to not attack chickens?

[Sire12]

I was given an almost 3 year old female husky from an older couple who couldn't look after her any more, I have a flock of 14 hens in a large backyard and already have a jack russel and Doberman who were taught to respect the hens, but since huskies have such high prey drives I'm not sure if I could let her outside unleashed, has anyone had success keeping a husky and chickens together? I know they say that they have very high prey drives but then so do jack russels and mine has never shown any aggression to the hens

 

[sourland]

The only dog I had that could never be trusted around fowl was a shepherd/husky cross. She was smart and would behave when I was present, but you could see her trembling with desire to chase/kill. Good luck with her as they are great dogs otherwise.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

So, yes and no. I have a husky that has chomped a few chickens in her day.

She didn't learn how not to chomp chickens 'til she was about 4-5 years old. And she ABSOLUTELY cannot be trusted around them. She requires CONSTANT monitoring around the chickens if there's no barrier between the two. But at this point she can be left out with just plastic bird netting between her and a bird and it's not a concern and she won't chase them if I'm there and there's no barrier.

But that is only because she now has a new job to put those instincts towards. She's learned to hunt vermin in the lawn - mice, rats, voles, groundhogs, etc. Without that task she would be hunting the chickens to this day, and she DOES still hunt the rabbits.

Prior to that she killed several chickens over the course of a few years. Any time a chicken slipped its fence it was as good as dead if she went out. Now she sees them, looks at me, and then goes to hunt rodents in the tall grass, completely leaving them alone even when I go to pick the bird up and toss it back into the pen.

It really depends on the dog. Obviously any dog could be a risk. A dog with a strong instinct to kill small animals can be redirected but not easily suppressed. A dog that just wants to play and chase but not kill can be taught patience and given appropriate toys. And some dogs don't care at all (the one in the background here ignores the chickens almost entirely). It's up to you to figure out which your dog is and then you can learn how to mitigate the risks thereafter based on that behavior.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I was given an almost 3 year old female husky from an older couple who couldn't look after her any more, I have a flock of 14 hens in a large backyard and already have a jack russel and Doberman who were taught to respect the hens, but since huskies have such high prey drives I'm not sure if I could let her outside unleashed, has anyone had success keeping a husky and chickens together? I know they say that they have very high prey drives but then so do jack russels and mine has never shown any aggression to the hens

I am afraid you will spark a lot of interest and comments on here from several folks. This could be a huge can of worms actually that you may not have wanted opened. However, I want to tell you upfront that I love dogs. I have two of my own and am adopting another this week. I have owned dogs for over forty years. I have owned huskies in the past also. I will not own them again either for lots of reasons and one being their prey drive and I have chickens. You will most likely not train that out of a Husky. I would not ever trust her off leash around my chickens or even small dogs. I would not trust her around any small animal or herding animal such as goats or your neighbors cows they don’t want herded or ran. All are not aggressive but many are. It’s up to you but if you value these animals and birds you should never test her or give her the option if you don’t want regrets. I am not kidding and that is why I am not mincing my words. It is nothing against the breed. They have their place like all breeds and they are beautiful dogs. Mine saved my life one time
And I will never forget him for doing it. He also is the only one of my dogs that bit me
And sent me To the hospital. That’s neither here nor there but just be careful. They are not to be trusted around chickens. No way.

 

[Glaser Coop]

I have 3 dogs my adult 11 yo dalmatian immediately killed 2 of my chicks (mind you I didnt know they were out) I have a 8 yo chihuaha mix and she doesn't really care she might chase them but thats it, but most of the time she minds her own businiess. Finally my year in a half pitbull mix, well I worked with him everyday for months and now he will chase them if they start to run; but as soon as I yell his name he stops in his tracks and lays down with his tail between his legs. My dalmatian just can't be out when they are free ranging and that is something I just know and have that feeling...I tried but his predator instinct is to stuck in his ways. You can tell by your dogs behavior and temperment. I worked with them on a leash for 6 months and only succeeded with 2 out of 3...My old man just has to stay inside when they are out and the birds are ok with just seeing him through a window.

 

[HappyClucker7]

I would never leave the dog alone with the chickens. You could try teaching her the "leave it" command. That might help you control her a little better.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

So, yes and no. I have a husky that has chomped a few chickens in her day.

View attachment 2323665

She didn't learn how not to chomp chickens 'til she was about 4-5 years old. And she ABSOLUTELY cannot be trusted around them. She requires CONSTANT monitoring around the chickens if there's no barrier between the two. But at this point she can be left out with just plastic bird netting between her and a bird and it's not a concern and she won't chase them if I'm there and there's no barrier.

But that is only because she now has a new job to put those instincts towards. She's learned to hunt vermin in the lawn - mice, rats, voles, groundhogs, etc. Without that task she would be hunting the chickens to this day, and she DOES still hunt the rabbits.

Prior to that she killed several chickens over the course of a few years. Any time a chicken slipped its fence it was as good as dead if she went out. Now she sees them, looks at me, and then goes to hunt rodents in the tall grass, completely leaving them alone even when I go to pick the bird up and toss it back into the pen.

It really depends on the dog. Obviously any dog could be a risk. A dog with a strong instinct to kill small animals can be redirected but not easily suppressed. A dog that just wants to play and chase but not kill can be taught patience and given appropriate toys. And some dogs don't care at all (the one in the background here ignores the chickens almost entirely). It's up to you to figure out which your dog is and then you can learn how to mitigate the risks thereafter based on that behavior.

Exactly! My husky could slip up on a possum, raccoon, armadillo, Skunk, stray cats, or any other size-able rodent that came into his fenced in area to get his dog food and he would snap its neck in one strike and leave it laying there as a gift for dear old Mom in the morning when I came to see him for play time. He was so quiet they never heard him coming. I don’t know how a dog could be that quiet to sneak up on some of those animals but he really was great at it. Amazed us. Like a box of chocolates we never knew what we were going to get!lol!

 

[thepick4uchicks]

I have 3 dogs my adult 11 yo dalmatian immediately killed 2 of my chicks (mind you I didnt know they were out) I have a 8 yo chihuaha mix and she doesn't really care she might chase them but thats it, but most of the time she minds her own businiess. Finally my year in a half pitbull mix, well I worked with him everyday for months and now he will chase them if they start to run; but as soon as I yell his name he stops in his tracks and lays down with his tail between his legs. My dalmatian just can't be out when they are free ranging and that is something I just know and have that feeling...I tried but his predator instinct is to stuck in his ways. You can tell by your dogs behavior and temperment. I worked with them on a leash for 6 months and only succeeded with 2 out of 3...My old man just has to stay inside when they are out and the birds are ok with just seeing him through a window.

Poor old gentleman. He can’t come out and rule his roost Mama!

 

[RShayne]

I would not trust a husky unsupervised around small animals and supervised means on a leash. Has to know the basics even on a leash. Basics: Heal, Crate, Come, No, Free, Hurry Up, Out, Leave It, Up, Down, Place, and teach Sit last - Sorry was raised in the show ring.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Exactly! My husky could slip up on a possum, raccoon, armadillo, Skunk, stray cats, or any other size-able rodent that came into his fenced in area to get his dog food and he would snap its neck in one strike and leave it laying there as a gift for dear old Mom in the morning when I came to see him for play time. He was so quiet they never heard him coming. I don’t know how a dog could be that quiet to sneak up on some of those animals but he really was great at it. Amazed us. Like a box of chocolates we never knew what we were going to get!lol!

Mine is horrifying, frankly. She moves at a snails pace toddling around slowly most of the day, totally harmless until it's Go Time. When she sees something she charges in lightning fast, grabs it by the back of the neck and beats it on the ground as hard as she can until it stops moving. Then she drops it and walks up to me tail wagging. It's over in a flash and it's so violent. She doesn't even try to chase unless she KNOWS she can get it. She tries to sneak up on it like a cat instead. And she doesn't try to eat them either. The goal is very clear.

Mind you this dog is great with small dogs and children and disabled people and old folks. She moves so slow most of the time, like she just can't be bothered to go faster. She lets kids pull her fur and ears and give her hugs and lay on her. And my sisters cavalier king Charles spaniel was her best friend as a puppy, and she gets along swimmingly with my other sisters chinese crested. But not-dogs are not-friends. She has tried to fight hawks, deer and even horses before. Every dog is unique in how they're going to handle things.

But huskies 100% have a killer streak and must be handled with care. Once you know where their limits REALLY are (are they just chasers or are they killers? And towards what?) it's much easier to assess how to move forward.