Chicken compatible dog breed

[aladatrot]

OK, I couldn't help but put up a couple more pics....

M

 

[La Banan]

nice looking dogs! And good pics!
It seems to me that shepherding dogs would be better because they are bred to guard and herd. My sharpei/lab mix wants to eat them sooooo...bad. Next time I'll get a herder type but one that isn't as crazed as a border collie. Yours look fabulous.
jan la banan

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Golden Retreiver. Mine was great. She would lay next to the chick brooder and watch them. And if one of the chicks got out, she would stay there with it until we came and put it back in.

 

[aladatrot]

On Border Collies - they are so smart, but just wound up a little tighter than my laid back Aussies. They are, however, worked on ducks as well as cattle and sheep. I wouldn't discount them as a choice if you were able to find a good breeder with a little more laid back collies for duck and sheep work. Sometimes those "gritty" dogs used on cattle come by it genetically.

I think Shar Peis were bred as hunting dogs, possibly for the procurement of Asiatic Lion? I can imagine that the hunting drive is pretty strong in them and that the chickens wouldn't be too safe :O)

We have hunting dogs as well - curs and bulldogs. To keep them legged up, I have a horse walker that they snap to on nights when they aren't hunting. That walker is near a fence line right next to my chicken coop. The curs are pretty well broken off of non game animals and pay the hens no mind. Those bulldogs are another story. If given the opportunity, they would be eating chicken every night. Not because they are mean or anything, but just because their prey drive is so strong and a bully is always hungry. The younger of the two gets his feelings hurt when I yell at him for coveting chickens.

Incidentally, we bought the chickens for the hunting dogs. We figured the eggs would be a good supplement for them nutritionally. When hunting, they might cover 15 to 20 miles in a single evening. We had to get enough chickens to ensure an egg for each dog daily.

M

 

[BFeathered]

I have to agree that terriers and hunting/hound-type dogs would take more intensive training to keep them from bothering chickens. My Ridgeback is nutso to "Play" with mine, but the Airedale terrier is more interested in squirrels usually. If I can just convince the Ridgeback that the chickens aren't lions....? Anyone have any opionions on the spaniel family? They're somewhat smaller and lighter-structured, maybe less prey-driven?

 

[animal nut]

We have 2 toy poodles and a great pyreness. All my dogs are great with the chickens. My little male toy actually herded one of our escaped chickens back.. I believe their behavior has to do with their training. They have known from the start the chickens are off limits when it comes to hurting them. No is a great word for dogs.

 

[QuailHollow]

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[QuailHollow]

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[aladatrot]

Quote:
Wow, you have two very prey driven pooches! I have a friend who used a purebred Airedale to hunt wild boar! He looked like someone's house pet out in the woods, but he was very serious about his job!

That same friend of mine also has a flock of layers and some yokohamas and habben spitzen (sp?). Somehow her hens are able to scratch around in her kennel yard with some of her hunting dogs when she lets the hens out to forage about. I'm not that brave, but then again she has a very good handle on her prey driven dogs.
M

 

[Chickenaddict]

We recently adopted a 6 year old australian blue heeler with NO previous training. The previous owners kept her locked in a kennel alot. I have had her less then 2 months and i gotta tell ya i was scared when she ran after the chickens once and just by chance i screamed out "leave it" she did and came running back to me. I let her out in the yard (supervized of course) while the chickens are free ranging and she is fine with them. The only thing shes concerned about when outside is her frisbie and doing her "business". SHe plays with and licks the cat with no problems. She is a very smart dog and excellent with my 4 yr old nephew in fact they sleep together when he visits for the weekend. When i lock the chickens up at night she goes with and walks around the run like she is making sure they are all in and not hiding under a bush or in a tree for the night. She does however require alot of excercise and mental stimulation or she chews blankets lol but hey id rather her chew blankets then chew on one of my chickens.