Chicken Guard Dogs

[crazychickenlady1997]

Hey all,

I'm planning on getting two Texas Heeler puppies (5 mo) this week as overall farm/guard/cattle dogs. I'd like to start free ranging my chickens. So my question is, has anyone trained their dog to guard their chickens? Any advice helps!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, hope you are enjoying BYC!

My suggestion will be... it's easier to train ONE pup at a time and I wouldn't get 2 of the same age ever again.

I don't know what a "Texas" heeler pup is... mine are Australian.

I'm sure you will get lot's of helpful suggestions for your training though. Best wishes!

 

[crazychickenlady1997]

Hi, hope you are enjoying BYC!

My suggestion will be... it's easier to train ONE pup at a time and I wouldn't get 2 of the same age ever again.

I don't know what a "Texas" heeler pup is... mine are Australian.

I'm sure you will get lot's of helpful suggestions for your training though. Best wishes!

Thanks!

Maybe Texas Heeler is just a southern term... lol. Its a Australian cattle dog/Australian shepherd mix

 

[Sara Ranch]

It's a lot of work. But it can be done. My dogs alert me when the chickens go into the trees, when one is not doing well/odd behavior, and has herded them when they ventured to a space they don't normally go. They have never hurt or killed any of the guineas, chickens, ducks, or turkeys.

That's not to say they won't in the future, but in the time I have worked with them, they have continually improved. I don't let them run free with the birds, but there are times that Houdini and his sister get out to be WITH the birds.

I continue to work with the dogs. I do the training one dog at a time. Except when new birds/animals come to the ranch. Then I take the new birds/animals to the dogs (who are in their outside room) and let them smell the birds. I tell them the birds name (if there is one - some of the animals I adopt have no names) and tell the dogs to "protect".

 

[MargaretAnneHK]

My Neapolitan Mastiff is wonderful with my chickens. However she has been " involved" with them from the time they were eggs in the incubator, and then brooder, her nose into everything. She thinks they are HERS. One at a time IS easier to work with but with a LOT of perseverence you can make it work with two.

 

[llombardo]

I have 7 dogs. None will have direct access to the chickens or ducks, but they know they belong. I am confident without training they would alert me to a predator, a fight and evena sick one. A couple wouldn't hurt them if in contact and I would have to heavily train the ones with prey drive. That training has started. All I want is neutral. We are doing well so far, the ducks quack away and there is no reaction from the dogs. I want no reaction when the dogs see or hear them, unless they are in need. I feel that the dogs will be able to tell the difference.

 

[chickens really]

Training is easy. I have 5 Dogs. 3 workers. Maremma, Golden Retriever/Aussie and a Yorkshire Terrier that Wrangles Birds. All trained around the Birds as Pups. Basic training needs to be in place before trusting them alone with the Birds.
Best wishes. All dogs love a job to do...