Chickens and dogs coexisting?????

[Harestad Farm]

anyone have any luck getting chickens and dogs to coexist... specifically large breed dogs ... like Huskies... I have 2 beautiful huskies and 7 chickens and would love to introduce them and get them to play /live freely together ..... but when the chickens are out in there pen and the dogs are out in the yard the dogs get a real hungry look on their face... so ive been scared to even try

 

[Mraya]

I have 3 dogs 2 Rotti /German Shepherd crosses and one Jack Russell X
Even though I introduced them to each other when my birds were chicks I still was afraid that they would attack my chickens. They had the same look as your dog does. I started to free range about a month ago. I brought my dogs out one at a time and on leash to see what would happen. I let them sniff the birds (My chickens didn't run away from them) Turns out they had no interest in the chickens but they wanted to get into the run.

I had mice that the dogs where after in the run to which they quickly got rid of.

My Chickens and my dogs get along fine. I think my dogs are a little afraid of them.

Picture a 100 lb dog backing down from a little silkie roo.

Go slow.
My dogs have a high prey drive but they don't bother the chickens.
Plus I am always out with them.
They are all off leash now and more interested in eating the chicken poo then chasing after chickens.

 

[Pork Pie]

There are lots of threads on the topic. Here's a link to a search I've just done https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=dogs and chickens&tab=618

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Huskies would be a no. Too high a prey drive.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Huskies would be a no. Too high a prey drive.

I have to agree. Huskies are probably one of the top dogs that I see listed at shelters with notes like "Absolutely no cats" "No small animals in household" etc. due to a high prey drive and being stubbornly independent as well. For the same reason huskies usually require fenced yards or a leash.

 

[8 Chicks 1967]

Our yellow Lab loves his girls. Heck, they sit on him..lol. Our toy poodle and maltase would take one out in a heart beat.

 

[turtlelaura67]

I would not trust either my lab or my coonhound with chickens. And absolutely not a husky. I worked at an animal shelter for years and the previous comment is correct - every time a husky was turned in we were told "no cats."

That being said, I think my dogs make a distinction between "their" cats and other cats. There's no doubt in my mind that if they saw a cat outside, they would kill it. But they love mine. And I'll never forget the Great Dane we had at the shelter, turned in because she attacked and killed the neighbor's Chihuahua. She LIVED with a Chihuahua, who was her best buddy.

I wouldn't take the chance, myself.

 

[1cock2hens]

I have 3 pitbulls and an english bulldog, all known for having high prey drive, that all get a long with my chickens. they will walk along side by side and even go exploring together in the woods ..

 

[Folly's place]

It's about training, and time spent. Lots of training and time!!!
Huskies might be more difficult than Golden Retrievers! Look at the threads about training dogs to accept/ avoid your chickens, and go for it.
Or, make sure they are NEVER together!
Mary

 

[Better Than Rubies]

Only you know your dogs; we don't. Do they seem to get along and be gentle with little critters?
My sister has a Retriever who's good with my mice and all animals that she's met (except little bugs). But one time she escaped out the door, and chased my neighbor's Japanese rooster in our yard (man, I've never seen him fly before and it was kind of cool!, I mean, he literally flew directly past my face), and it was scary to watch...especially knowing he wasn't our chicken. But if she'd have caught up to him, would she have done anything? I don't know. I would like to think she wouldn't have, because she's really sweet and gentle, and I think all she wanted to actually do was get to know them, because she's not been able to get real close to them before and check them out.
Now, keep observing carefully and if you feel comfortable enough, it might be okay to let them check them out closer...but take extreme caution. I'm kind of with @ChickenCanoe, as they do seem to have higher prey drives, is what I've read, too.