Dogs are predators by nature. Your particular breed was bred for bird hunting. However, it doesnt necessarily mean that they will eat your chickens. Much depends on how well you know your animal, training, temperment and how you introduce the chicks to the dogs. Some dogs have a high prey drive. If yours loves to chase small animals or birds, then you must be diligent about having them around the chicks. Training is key. The most important command that I taught my lab was the leave it command. It has saved him more than once before he got into something. I introduced him to the chicks by allowing him to see and smell them but no licking! If he fixated on them or the brooder box, he got an immediate correction (leave it). When the chicks got older and I put them outside for a while in the wire dog kennel, he would go outside as well. I allowed him to see and smell and walk around it but anything other than inspection was met with a leave it. He learned to ignore them after a cursory inspection and would lay down a bit away from them. The girls are now a year old and he has appointed himself watcher of the flock when I let them out to freerange. Although he is excellent with them and they pretty much give him no respect, I would never, ever leave them alone together simply because he is a dog/predator first and always. If you train them right, your dogs can coexist with your chickens. I hope this helps.
What kinds of experiences have you all had with your dogs and your chickens? I remember reading on here that a beagle ate another bycer' chickens. Our dogs have never eaten anything but dog food. Could they turn on the chickens??
