Do you have a dog that's good with chickens? Please share!

[stethomps]

I have the best old english sheepdog that protects my everything, including chickens. He will go after anything that gets within a stones throw of the fence. But I only let him out if I am with him, or if my birds are in their runs. I personally dont think it is a good idea to leave your dog alone with your birds. With my sheepdog, If I do leave him alone when my birds are free ranging; he will kill atleast one. He is trained to get my goats, and he sometimes gets pretty rough to get them in their pen. So I am not sure if he just likes chicken (and why wouldn't he...they're delicious), or if he is trying to herd them? I NEVER let him help me get my birds, and if I see him herding them I call him straight to his pen. I know his drive is strong to herd, but I am guessing he just likes a chicken dinner.

On a humorous note, my wifes chihuahua's love to chase the chickens. And these little guys are so spoiled,(not so bright...oops thinking outloud) they just do what they want. They have never hurt any, every now and then will they will get a tail feather to chew on. But when I see them chaseing my more gentle birds, I will let out my red pile OEG hen, and she quickly puts a stop to chihuahua harrassment.

 

[stethomps]

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[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

I have a boxer and a pomeranian who both chased them like crazy when we first got them. Then I started making them lay down while I put the chicks on them...saying NO when they would go for them. I did this for weeks and finally they just knew that chickens were NOT for eating or chaseing LOL Now I can trust them out there alone with them.

 

[ArizonaDesertChicks]

All 3 of our dogs are good with the chickens. The chickens free-range with the dogs every afternoon till dark and I never worry about them out together, even when we leave home. The dogs were introduced to the baby chicks and watched them grow up - I think they know the chickens (now 9 months old) are pets too. Our dogs were also good with guinea pigs, pet rats, etc.

Breeds: cocker spaniel mix (5 year old), corgi mix (10 years old), miniature dauchsund (1 year old).

cocker spaniel

mini wire-haired dauchsund (thinks she's a chicken too):

corgi mix - Old photo with original flock of chickens - DDs are now 14 & 16 (taken about 5 or 6 years ago?)

 

[eggsrcool]

I have a border terrier. She is good with chickens, but if there is a hen who's broody, she will walk up and peck her. She will run out and go home. But she is quite good with them, but it requires a bit of training.

 

[Kelly FG]

We have a mixed breed, he 's part spaniel for sure & I think part pitbull, but we don't know for sure.

He was around 6 years old when we started with chickens, we allowed him to get very close to the brooder, we would pick the babies up & let him sniff them while we pet him. We told him they were "his babies". He would stare at them for hours

Now our big girls are three years old & he reacts to their alarms, pees around the perimeter of the chicken run everyday.

He has never shown any aggression towards them, once in a while he will chase a squirrel & scare them by mistake but thats about it.

 

[jafo]

We have a 10 year old female Husky - Akita. At first she thought about chasing our 6 Orps, until I let her know it would'nt be a good idea. Since then, she lays in the shade of the run when we are in there, and could care less if they pull her ears. If things get too loud out there, she's right there looking to find whatever caused them to sound off, running around the run, through the woods. She's a good "protecter".

 

[ugly ducky]

We have 5 dogs here, and not a one will bother the chickens or ducks, because they know it just isn't acceptable. We have two Red Heelers, one Coonhound, one American Spitz, and one Toy Fox Terrier. The newest is the Spitz, and at first, she wanted to chase them, but now, just ignores them. I think the key is that right from the beginning, do not allow them unsupervised in case they do want to chase etc., then if they try it, let them know that it is not allowed....don't leave any doubt in their mind. As time goes by, you will know when they're ready to be trusted.

 

[countrygirl23]

i have 7 dogs and 4 are blue merle austrailain sheperds,1 black tri austrailan sheperd,1 blue heeler,and 1 mutt.my dog sue i raised from a 4 week old puppy.she is a good dog around any kind of animal.i have around 63 chickens and they run loose and we have cattle goats pigs llamas and a donkey.i can let sue off lease in the pasture and she will not leave my side,she lets the chickens peck her and she dos nothin bout it..as for the others well..they dont come into the pasture much.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

I have 3 Great Pryenees, that are good with the chickens, but my GD's Border Collie/Blue Heeler cross is awesome with them.

I put her in whatever chicken pen that I think needs protecting. She has had 5 litters of puppies in the chicken house, and every puppy has gone to homes to protect chickens. I usually have a waiting list for her pups. She will be spayed this year, though. She has had enough puppies. I am keeping one from her last litter, who is already alerting DH to the location of possums and coons when he goes out at night with his gun, at 3 and 1/2 months old.

In this picture, the hen by the pups laid her egg in with the puppies every day.

Jean