Do you trust your dog around your chickens?

[Esteri]

I absolutely do not trust my dogs with birds of any kind. We have Weimaraners, hunting lines, and trained to hunt. They dug a chunnel under the fence last week and broke into the run we had our two turkey chicks in (we had improperly secured it). Let's just say they had Thanksgiving and Christmas early. There wasn't much evidence left. So, at least we got some use out of those birds.

Like others have said, it really depends on the breed, the breeding, and the training of your dog. When we decided to try our hands at poultry we knew it was only a matter of time before the dogs got some. At least is wasn't the 10 layers.

Thinking we'll be enclosing the poultry with electric fence. And tighten up the dog area too.
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[redhen]

Nope..i'd never ever trust a dog with birds...

 

[kfchickenlady]

No, not even my ancient springer spaniel who would still hobble after them and eat them.

Not my corgis, boxer and definitely not my lab...she is the sweetest thing but when she sees them flapping their wings, she is fixated! Now having said that, when I was a child, I had a Lassie type collie dog. He was absolutely trustworthy around any pets, even mice! I have pics of him with baby chicks crawling all over his back and him lying there with a martyred look on his face.....wish I had him now!

 

[noodleroo]

kfchickenlady; here's a pic of my rough coat collie with her head in the brooder. She goes everywhere in the house with me so naturally, she gets to see the chicks too. She's gentle with all animals (and people); so much that we say we hope we don't have a burglar-she'd be holding the flashlight! LOL

 

[K-lyn]

My chocolate Lab is great. I rest easy at night knowing she is on watch for predators. However, all my birds are in coops which are fenced in our chicken yard. which is also fenced in. BUT, my Siberian Husky eats ANYTHING she can get too and she would get to them one way or another. I wouldn't trust her sitting next to me.

I would suggest never feed your dog chicken left overs. Bad idea.

 

[twentynine]

Nope I do not trust my dogs with the chickens. Chiuahua and a fat beagle, not a doubt in my mind they would get my birds.

 

[ChicksNPigs]

I have a German Shephard who herded the chicks when they were inside. Now they're out, and his wireless fence doesn't allow him to get to them, so he sits and watches.
The dane/coonhound mix I would never trust with the birds at all. She not vicious, but protective of me, so when I'd hold a baby chick and it squawked she'd start shoving me away from the brooder. She learned to leave it before the chicks went outside, but I still wouldn't trust her to be out if it weren't for the wireless fencing.

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
How cute!!! Mine would chase seagulls and squirrels barking and running for HOURS, but never did a thing to our pets...

 

[noodleroo]

kfchickenlady; even though I trust her with my pets, I think that most people need to be careful. You know because you've had a collie what remarkable animals they are, but I just want to remind everybody that my dog is well trained and understands what is 'mine'.

 

[Teresaann24]

our beloved dog that we lost lolli she was half basset hound and Lhapso apsa she chased everything under the sun! When it came to my chickens I 100% trusted her she slept inside the dog house with 3 every night and befriended a week old chick that has gotten lost from its mommy. I kept running out and getting it and putting it back with its mommy thinking she might kill the little one but it kept coming back to her and she never did harm it.

I now have a 6 month old half chihuahua/somthing mix... she I do not trust she is scared of the bigger ones but I could see her trying to play and killing a smaller chicken. (I 100% DO NOT TRUST OUR NEW DOG)