Do you trust your dog around your chickens?

[briana1975]

With a "leave it" comand everytime they even looked at the chicks both of our dogs are fine in the yard during free ranging time. Now that is only when we are outside too. I will NEVER leave my dogs outside during free ranging time if I am not out there with them.

 

[ChickensRCool]

We have a purebred chocolate lab that wouldn't hurt our chickens. Heck he wouldn't hurt anything! He is great at herding the chickens into the run, but it has never crossed his mind to chomp on one. But, this is a lab that HATES water so he has some un-lab like characteristics.

 

[nzpouter]

we let out dogs sleep in the coop with the chickens everytime there's a sign of predators.... all in the training, time and consistency you spend with the dogs.

 

[bobbi-j]

We have a black lab that is totally trustworthy around our chickens. When he was a pup, I did as another poster said - held the chick up to him, let him sniff, and when he showed interest in mouthing it gave him a firm NO. I did that several times. I think he got the message. Maybe too well. He's a bird dog - will retrieve ducks, but not pheasants. Not sure if they're too chicken-like, or maybe got scared by a rooster sometime. Anyway, the worst he does is waits until they're all in a bunch doing whatever it is that chickens do, then he'll run through the middle of them and scatter them. Then he turns around and gives them this:

Good luck! It can be done. One other thing - the dog has been accidentally locked in the coop with the chickens a couple of times. I'd find him laying by the door, anxious to get out.

 

[KellyHM]

I trust all of mine with the chickens. They go outside and run around while the chickens are free ranging. I have 2 Catahoulas & a mutt (some kind of wire haired mix), and had a Schipperke until a couple weeks ago. They all had to be taught to "leave it" when we first got the chickens, but they're all well behaved and know better than to cross me.

The little mutt got one of my turkey poults when tehey were just hatched (they were outside with mom), but he got his rear end thoroughly spanked and doesn't go anywhere near them now.

ETA: 1 of our Catahoulas is our bird dog when we hunt, but he's intelligent enough to know the difference.

 

[wateboe]

No, but I wouldn't rule out trusting another dog some day. We have a smooth fox terrier and a spaniel-poodle mix. Both are confirmed chicken killers with strong predatory drives, but they are INDIVIDUALS with said traits. I know people with terriers and bird dogs that are chicken-friendly as a result of both personality and training. Our dogs were exposed to chickens late. Any future canid additions to our farm will be exposed and trained from puppyhood to tolerate and even protect the birds. Until then, we find peace through electronet fence around the chickens and an Invisible Fence system around the dogs.

A friend of mine has an Australian shepherd that insists on mothering all of the new chicks that are added to the her flock!

 

[Tala]

Quote:
Yep. When we got our 4 year old Lab (mix) last spring I was a bit worried because he was a hunting dog before. Lots of people on BYC were all like "be careful, he's a bird dog!!!!" but all he cares about are balls, frizbees, and that special "flop" splash as something hits the water. When the ball goes by the chickens and they all flap and squalk about it, he just kinda looks at them like "what's the big deal??"
He never gave a second glance to the adult chickens.


Now teenage/chicks, I did have to watch him with at first. Mainly I think he was curious about them. I yelled at him everytime he'd go to nosing them, and he ignores them too now.

I don't let either of my dogs around loose baby chicks though, they must look like chicken nuggets on legs to them. BUT they don't try to break into the brooders or pens, so it's not a huge problem keeping the itty bitty guys separated.
My other dog isn't much interested in chasing ANYTHING, so teaching her to leave the chickens alone was pretty easy. She only gets into it with the rooster

and drools over day-olds. Everything else bores her.

 

[geojane42]

I spent 3 hours this morning building a fence to separate the yard into a chicken side and a dog side. Within 30 minutes the rotten one had found a way through it. I don't know exactly what happened but there are an awful lot of feathers on the ground and I had to get one of the chickens out of the middle of a bush. She wasn't hurt but no.... I don't trust my dogs with the chickens. That was the first time I'd let them out in the yard with the chickens loose without supervision. I'm obviously going to need a stronger fence.

 

[Karrie13]

Some dogs are great around chickens others are not. I have three and one of them is a confirmed chicken killer, he has killed 9. Incidentally he is also the smallest of the dogs and is a miniature schnauzer. My son’s yellow lab and my Rottweiler would go out with me to take care of the chickens but the lab never went into the pen/coop with me while the rottie does every day (she is after the tasty “treats” the chickens leave her).

I found out quite by accident a couple weeks ago that the yellow lab can be trusted around the chickens. We were out cutting trees all day and when I got home (just at dark) I saw the chickens were running around and so was the lab. Apparently when my son was giving treats he neglected to lock the gate and the girls just pushed their way out. We had a true easter egg hunt that day and they were VERY thirsty when they I opened the gate for them. All were healthy and accounted for.

The rottie goes out with me to take care of the chickens and will go into the pen and coop with me and I have never had any issues with her. Last night when I let the girls out to free range for a little while I had the two barn cats and her sitting in my lap (cats in the lap dog beside trying to get into my lap too) with chickens all around us. The cats are afraid of the chickens so the pretend the chickens aren’t even there. At one point I had two chickens in my lap too and didn’t have any problems out of anybody.
I wouldn’t trust the mini schnauzer anywhere near the chickens so when they are out he is in the house. He has killed 9 chicks and I wouldn’t put it past him to go after a full size chicken either.

 

[maralynn28]

Quote:
I agree with Illia. I have a rat terrier, bred for killing small prey. And she's done her breed proud. Years ago I wouldn't have trusted her...but we've had her for several years and she is very obedient.
I did test her the other day (left wk old ducklings running around on floor while I cleaned the brooder.) I even left the room but watched her from the door. She just sat and 'guarded' them with stump wagging. Meaning she watched them and if they got close to her she sniffed them and nudged with her nose. I don't know how she'll behave when they are out of the brooder but based on her behavior thus far I have every confidence in her.

my pup Lola.

eta: she has always been our sole pet, other than short time with a cat, never with ducks or chickens...and loves to chase squirrels, killed rats and mice alike. still I trust her.