Dog with Chicks?

[louclare]

We currently have 8, 6 week old chicks. Our family would like to have a dog, but would the chicks be ok with it? Also, what breed would be good? Today, our neighbors Terrier got into our yard, and was very excited with the chicks, but the chicks were not very happy. We got him out quickly, and returned him. (He is a very cute, and sweet dog though!)
Thanks!

 

[pimachickens]

I'm sure that there are going to be a million different opinions, but I work with dogs every day, and I don't really think that there is a specific breed that I could recommend over another for 'chicken-proofness'. And although training does play a very significant role, that isn't everything either. There are dogs that are ok with birds and then there aren't. Even two dogs of the same breed can be very different from each other. My sister's lab will bloody her feet to dig thru sunken rock to get inside her chicken coop, and has killed many a bird; while my neighbors lab is so lazy he can't be bothered with the chickens at all. Some dogs will defend "their flock" diligently, while others of the same breed chase and harrass to no end. It all depends on their "prey drive". I don't know if you were looking for a pure bred dog from a breeder, or a pound puppy, but most shelters cat-test their dogs. Usually if they have a strong prey drive for one animal, they will for all. So I definitely wouldn't get one that is proven to chase cats. And training is definitely a crucial thing. If you have a dog that doesn't really know what he is supposed to do (which I think is a very large majority of domesticated dogs), than he is going to be looking to you for his cues. They really want to please. "Do you want me to chase this bird, cause I can sure chase this bird. Just watch how well I can chase this bird!" OR "Oh, you really like that bird, OK, he is part of our family, OK, I will try to like the bird. Don't you see how much I am trying to like the bird!"

I'm sure I didn't help at all by not providing a specific breed, but I truly think that it depends on the individual, and prey-drive is everything. Good luck.

 

[Duer]

I've had dogs and birds for a number of flocks over the years.
I raise meat birds in a tractor and have a coup with 7 layers, 1 rooster and 2 bantam hens.

Our dog is a golden doodle and she needs a firm hand since she's a X breed with half golden retriever. Her genes are bird dog so she loves to herd the chickens. My plan was to get the rooster to keep her in check and he's a new addition to my flock and chicken management plan.

Have to wait and see if it works but I reprimand the dog and limit her access to the birds when she steps over the line and harasses the birds too much.
Good luck.

Duer

 

[Niss]

We are new to birds, but our two yr old cocker mutt loves the chickens. I would show her the peeps when we first got them and praise a nonreaction. Every time we cleaned and feed them she would follow us to the basement and watch/get underfoot. I always had my son give her a treat and "thank her for not eating the poultry." Now that the birds are out side she herds them. She wants them to be right around the coop and in the tree next to it. She was a big help rounding up the runaways, we'd see her driving hens back across the road. She really seems to have found her calling, they are her chickens! She will pester them a little if let unchecked, but has never shown agression. I was a little afraid how she would react being part spaniel, part golden, part poodle--all fowling dogs, right? But it has gone very well, I credit her tempriment.

 

[teach1rusl]

As long as you work with your chick(en)s and dogs regularly, your birds will eventually get use to whatever dog you end up getting. I wouldn't go for sight oriented breeds (thinking of chicks/chickens sporatic movements) - I'd look at breeds known to be very family oriented/friendly (based on breed characteristics, not neighbors/friends opinions), as those tend to want to please their people. Of course tons of training and diligence on your part will still be required, especially if you end up with a puppy.

 

[00BlasterResto]

My dog dallas watches over my chickens, I say he is half dog/ half rooster.
As mentioned working with the dog is huge! A well disciplined dog should not have a problem.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

And then there are dogs - like mine. He’s a rescued Golden. Had no training at all at 17 months old and we worked with him. A lot! Before him, I had a CH, RDX dog. A dalmation no less! And you can imagine how hard it was to get her to that level. She was smart. I call him dumb as a box of rocks but this is what we discovered:
He lets himself have the birds pick burrs from his fur a lay there contentedly while they litterally walk all over him. He has never chased/ perturbed/ harassed or annoyed the chickens. We thought he had proven himself “chicken safe”.
But we were losing chickens. They appeared trampled. Some had a hole in their little innocent heads. Hawks? Coyotes who don’t eat or carry them away? It was some thing fast. We never saw or heard anything when we were out in the yard – and they were only loose when we were out.
Then I saw it.
Only when he thought we were not looking, he did the deed. “Hunny, Look over there by the new bush we just finished planting. What is the dog eatinnnnnnOOOOOHHHHHNNNOOOOOOOO!”
That one was saved. No others have been lost to him since.

PS Kudos on Dallas. Glad he's fully recovered. Great dog. Ours looks just as calm around our chickens when we are around.

 

[Double-0 Chicken]

We have an almost one year old Australian Cattle Dog (herding dog). Last summer as a pup he chased and pinned down chickens (never bit them). This year he is much better. They both roam the yard together but he is starting to herd and effectively I might add! He will "drive" the flock to where he wants them. Usually the compost pile or under the deck where he can watch them and keep them together. It's not easy herding chickens they really have a mind of their own

I have worked with him A LOT outisde with the girls. At first with only a lead but I am now comfortable letting him off the lead with them and it seems to have paid off. We have 6 newbies in the house on the floor in a container and he thinks he is a chicken mom inside. If they start making noise he goes over and puts his head in the bucket until they settle down and then he wanders away until they start making noise again. Go figure!
I think no matter what kind of dog you get you have to be committed to the training that is going to be required to trust that they won't eat your chickens. Or anyone else's chickens. That's my two cents!

 

[babalubird]

First choice: honest-to-goodness livestock guardian breeds (many!), i.e. anatolian, ackbash, pyranese, if guarding is your prime concern. Second choice, if a multi-purpose dog is required, an English Shepherd, a herding/guardian breed that is not supposed to be as prey-driven as most herding breeds.

As others say, though, training,hopefully from early puppyhood, is essential, and even then sometimes you have to be realistic, replace the dog and try again. But personally, I think your chances with these are far better since they've been bred for centuries for these very purposes.

Connie

 

[Lacey1988]

well If it was me I would never trust a dog completely with my chickens...I don't even trust my own...just keep a watchfull eye on them