Dog!

[werttyy]

I currently have a dog and I am very interested in raising some chickens. For those of you who have been in my situation, how do you get dogs and chickens to get along? I'm scared that my dog will bite or even eat the chickens, since he likes to bark at birds and chase squirrels.

 

[gettinaclue]

I had my pomeranian "Bubba" for several years before I got chickens.

A couple of days after I got my new chicks, I picked one up, cupping it in my hand so only the head was sticking out and let Bubba sniff him.

To bad Bubba immediately tried to eat him. If I had not taught him to take treats nicely, he would have ripped the chicks head off.

There are lots of sad stories here about family dogs killing chickens. Take precautions.

When my chickens are out freeranging, my dogs (now two of them - one a stray we took in) are in their kennels inside. That way they can't slip out if someone opens the door.

I did try "introducing" them after they were grown, took Bubba out on a leash while they were free ranging and kept the leash VERY short - so he had to walk right at my feet. He tried to eat 'em - went absolutely crazy.

Keep them seperated. It will save you a lot of heart ache.

 

[Smittenroade]

There is alot you must do, it takes dedication and precise timing. If you dont have the patience or time I wouldn't bother, best to just keep them seperate like gettinaclue said. However, there are ways to train dogs to be docile around your flock. Remember, some dogs are easier than other, it just depends on what your dog was bred for. Most hunting dogs, terriers, hounds, and others will be very hard to break them of their hunting instinct. It is MUCH easier if they are puppies, some adult dogs may never be fully trusted.

First thing is timing, keep your dog on a leash at all times around the chickens until you can trust them. If they show any sign of going into hunting mode, tail straight up, ears upright, body straight and tall, you must correct them before they go into their kill mindset. Correct them by pulling the leash to the side, not back. Timing is EVERYTHING if you dont get the perfect timing on correction you must take them away from the bird and get them in another mindset and start all over.

If it is an anxious "Why are you in my territory" thing for your dog. You need to keep them on a leash and let their anxiety peak. After they get tired from bouncing around and freaking out, they should go into a calm submissive mindset, you praise them with touch, not voice.

Oh and btw you cannot do any of this if you are feeling scared or anxious. Your dog will pick up on that instantly and you will not be able to train them. You must be in control physically and mentally of the situation. I wouldn't suggest leaving them alone until you are absolutely sure that your dog wont harrass or eat the chickens.

First off what kind of dog do you have? lol

 

[Whimsy]

I know I am lucky but none of my dogs bother the chickens. We have 2 small inside dogs and a Brit who is a hunting dog. After I had the chickens for quite awhile (6 months) we finally decided to see what Nicky would do with him loose the same time the chickens were out. So me armed with a broom standing next to the flock, ( Nick did have his shock collar on as a precaution) let Nick loose.

He tore towards the chickens at break neck speed. Ran to the chickens and laid down and wagged his tail

. Now he is more interested in the mice in the coop than the chickens. The other two dogs follow the flock like they are part of it.

Now when it is time for hunting, Nick will retrieve with the best of them. I think he knew they were mine. All that said I would never leave any of the dogs unattended with the chickens.

 

[ColbyNTX]

What kind of dog is it and how old? You can train some dogs that were not raised around birds but others you can not! It sounds like you will have your hands full from your comments.

 

[sharol]

I have (now) 4 dogs. An elderly shorthair pointer/britany cross, an elderly golden retreiver cross, a 3 year old male dachshund, and as of Sunday a 3 year old female minature dachshund. The first 3 are fine with the chickens. The girls were in the hoop run for 3 months or so, and at first the doxy went completely nuts. I corrected him when he charged the run or barked at them, and pretty soon, he got bored with them. Now he approaches them with his head and tail down and doesn't intentionally interact with them.

I let the dogs out on leash one at a time until they were calm around the chickens, and gradually I am trusting them more and more.

The new dog isn't there yet. We are working on it with leashed contact and "through the storm door" contact. She is very sweet and docile, but like all doxys she is completely OCD, and quivers and licks her chops when she smells them. I'm hoping she will come around. She has stopped barking at the run when they are out, so we have taken the first baby step.

All that said, I don't leave them in the yard with the girls when they are free ranging unless I am close at hand. I trust the golden completely, the sh pointer mostly, the male doxy pretty much, but I still don't go off and leave them to their own devices. I am actually more comfortable when the big dogs are out in the yard with the chickens because they deter the interest of the hawks, but I wouldn't leave them out there without being around.

 

[werttyy]

I have a toy sized american eskimo dog, and I'm pretty sure that his breed doesn't have any hunting background. He is also currently 1 year and a half.

 

[nzpouter]

a lot of time, common sense (?) and consistency.... we have dogs all our lives from all different breeds, their jobs here is to guard the property and anything living in it....
accidents can happen with over excited pups or whelping grump but, they should not make a habit out of it....
btw.... all our dogs are on raw diet (chickens in the menu as well).

 

[got2bskilled]

My first question is, do you have a bird dog... one that was bred for bird hunters. My next question would be, is your dog a puppy? This could be good or bad depending, on how strong willed your dog is. If you answered yes to both, I would suggest a E-collar (electric collar). That way you could zap when she chases the birds. After 3 months of training, she will know what to not do.

 

[Smittenroade]

Quote:
That shouldn't be too hard, of course every dog is different. Heres 2 pictures of my dogs that I trained. The dachshund actually thinks the chicks are her babies. She lays with them all day and protects them.