Dogs and chickens

[Lenny loves chickens]

Hey guys it's me again lol. So I got a rescue dogs that was not treated well that we accidentally got out and ate my chicken.....about 2 months ago and hasn't had contact with chickens since that.....so o started chicken training about 3 days ago....and am wondering if you trained her and were very comfortable down the road would you let her interact with them when you weren't there? Looking for advice thanks.....I have another dog that is a saint bernard and wouldn't hurt a fly and loves chickems they take naps together so cute.....wish they could all do this

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It also depends on the breed. A Doberman will have a higher prey drive than a Pyrenees, a little dog can't do a ton of damage but a big dog could accidentally step on them. There's a ton of factors that go into mixing dogs and livestock but I do agree that prey drive is a powerful thing and every dog makes mistakes no matter how much training it has.

Little dogs can still do an absolute ton of damage. We had a yorkie wipe out our duck flock and half our neighbors chicken flock about 5 years ago

 

[WIchickMama]

I know for mine, though she hasn't attempted to harm any chicken of ours that she is still an animal that deep down has the urge to hunt and nature can always overrule any "training". I wouldn't trust mine unsupervised but that is just me.

 

[TundraFang]

I know for mine, though she hasn't attempted to harm any chicken of ours that she is still an animal that deep down has the urge to hunt and nature can always overrule any "training". I wouldn't trust mine unsupervised but that is just me.

It also depends on the breed. A Doberman will have a higher prey drive than a Pyrenees, a little dog can't do a ton of damage but a big dog could accidentally step on them. There's a ton of factors that go into mixing dogs and livestock but I do agree that prey drive is a powerful thing and every dog makes mistakes no matter how much training it has.

 

[Ascholten]

Chicken A La Poodlle 'N Noodle. Makes a great dish if worse come to worse !

Dog may behave when you are there but the real test will be, what will it do when an immediate ass beating is NOT standing there with it? Be careful either way, hate to see more dead chickens.

Aaron

 

[addctd2plnts]

It has to do with their energy level and prey drive. I rehab dogs for rescues. If they are generally low energy, you might be able to train them. Honestly, most large guardian dogs are not considered safe till they have passed at least 6 mos of daily training and supervised daily with loose poultry. Usually you can call it correctly. I have a Border Collie, Lab and Irish Wolfhound that are all fine with poultry. I wouldn't trust the Rat terrier if she was bored. Some breeds are known for being chicken killers, Huskies are one of them.

 

[avkootz]

We have a border collie mix and my dog is half Australian shepherd, half American Eskimo- they did not grow up around chickens, but they got used to them and have never killed one. If your dog listens to you and you can monitor it out with the chickens until it understands they're off limits, I think it should be fine. Can't seem to break the collie of running the calves, though. It's actually annoying my bouncy little shepherd won't help me drive them into their coop at night. I always ask her what is the point of being a herder that won't herd, but she just wags her tail like she has no idea what I'm saying....

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My dog has spent her whole life aware and interacting supervised with chickens. But they don't like her and she gets excited around spooking chickens and young birds, so I still would never let her outside unsupervised

 

[TundraFang]

Honestly, you know your dog best so go with your gut. If you feel like you can't trust her don't but it is definitely possible that she could be fine alone with them if you keep up with training.

 

[TundraFang]

Little dogs can still do an absolute ton of damage. We had a yorkie wipe out our duck flock and half our neighbors chicken flock about 5 years ago

They definitely can. Every dog has teeth after all, but I was thinking in terms of the chicken's fighting them off. The neighbors Terrier mix got into my yard and my rooster and a broody hen would've killed it if I hadn't stopped them.