dogs and chickens

[Alas]

I have 4 dogs that are in a separate fenced area from my chickens. Once in a while a chicken will get over the fence with the dogs. My dogs chase them around the yard, chicken making a racket, until I come out and grab her. The dogs havent hurt them so far, fortunately. I want to know if any of you had to teach your dogs not to bother the chickens and how you did it.

 

[youngbiddy]

My rooster taught the dog not to @#$% with the chickens, if you catch my drift. Of course, my dog is a Jack Russell terrier, so the rooster weighs more than he does...

 

[Break an Egg]

My husband told me that if you hold the chick or chicken and let the dog smell it's butt (and lick it probably) that the dog will see the chicken as alpha.

My husband also makes the dog lay on her back and lets the chicks walk on her tummy.

I would say that you would have to work with each dog individually because dogs change when they are with their pack.

 

[KazAnder Farms]

My dog Gus mostly ignores our birds and won't attack them. we can set a bird on his back and until we give the command he'll just stay there. practice practice all i can say. we're working on our other mix, but i'm not sure we'll succeed with her. she's about 40lbs. Gus is about 85 lbs

 

[StephanieD]

The Dog Whisperer has a segment on dogs and chickens!

 

[Kavellion]

I think because the dog is in its own little yard and the chicken comes into its yard rather than a shared yard it make a difference in terms of whos territory is whos.

 

[drumstick diva]

Can you cover the dogs fenced area? Even if its just chicken wire it would prevent your birds from going into the dogs yard.

 

[hennyannie]

My Jack Russell killed a wheaten americana pullet a couple of years ago, he is not allow in the chicken area anymore. The lab we have and her friend the rat terrier act like they are invisibile chickens. Funny because the lab likes to chase goats.

 

[Needycowgirl]

I would love to be able to train my dogs to stay away from the chickens. Unfortunately I do not think its possible for mine. There are some dogs that are great with birds and others that are soo not.
As for keeping them separate I would find a way to cover the chickens run so that they cant get in with the dogs. We thought we had everyone here separated well last year until we had a chicken massacre

We now have ChickenTraz so no one gets in and no one gets out!

 

[Alas]

My dogs run about 65lbs so I dont know if the rooster would get the chance to teach them a lesson

Good point about the birds coming into the dogs' territory. The question is how I can change that.

I'll have to check out the dog whisperer segment. I've never watched any before. I am more of a yeller than a whisperer when they're misbehaving.