Dogs good with chickens

[nab58]

I have 3 Boston terriers and a toy poodle that are fine with my chickens. I never thought they'd be allowed to be out together after the dogs initial reaction to them. But after some time, they got used to seeing them and were pretty easy to teach them to leave them alone. of course, it helps that the chickens will chase the dogs off to...pecking them on their butts as they run off!

 

[JenifferHartman]

We have a male Weimaraner, which is a bird dog.. who is just excellent with our chickens. We introduced them to him as chicks. He was just over 2years old when we got our chickens. So if your dog is properly trained and follows commands it should not be a problem no matter the breed. Our chickens follow him around the yard

 

[Mac14]

I have a smaller Golden Retriever that just scares off predators for her people (us), but it's very useful for the chickens though. She was about 7 or 8 years old when we got our chickens (a year and a half ago), and has a fear of looking into the chicken's faces, because some get IN her face and peck her nose. She did kill a 6 week old chick last year, while we were gone and the chicks had gotten out of their coop. She saw how sad/mad that made us, and being the people-pleaser that she is, she hasn't made a move since. She had some interest in the young chickens this year, but once they got too big (at about 7 weeks or older), she didn't care. So as people have said before, I think that it's more on the disposition of the dog than the actual breed (usually), that is what you need to look for.

 

[Jeremy128]

I was quite suprised with my dog and the chickens. We ahve a 6 years old female Standard Poodle. SHe is a very smart dog and is always looking to please me. She looks at me as "alpha". When the chicks were a week old, I introduced Sophie to them. SHe was very interested in them. I gently held a chick and raised it to her face so she could see and smell it. Once the curiousity wasaddressed, she was fine.
I free range mine all girls all day. Last week, I stepepd out the back door with Sophie and saw the chickens. Sophie saw somethign else! About 25 feet inside the treeline was a fox! Sophie was off like a shot after it! SHe ran it off pretty good. THe problem was that she didnt come back that day. SHe ended up at a neighbors house abotu a 1/2 mile away.
Standard Poodles were originally bird dogs. Not so much a retriever, but one that flushes birds out of bushes. She has a defiinte drive to chase things (deer, racoon, snakes, and possum) which may not be a good thing when looking for a dog to protect your flock. But, she usually calls off when told to do so. One of her favorite hobbies is tracking possums. SHe gets the scent and will search for 20 minutes if I let her. When she finds them, she bites them across the shoulders (base of neck so they cannto bite her) and brings them to me. SHe then drops them at my feet. I tell ehr to stay while I get a .22. Then I shoot them. She loves this game!

THe other day I introduced a new bird to teh flock. Sophie noticed that this bird was not part of the flock. Initialyl she lunged at it until I scolded her. I think she did this in an effort to protect teh rest of the flock from a threaqt. Once I scolded her, she was fine.

 

[Grizzly30]

The breed of the dog I do not think matters. I have a Blue Heal Pit bull, Golden lab and Great Perinese dogs and they get along with my chickens. At first I was hesitant to introduce my dogs to my chickens(I have a hundred free range) but if you treat all sides like part of the farm or family they coincide with each other(just like a cat and dog growing up together). The younger the dog the better for sure

 

[kristipwith3]

I have a Corgi and she grew up with the chickens. They pick on her if she gets in their way. She is a great girl with them and even scares off hawks. She is pretty fierce with those 4" legs! I also have a 14 yr old mix that never had chickens until this last year. He could care less about them. I think he is more interested in what the chickens leave "behind"

 

[uaj0sh]

The best dog with chickens is one that is properly trained regardless of breed.

I couldn't agree more. Breeding also has a lot to do with it. A properly trained hyper active dog will still want to play with chickens, and the resulting broken necks can be devastating to a flock.
I suggest cross livestock guardian dogs, which unlike many other gurard dogs are people oriented, relaxed, mellow and friendly. They are bread to guard people and livestock. I've seen these dogs, (Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, and maremmas are good examples, or mixes like can be found at coloradomountiandogs.com) correctly trained, that literally watch chickens, turkeys, goats, horses, mule, cows, pigs etc, and make sure "the family" is protected, but as soon as they catch a scent of mountain lion, raccoon, fox, coyote etc, bolt fearlessly into action to ensure it runs from the property, or comes back as a carcass.

These breeds do have some cons, but if trained properly as pups, can easily be overcome.

Hopefully that helps!

mmas

 

[Bawk-Bawk Homestead]

https://www.facebook.com/100000836626518/posts/4437700639601113

 

[Bawk-Bawk Homestead]

Our Pitt Nala is the best with our animals she is a natural herder

 

[Htxchicks]

Thank you! I would love a medium sized dog and really like pit bulls but I'm not sure if they would do well around chickens. I've heard good and bad stories about pit bulls with chickens.

My pit/ lab mix is great as livestock guardian. I also had a pit bull that would let my cockatiel land on him and by him.