Dogs Protecting Chickens

[Chelsa'sChicks]

I let my dogs have leashed visits with the chickens and ducks. One could care less about their presence and wants to see what I am going to do (play frisbee, give her treats, take a walk, etc). The other one was so scared, she didn't want to look at the birds and went to the farthest position she could while being leashed opposite of them.
They are lab mixed and golden retriever mixed (respectively). I am actually more concerned about the scared dog than the one that just wants to have fun. But, I am still leary of both.
I probably should have done all of this when I first got the birds, but how do you know when to let them off leash to be close to the birds and not be afraid they are just going to chomp them?
They know commands, but we've never had to use them within a real experience just training really.

Don't let your dog out of your site and supervise with you right there. Since your dogs are obedient I wouldn't worry. I would take them one at a time off leash. Your scared dog will need more patience obviously and a slow start. My best dog was a 100 lb mix of 3 different hunting breeds vs my 6 lb chickens. He was obedient and we would often sit in the sun while the chickens pecked near by. If something ever dared he would have killed it with breaking its neck. I would say its about knowing your dogs too which you seem to already have a good idea with them on leash near them. Try it out, if they are obedient then I wouldn't worry. Good Luck!

 

[50-45-1]

Our best flock guardian is an australien shepherd, i did not actually train him to do it, but he knows what belongs in the yard and what does not. He has rescued alot of my chickens from preditors as he was FAST and to outrun him, they (fox or coyote) had to drop the bird. i even saw him ran barking under a red tail that had one of our banty hens in its tallons and the red tail was strugling to lift off, and it dropped our hen. Momo stood over her until i ran and picked the hen up. The hen recovered from her puncture wounds. Momo is 14 now but he has trained two other pups to do his job after he is gone. MICK australian cattle dog/border collie mix, now 5. And our newest addition ZIP, austrailian shepherd/pit bull mix now 1.
MOMO

MIck

ZIP

we also have a rescue german shepherd/black lab 4 years old JUNE. But she likes to chase butterflies!
Mo & june with guineas in yard just the other day.

 

[llombardo]

I was in the yard doing stuff and I left the gate open to where the run is(the actual run gate was closed) and I saw my german shepherd sneak past. She walked around the run checking everyone out. I do have an electric fence, but it was off.

I look and see her sitting there. She wasn't taking a chance with the electric fence..smart girl.

They are pretty use to her. She got pretty close to the fence here, but still didn't touch it..lol

 

[Lady Cluckingham]

Oof, this is old but I saw it and had to share the story of a Golden retrieve who worked at a free range chook farm. Day and night that dog wild laze around the sun watching over something like 100 birds. Sad to hear a while back on fb it passed away. Dogs are incredible

 

[Fluffy&Cutie]

update: this past weekend our dog accidentally was out with the chickens. it was great! she was checking the yard, paroling it , and chasing away the wild birds from the small coop. We stayed with the dog and chickens. i guess after 10 months the dog understands the chickens are part of the family. yay!!!! it was nice to have the entire family together enjoying the sun.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

My dog is weird. In the presence of chickens she seems to not even care to bother them, but sometimes her 'instinct' will kick in and she will have this sudden urge to chase them. One flew into the neighbors fenced in yard with the horses but thankfully he knew where home is and jumped right back after half an hour..... though he was electrocuted in the process by the electric fence.