Dogs that kill weasels but not chickens?

[parvani]

I agree. I'm surprised also your birds have lasted this long. If you let them hang out like you did you are going to loose birds and now the weasels know where they can get an easy chicken dinner. Good luck...

Thanks for your well wishes. So nice to see how many kind and helpful people there are on this board.

 

[parvani]

You would need a dog breed specifically bred for catching rodents and small animals. You'd have the best luck with a puppy and it would take a lot of training. With puppies especially it takes a long time and a lot of effort, but the results are worth it.

Puppies are puppy brained for quite some time and so you have to be patient and wait for their brains to mature before expecting them to be safe out with the flock unattended (ie. watching out for predators and pests rather than chasing a chickens because it got a fright and the excitement was too much for your pup to handle).

My next dog will be something I can use to catch rodents, but with all of our other animals it will need to live in harmony with I know I'll have to get a puppy and socialise and train it well.

Yes, I've been researching terriers. Some of them have been bred specifically to keep farms free of rodents. Of course they need to be trained to leave the chickens alone -- but unlike some breeds, whose hunting sometimes overcomes even careful training, there are a few terriers who will hunt only varmints, not pets or poultry.

That's what I need -- a dog who can 've taught that only varmints are fair game.

 

[parvani]

No one's attacking you.
They're trying to get info that hadn't been provided and fill in the blanks. You do have a very unique set up for your chickens, a set up that many wouldn't have a flock last more than a week with.
I suggest maybe a weiner dog or a terrier, they're great at ratting. but they'll have to be trained for it.

Apparently this is an Australian website?

Is that why everyone here thinks that "last summer" means last week?

To clarify, I'm in the US, so our summer ended in September.

Naturally I immediately took steps to protect my birds from weasels and other predators after the second attack. They are sufficiently protected that I have lost zero birds to predators since then.

I live in the city. I don't have a "rat problem", I have a "neighbors feed their dogs outside" problem. I'm aware that rats live everywhere in the city, so chicken wire was never an option. Rat proof chicken coops and runs are on concrete pads with hardware cloth over all openings, and top.

This thread is simply asking for breeds of dogs. If folks don't know anything helpful about dog breeds, do you think they could refrain from commenting?

Because I've already put people on ignore for saying they think all my chickens ought to be dead by now.

How would you folks all feel if I said it's a miracle you haven't lost all your chickens? That I think they ought to all be dead by now? Do you like how that sounds?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Apparently this is an Australian website?

Is that why everyone here thinks that "last summer" means last week?

To clarify, I'm in the US, so our summer ended in September.

Naturally I immediately took steps to protect my birds from weasels and other predators after the second attack. They are sufficiently protected that I have lost zero birds to predators since then.

I live in the city. I don't have a "rat problem", I have a "neighbors feed their dogs outside" problem. I'm aware that rats live everywhere in the city, so chicken wire was never an option. Rat proof chicken coops and runs are on concrete pads with hardware cloth over all openings, and top.

This thread is simply asking for breeds of dogs. If folks don't know anything helpful about dog breeds, do you think they could refrain from commenting?

Because I've already put people on ignore for saying they think all my chickens ought to be dead by now.

How would you folks all feel if I said it's a miracle you haven't lost all your chickens? That I think they ought to all be dead by now? Do you like how that sounds?

They're saying that because you said your birds were out in the open at night. They can't see well at night and are defenseless. I went through a similar thing with my turkey being snagged under my deck by a bobcat.

It's not an Australian site as far as I know. One of the creators (at least within recent tines) lives in the US

 

[nuthatched]

Apparently this is an Australian website?

Is that why everyone here thinks that "last summer" means last week?

To clarify, I'm in the US, so our summer ended in September.

Naturally I immediately took steps to protect my birds from weasels and other predators after the second attack. They are sufficiently protected that I have lost zero birds to predators since then.

I live in the city. I don't have a "rat problem", I have a "neighbors feed their dogs outside" problem. I'm aware that rats live everywhere in the city, so chicken wire was never an option. Rat proof chicken coops and runs are on concrete pads with hardware cloth over all openings, and top.

This thread is simply asking for breeds of dogs. If folks don't know anything helpful about dog breeds, do you think they could refrain from commenting?

Because I've already put people on ignore for saying they think all my chickens ought to be dead by now.

How would you folks all feel if I said it's a miracle you haven't lost all your chickens? That I think they ought to all be dead by now? Do you like how that sounds?

This is an international website.
A dog is not the answer to your problem, that's why few people gave you breed suggestions, that's why we needed to know about your set up, how to protect your chickens.
If multiple people are telling you that you should thank your lucky stars that these are your only loses, you should take that with a grain of salt.
I'd rather people give me the truth for the health and wellness of my birds , no matter how harsh I think it might be, instead of validating what I'm doing wrong.
You asked for help with loss prevention, you shouldn't block people who are trying keep your chickens alive.
Have a great day m'am, and the best of luck with your lovely flock, I'm sure you'll find an appropriate solution for your weasel problem.

 

[50-45-1]

If folks don't know anything helpful about dog breeds, do you think

I am sorry about the loss of your chickens. All of us have been in your shoes.
The reason I'm not discussing "dog breeds" is because in your case I believe it is not the appropriate answer to your particular problem AND a dog may just add more and different problems.
Sounds like you have contained your chickens safely now.
And yes, backyard chickens has members who POST and REPLY from all over the world, so questions asked will receive many different viewpoints and opinions.
if you want a dog I'm sure you will get one. I believe a dog can discourage certain predators with the right temperament and training.
Good luck to you!

 

[roosterhavoc]

I keep chickens free range 24/7 all day and all night. I trap mink and weasels around my property. Forget the dog and learn to trap them. It’s not that hard.
It’ll be less expensive to learn and buy the supplies needed to trap them than to train and feed a dog.

 

[aart]

To clarify, I'm in the US, so our summer ended in September.

Here's how to add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[LaFleche]

I wondered if anyone has had a rat terrier that didn't attack their birds?

My Foxerriers don't and neither my Airedales, but they are well trained working/hunting dogs that know the chickens are considered "family".

The fact that your yard is fenced does not hinder any predator to jump or climb or fly over your fences to get at your birds. Even dogs can climb fences up to 3 m high.

Staying outside with the goats at night does not protect your chickens, you will have to coop them up safely every night, or else will soon have not a single one of your chickens left.
You could build them a nice and secure run covered with HC to spend time in when you are not at home.

Sorry you lost your beloved pets and had to learn the hard way. But that is how many of us learned, and we are still trying to improve our arrangements to the best of our abilities.
For us, hot wire was the game changer, so I can recommend it.

Good luck!

 

[centrarchid]

I keep chickens free range 24/7 all day and all night. I trap mink and weasels around my property. Forget the dog and learn to trap them. It’s not that hard.
It’ll be less expensive to learn and buy the supplies needed to trap them than to train and feed a dog.

This statement is accurate with respect to relative costs. I also keep birds free-range much of the time 24/7 so penning birds up at night is not the only viable approach.