Dogs that kill weasels but not chickens?

[My2butterflies]

This where I feel compelled to step in and no. There is no best answer. There is little tolerance in this thread for alternative approaches.

All

I’m still confused. Maybe I’m just tired, but it’s not making sense to me.
No alternative approaches = a best solution. Am I wrong?

Op needs to find what works best for their particular situation. None of us can give a definitive answer, but we can give suggestions for op to try and from there find out what works best for them.

When I said “best suited solution” I ment that in terms of op narrowing down what works for them. Not anyone here having an “end all, fits every situation” answer.
Im not trying to argue anything, just wondering if I misunderstood what you mean.

 

[centrarchid]

This the reason I sometimes tire of this site. Too many experts with very little experience along the lines they are attempting to advise with a dash of intolerance plus a heap of not putting a lot of effort into understanding ideas of others.

 

[Geena]

We're going off topic here, but I find it interesting how various people can all look at the exact same thing and interpret it completely different ways. It's kinda like a Rorschach test.

All I see is posters trying help by making suggestions, offering information and ideas, and explaining what they have found works best for them.

 

[NatJ]

I find it interesting how various people can all look at the exact same thing and interpret it completely different ways....All I see is posters trying help by making suggestions, offering information and ideas, and explaining what they have found works best for them.

Interesting, yes.

You see people being helpful. I see lots of people saying "I don't have an answer to what you asked, but I'll tell you what I think you should do instead. It's the same thing a bunch of other people already said."

To me, if feels like a group of people picking on someone, even though I think each person probably has good intentions and is trying to help. It's just that the total effect does not feel friendly or helpful to me.

 

[Geena]

I see lots of people saying "I don't have an answer to what you asked, but I'll tell you what I think you should do instead. It's the same thing a bunch of other people already said."

True, but I think that's only because there is no actual good answer to the question the OP asked, so people offered alternatives instead.

 

[DuckGirl77]

Last summer my little backyard flock was attacked by a weasel. I know it was a weasel because I went out in the middle of the attack and it vanished, after killing chickens that were inside a large kennel cage (for protection from the "raccoon" I thought had attacked them the night before.)

Weasels are the only predator small enough to slip between bars and vanish in the night, unseen.

Now I'm terrified to let my chickens forage out of their coop even during the day, because weasels are not strictly nocturnal.

Is there a dog, like maybe a rat terrier, that would hunt weasels but NOT kill my chickens?

We have a husky mix that chases all sorts of animals, including weasels. He has never caught one, but I've seen him chasing them and once cornered one. I have never had losses to a weasel - but I don't know if that's because of the dog or because the weasel is not interested in hunting during the day. But, either way, it is reassuring, and he does chase off other predators as well.
That being said, he doesn't know that he's protecting the chickens - he just chases small animals because it's fun. (After training, he does not chase chickens.) I think that would be the difference between a dog with prey drive and a livestock guardian dog, but either of those options would probably work.

 

[Chickstarrs]

I have a small poodle/papillion mix. She is 7yrs. We just got our chickens this spring. It only took one incident of her chasing a chicken and getting in trouble from me, to learn that chasing chickens is a no-no. Now she avoids the chickens, also because they are now bigger than her. She still loves chasing the squirrels and bunnies (wild ones). She has never seen a weasel (knock on wood) and doubt she would be much defense against it. However, she would do a lot of barking which may deter the critter.

Our german shepherd, on the other hand, is always in her pen or on her leash. I would never trust her with the chickens. I am sure there are plenty of other shepherds out there that would fine, just not ours.

We also had a border collie. She never hurt any of the chickens, but would try to herd them into a group. I am not sure if she knew what to do with them after that, just the herding instinct kicking in.

Good luck with your issue.

 

[cmom]

This the reason I sometimes tire of this site. Too many experts with very little experience along the lines they are attempting to advise with a dash of intolerance plus a heap of not putting a lot of effort into understanding ideas of others.

Nobody is claiming to be an expert but many have experiences that may be of value. People don't always see eye to eye but everyone can have an opinion.

 

[WTCH Ho Dog]

Last summer my little backyard flock was attacked by a weasel. I know it was a weasel because I went out in the middle of the attack and it vanished, after killing chickens that were inside a large kennel cage (for protection from the "raccoon" I thought had attacked them the night before.)

Weasels are the only predator small enough to slip between bars and vanish in the night, unseen.

Now I'm terrified to let my chickens forage out of their coop even during the day, because weasels are not strictly nocturnal.

Is there a dog, like maybe a rat terrier, that would hunt weasels but NOT kill my chickens?

A LGD (livestock guardian dog) puppy that is PROPERLY bred, raised and trained is an asset to any livestock operation. But, you need to do research into the breeds and the breeder(s). My Aussies will hang out with the chickens (completely free ranging on 50 acres) if we are out doing something, but while they might chase off a weasel or coon or possum, it’s not all that likely they will kill it. LGD’s raised by ethical, responsible breeders will NOT be socialized, they will be born and raised with the stock they will be protecting, and parents will be fully health checked (full DNA panel, hips/elbows/eyes). Ask around at the local vet offices and word of mouth from local livestock people about breeders in your area.

 

[ThatUserNameAlreadyTaken]

Last summer my little backyard flock was attacked by a weasel. I know it was a weasel because I went out in the middle of the attack and it vanished, after killing chickens that were inside a large kennel cage (for protection from the "raccoon" I thought had attacked them the night before.)

Weasels are the only predator small enough to slip between bars and vanish in the night, unseen.

Now I'm terrified to let my chickens forage out of their coop even during the day, because weasels are not strictly nocturnal.

Is there a dog, like maybe a rat terrier, that would hunt weasels but NOT kill my chickens?

I've had collies (Highland), Llewellin Setters, English Pointers and Springer Spaniels. Not a single one of them ever attacked our chickens. As a puppy, the Pointer might have chased a hen or two, but that was short lived play of their youth.

Of those breeds, the absolute best at killing raccoons, weasels, opossums, etc., were the Highland Collies that we owned. Great dogs, but they aren't worth a tinker's damn for pheasants and quail. They don't point or hold for the flush.