Free ranging chickens with a bird dog

[Hep44]

Any advice on getting a hunting dog used to chickens roaming the yard? Our dog is around the chicks/young chickens in the garage all the time and doesn't touch them, but some of them got outside and she unfortunately killed them. This is our first time having chickens and we'd really like to free range them. We had her outside today with our 3 month old Brahma and she never once bothered her, but we were supervising them the whole time. Any thoughts/tips?

 

[Barnmaradotte]

This can be tough. This is going to come down to the "leave it" command. I have an English Springer spaniel. I do know that some breed's are harder then others to train.
I would likely get the dog into clicker training if not already. Work on leave it exercises with the clicker and treats. Then start commanding to "leave it" for almost anything he has interest in and give a treat. Get to the point where you can walk him past poultry ( on lead ) and tell him leave it as soon as he even looks at them. This will still involve clicker's and treats. After a while you will notice the dog will only glance at them and then look the other way. Click and treat for it. This may take a while. Train it daily probably 3 times a day, 10 or 15 minutes at a time. Always end training on a high note. If you get frustrated, end the session early. You don't want start making bad decisions.

Good luck.

 

[Folly's place]

Bird dogs are so much easier to train than terriers! As mentioned above, it's about training, and more training, and supervision. Your dog needs to be solid on 'leave it!', and on leash, and then lots of time spent walking around outside, leashed. Do obedience training, and insist on him focusing on you, not the birds. Gradually decrease distance to the flock, and calmness, and interrupt any focus on the birds.
Puppies are easiest to train, but adults are doable, given time, practice, and realizing that this is a project for months, at least.
Progress from the 6' leash, to the 20' leash, to that much miligned (sp?) shock collar, as a really long leash, and then, take whatever time it takes.
Lots of praise for correct behavior!!!
Mary

 

[Hep44]

This can be tough. This is going to come down to the "leave it" command. I have an English Springer spaniel. I do know that some breed's are harder then others to train.
I would likely get the dog into clicker training if not already. Work on leave it exercises with the clicker and treats. Then start commanding to "leave it" for almost anything he has interest in and give a treat. Get to the point where you can walk him past poultry ( on lead ) and tell him leave it as soon as he even looks at them. This will still involve clicker's and treats. After a while you will notice the dog will only glance at them and then look the other way. Click and treat for it. This may take a while. Train it daily probably 3 times a day, 10 or 15 minutes at a time. Always end training on a high note. If you get frustrated, end the session early. You don't want start making bad decisions.

Good luck.

Thank you! That is very helpful. She is an English sprinter spaniel as well, and already knows "leave it", so hopefully we can make it work!

 

[SnootyHen]

I'm so sorry! Following this thread too because my 3 huskies have been so good with the chicks in the house both in the brooder and in their little "toddler coop" but we had them outside today and the dog who loves them most went crazy! It was like she didn't even recognize that these were her same chickens from in the house. Luckily, she responds pretty well to "leave it" and "not yours" (especially for huskies!) but it was pretty shocking to see her reaction to the same chicks she's been babysitting for 2 months but in a different environment.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Any advice on getting a hunting dog used to chickens roaming the yard? Our dog is around the chicks/young chickens in the garage all the time and doesn't touch them, but some of them got outside and she unfortunately killed them. This is our first time having chickens and we'd really like to free range them. We had her outside today with our 3 month old Brahma and she never once bothered her, but we were supervising them the whole time. Any thoughts/tips?

Unfortunately in my own experience (with a collie) the dog never learned to leave the chickens alone. I would be as careful as you can to monitor those chickens and the dog or try to keep them apart entirely if it were me. My doberman doesn't hurt my chickens, but at 14 years old you couldn't trust her with your life when it comes to leaving the trash alone. That's just my personal opinion, as I don't know your dog.

 

[centrarchid]

German Pointers used below. Female still operating. Train on adult chickens first, then work backwards on age of chickens with chicks last.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/planned-poultry-guarding-dog.426408/

 

[Barnmaradotte]

I know this will be sound kinda lame, but if your dog is fully "leave it" trained, you will likely never have to command a leave it on the same item again. We have Chickens, duck's, cows and goat's. I've only told him once on each species. He will occasionally "drive by" my ducks, but I thinks he does it just to get a rise out of them.
Just as cliche, training a dog is entirely on the handler. Success or failure.

Springers are so smart and eager to please. It should go well.
If you aren't savy on clicker training, it's worth getting a book. Even a simple one. Money well spent. And!! You can clicker train chickens.