Good Dog With Birds

[sgtmom52]

We have a 10 year old Beagle who was introduced to our 1 week old chicks when he was 9 years old. He now walks around the yard with them while they free range and collects the occassional eggs that they lay in the woods. We usually feed him the ones he finds as we are unsure how old they might be. When he hears one sound an alarm he checks on them to see what they are squawking about. But I must stress that he is not a typical Beagle! In 5 years he has only left our property 1 time (in hot pursuit of a stray cat right after we moved here) - we have 6.5 acres and no fence. He does not eat our cats food from their dish even though it is sitting out all the time and never treasure hunts in the litter pan! He is such a sweetheart!

However, we are now more than doubling the size of our chicken run as we are getting 2 black German Shepherd puppies on Sept. 21st

and know that even with extensive training there is no guarantee that they will be as good as the Beagle with the chickens. Time and training will tell if we can still free range the chickens with the German Shepherds out.

 

[ams3651]

I think it all depends on the dogs personality. Ive said before my beagle thinks from day one that they were her babies. Even when one jumped from the box at 2 weeks, I found her on my bed, she had carried it and was licking it. This morning she 'herded" them from the porch to the side yard where they are supposed to be. Never taught her, she just wanted them over there. Never barked or anything, just happily rounded them up. I wouldnt say they love her back but they respect her.

I do have to mention, we got her from the pound where she was dropped off because she wouldnt hunt. She likes to run off to the neighbors but seems she always comes back. But she does have instinct to hate ground hogs and cats, tries to chase bunnies but they are to fast for our little Pork Chop of a dog.

 

[Jessika]

We have mixed breed male (fixed) dogs (mom a full blood pit and dad was a rot/lab mix) and we had to train them not to chase. That was the hardest part.

I let my chicken out in the yard with the goats and the dogs just ignore the whole group now. They will sniff...but not chase or taste them.

Note: once last year they "broke" into my pen of layers (dug) and I caught them in there sleeping. I had a bunch of slobbered birds.....one was bleeding a lil....definatly not attacked or shook...just someone was still working on their soft bird mouth and got a lil rough. Bird was fine...still is....and I disciplined them and end of story. They can get in..they choose not to because mom will yell at them.

Same story with the ones in the yard.

All of my neighbors have lost birds to raccoons and coyotes. It has been a big issue this year. I haven't lost a one...but I have 2 big dogs roaming around.

We also have an aus shep but she is only 6 months old and needs a lil work. She rounds them up and keeps them moving (a lil too much). In time she will come around too.

 

[walkswithdog]

German Shepherds are my breed - when you go insane when both hit ten months - I'll be here.

Almost everyone I've ever known who got two at once had their hands full (moderator GSD board).

I am a retired professional dog trainer. I did it with four but I try to encourage actually normal people to only do one pup and a time.

And if they're siblings... fair warning sibling shepherds are NOT guaranteed to get along for life. We'd like to think so. It's not the case.

Just crate and train, give each separate time and attention, and pray for patience. I so don't envy you.

<Eight dogs, five shepherds - NOT NORMAL>

Hugs, Chere aka WWD

 

[Small Town Girl]

Lot's of good suggestions on this post. If you want a dog that is going to be good with chickens (and other animals), definitely look into a breed thats primary function is to guard livestock - great pyrenees, sheep dog, etc. I have a St. Bernard and I don't think he's even noticed that we've had chicks living in the house for the past three weeks....

 

[AtHomeDaddy]

2nd (or 4th or 10th, whatever) for the Great Pyrenees. Mine had never seen a chicken until last Friday, and he ended up abandoning his sleeping spot in the middle of the night to curl up beside the brooder.

The chicks don't love having his big ol' nose in their butts, but everyone seems to be getting along great!

 

[MagsC]

I dont know about most of them, but our cockers are completely uninterested in birds after they get a chance to check them out. Our chow cross tolerates them only because I say so. Not sure how he would be if I didnt supervise. And my daughters devil dachshund would love to have birds for lunch, though he too respects me and wont touch anything as long as I am around.

 

[SportTees]

Quote:
I have always wondered- Do st. Bernard's eat huge amounts since they are so big?

 

[reallemons1]

Our Sheltie (7 years old) is completely safe with chickens. The Collie (raised as a city dog for 3 years and here only 6 months) and the Jack Russell (2 years old) would chase a chicken to death.

 

[ChickenToes]

Yes, St. Bernards eat a lot. My mom's would go through 25 pounds of food in less than 2 weeks.