Good small dogs for protecting flock

[Ghosty]

I have a Cairn Terrier, Lula, that lays right next to my chickens. She only required a few reprimands at the beginning to not run them off. She seems to especially like the game hens and will sniff at them and pal it out by the porch. She is a great watch dog, and that is her favorite job to do. She has to go barking and cheking things out at regular intervals. She is older now and very smart. I leave her out most of the day. She comes and goes as she pleases. Any puppy or dog will need to be trained to chickens. I have two Border Collie/Great Pyr crosses and I sat with them a long time in the yard for several weeks with the chickens, when they were pups. Still, they leave the chickens alone, but will run them the heck over if they don't scatter, when they are fighting and being rambunctious. Fortunately, the birds have learned this and gtho. They are great watch dogs though, and I got them more to protect the property, but they are ok with the birds. It's just that herding dogs or lgd's can be a little rough.

 

[micstrachan]

I have a female border collie who was raised with my second batch of chicks. She is AWESOME with them. She mostly ignores them, except when it’s time to let them out, she excitedly waits at their gate. I control her position in the yard with the ball. The chickens are only allowed free range time when the dog is with me to deter predators.
I believe she would attempt to protect them from anything. Once we had a maintenance guy here and when her leaned over to say hello to the chickens, my dog went ape sh*t. She also chase off anything that doesn’t live here. Another time, my friend brought her huskie by and when she saw the bunnies, she went crazy. My dog was very upset and was trying to call off the other dog. A third time, my neighbors bullmastiff wandered into the yard. He’s probably too slow to catch anything, but he’s huge. Before I even saw him, Lexi ZOOMED across the yard straight toward him, circled him, and then got right in his face. I think she might have been protecting the flock. I haven’t trained her for any of these things, but she knows they are part of the family. She does know “leave it.” We also have our own word, “gentle,” and she understands that, too. Sometimes she she’s zooming after a ball and doesn’t see a chicken in her path, I yell “gentle!” and she’ll look for the bird and change course.

Having said all that, for strictly guarding, I’d go Great Pyrenees. However, border collies are super smart and eager to please. Mine has been great with my flock, I think mostly because I’m her main person and she knows the birds are dear to me. She’s a good girl!

 

[danceswithronin]

Have you considered geese? Apparently many people use geese as guardians of chicken flocks the way that they run a donkey with flocks of sheep or goats, a donkey will take on a predator like a dog and so will a large goose. They'll raise a heck of a ruckus as an alarm if anything does come poking around. And they have a reputation for breaking up fights among other birds in the flock.

They're also less general maintenance than a dog since you have chickens already. And I wouldn't think they'd have to be trained other than to be raised among the chickens to imprint on them.

 

[mixedbreeds]

My lab is also a hunting dog geese, ducks, quail and pheasants. He loves the chickens and would never harm one, I have had boxes of chicks in the house and he doesn’t bother them at all. He also does chance off hawks he seen me yell at a couple of red tail hawks sitting above the barn and now if they land anywhere near the chickens he runs and barks till they fly and chases them to my property line. He does not do that when I’m hunting. To BS to the chicken killing lab comment you need to know how to train a dog period.

 

[duluthralphie]

My lab is also a hunting dog geese, ducks, quail and pheasants. He loves the chickens and would never harm one, I have had boxes of chicks in the house and he doesn’t bother them at all. He also does chance off hawks he seen me yell at a couple of red tail hawks sitting above the barn and now if they land anywhere near the chickens he runs and barks till they fly and chases them to my property line. He does not do that when I’m hunting. To BS to the chicken killing lab comment you need to know how to train a dog period.

Just like my Lab.. chicks crawl right up on her back...

Chickens are not pheasants my dog knows the difference

 

[danceswithronin]

Just like my Lab.. chicks crawl right up on her back...

Chickens are not pheasants my dog knows the difference

My dog is a golden retriever and he is... not bright.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you guys

We've had herding breeds -- Border Collie, 3 Rottweilers, and an Olde Boston Bulldogge (years and years ago) and as great as these herders are, they are just THAT -- herders -- not guardians. The difference instinctively between herders and guardians is that a herder dog will leave the herd, flock, or gaggle to go chase after a predator while usually a 2nd predator circles to make an attack while the herder is off chasing the first predator. A guardian breed stays in the midst or circles its herd/flock and does not chase off after a predator -- probably instinctively knowing there may be another predator coming up in the rear. Guardians are not bad at being family dogs as they will consider a family their "flock" but a well-trained guardian breed is your best bet. One drawback about guardian breeds is that they are all in the 100+lb range and need a lot of exercise space. If it's just a backyard, a guardian breed will be terribly bored. Guardians are accustomed and bred to wander hills and valleys with their herds/flocks and be in the midst of sheep or cattle so exercise is provided naturally that way. I strongly do not suggest a herder or working guard dog breed (Shepherds, Dobies, Rotties, etc) but search the internet for lists of actual "guardian flock-type" breeds and not working class or guard-type breeds and certainly not hunting bird dogs either! GL!

 

[centrarchid]

We've had herding breeds -- Border Collie, 3 Rottweilers, and an Olde Boston Bulldogge (years and years ago) and as great as these herders are, they are just THAT -- herders -- not guardians. The difference instinctively between herders and guardians is that a herder dog will leave the herd, flock, or gaggle to go chase after a predator while usually a 2nd predator circles to make an attack while the herder is off chasing the first predator. A guardian breed stays in the midst or circles its herd/flock and does not chase off after a predator -- probably instinctively knowing there may be another predator coming up in the rear. Guardians are not bad at being family dogs as they will consider a family their "flock" but a well-trained guardian breed is your best bet. One drawback about guardian breeds is that they are all in the 100+lb range and need a lot of exercise space. If it's just a backyard, a guardian breed will be terribly bored. Guardians are accustomed and bred to wander hills and valleys with their herds/flocks and be in the midst of sheep or cattle so exercise is provided naturally that way. I strongly do not suggest a herder or working guard dog breed (Shepherds, Dobies, Rotties, etc) but search the internet for lists of actual "guardian flock-type" breeds and not working class or guard-type breeds and certainly not hunting bird dogs either! GL!

Most people with chickens do not have the acreage for which large dogs are best suited. The usual concept of dogs bonding to stock may not be best when considering chickens as the chickens do not cooperate and are easier to take than are the types of stock the livestock guardian dogs are bred to protect.

Where I work, we currently use at least 2 breeds of livestock guardian dog (Akbash and Great Pyrenees) to protect herds of either goats or sheep. The dogs are operated in pairs. The livestock are rotated through paddocks that range between two to just over ten acres. Much of the time the dogs are close the stock, but sleeping patterns of dogs and stock differ markedly. The two groups can separate while the dogs are sleeping where the distance between can approach that of the crossection of the paddock which can approach 300 yards. The paddocks are not perfect squares and noodled around research plots and other areas like buildings. Additionally the dogs (Akbash in particular) can clear fences and do walk abouts that take them a least 1/2 mile from paddock containing the stock they protect. Despite this no stock are lost to predators. Foxes and sometimes even coyotes are able to move through the same paddocks so long as the do not doddle or turn their backs on dogs while disturbing sheep. If the stock where chickens, the chasing / handling a bird would be an extreme form of doddling that will bring dogs in your direction. What I have learned is that foxes at least will sometimes attempt to grab a living prey item and sprint to the fence line and clear. Packing the load slows the predator down a lot, enough for dogs like mine (see below) to run them down from behind to either force fox to release catch or even for fox to be captured / killed by dogs. The livestock guardian dogs are just as fast. There are limits to the distance dogs can catch up a fox from if the fox has fences to use as cover. In many instances a 100 yards is too great a distance.

I use bird hunting dogs and dual purpose herding / guard dogs with chickens. Neither are guarding the chickens directly, rather they are guarding the core of their territory and I try to keep them within that maximum 100 yard radius. To keep my dogs or the LGDs in closer requires fencing them in which can be done even with Akbash. My use of dogs with chickens is extensive and successful.

For those using fencing, it can also keep out larger dog threats. If multiple dogs used, then predators like coyotes and foxes are easy to beat even with medium sized dogs. I asked very pertanent questions yet important issues ignored because sound bites are easier to type out. You can tailor the dog component to the resources you have. There are no hard and fast rules you derive from dog breed descriptions on the internet, especially when the dog is used outside what it is bred for. No LGD's are bred to to protect chickens.

 

[50-45-1]

He also does chance off hawks he seen me yell at a couple of red tail hawks sitting above the barn and now if they land anywhere near the chickens he runs and barks till they fly and chases them to my property line

That is a great story!
Your border collie and my australien cattle dog are both herding breeds, but are extreemy smart.
My dog Mick has noticed me breaking up roosters fighting and now he also keeps the peace. The moment he hears wings flapping he runs over and sticks his face between them and they imediately sease and desist and run from him. He Never uses his mouth or bites them.
Dogs learn from our behavior, and also have a desire to please us.
Mick is a a great chicken minder

 

[centrarchid]

That is a great story!
Your border collie and my australien shepherd are both herding breeds, but are extreemy smart.
My dog Mick has noticed me breaking up roosters fighting and now he also keeps the peace. The moment he hears wings flapping he runs over and sticks his face between them and they imediately sease and desist and run from him. He Never uses his mouth or bites them.
Dogs learn from our behavior, and also have a desire to please us.
Mick is a a great chicken minderView attachment 1761466

My German Pointers have done the same, a lot. I am not certain about the dogs' motivation but I am good with the outcome.