Good small dogs for protecting flock

[lolson69]

I have a full size Australian Shepard he’s 50 lbs. He helps me put the hens away after grazing and the girls love him. He watches for hawks and watches over them.

 

[Buffalowingz]

Just wondering if there’s a smaller breed of dog that’s good for guarding chickens? I know corgis are good, but what else? I’m looking into buying a dog but also using it to guard the flock, especially since we want them to be free range in the day

I have a lab mix and she is great with the flock, I'm new to having a mixed flock but my hens follow my pup around the yard

 

[CLSranch]

I don't know if this was mentioned. A skiperkee(not sure on the spelling). Ex ship dogs for rats. Good for mice and as a kid I remember them helping herd the cattle after we got them up the road and back into the yard the rest of the way into the pasture. I don't remember them ever chasing the chickens or ducks. But that was 20-30 years ago.

 

[eileen2019-22]

Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Do you know if a black lab might be good? A friend of mine has two labs that get along great with the chickens but I’m not sure how they’d be[/QU

Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Do you know if a black lab might be good? A friend of mine has two labs that get along great with the chickens but I’m not sure how they’d be

 

[eileen2019-22]

We have a German Shepherd who is very protective of his girls!

 

[jess924]

I have a cur dog he’s our “cow dog” but he’s a good watch dog over my chickens. He’s not a small breed, but he is not huge either he weights around 55-60lbs. He has caught coons, possiums, and chased coyotes out of our yard more times then I can count...oh and he’ll catch and kill a snake right now. He’s a great all around dog, my parents and myself have had this breed my whole life. This is my guy in the pics with some of my girls and as you can see he just flat out hates them. lol

I have a mountain curr....looks a lot like ur dog. She is six and we only got the chickens last year...we’re chicks and super active which made her get way too excited...I would love to start interpreting her but worried I missed my opportunity. Having had this type of breed, what do u think?

 

[minaayindra]

Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Do you know if a black lab might be good? A friend of mine has two labs that get along great with the chickens but I’m not sure how they’d be

My reply to that? My Amish neighbor and friend went out of town for a weekend and left his very loving black lab behind with his flock of chickens. He had never seen any interest on the dog’s part and he had no reason to think there would be an issue since there were caregivers with the dog. When they came back into their yard, the first thing they saw was a head, then a body further down, then parts of things... he was so upset but I’ve heard this multiple times. Labs are great dogs who would do anything to please you; like any other inquisitive and active canine, that same love doesn’t transfer to running creatures!

 

[minaayindra]

Sorry, meant to post pic. This is a show dog, not my Gracie, who is mildly hearing impaired because she carries one ear up and one ear down. As for courage, I have seen her chase off three coyotes at once. But in all fairness, what we have around here that passes for coyotes are scrawny, rangy things not much bigger than a poorly-fed German shepherd - NOT those gigantic grey-wolf-sized things I've seen around Tuscon that could carry off a Rottweiler with one paw tied behind its back!
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Obviously you’ve seen the ones on my property then! lol. I found an excellent book about coyotes and their behaviors that gives their history. In PA and other east coast areas heading north areas, the coyotes are huge in comparison to those in other areas, different type of DNA. They look like wolves and can be very intimidating. YES, I would be very afraid to wrestle with one of the coyotes but the precious little Shrltues aren’t. Considering their size , I would be very hesitant to use them where coyotes are a known issue. On the other hand, Gracie sounds like she’s got it ALL going on- I’d put money on her!

 

[mbrobbins]

Thank you guys

a sheltie is a good herding breed and my brother has a border collie, that is excellent in rounding up the chickens but wouldn't hurt a day old chick, my friend raises Australian shepherds, and she has toy and miniature, so they can be trained to protect or herd your chickens high on the intelligence list

 

[Debby R]

Yeah, I see what you’re saying. Do you know if a black lab might be good? A friend of mine has two labs that get along great with the chickens but I’m not sure how they’d be

I show dogs and I would not think labs would be good for guarding. They're too inclined to chase a running chicken or try to "play".