Guard Dogs

[ARpullet]

Does anyone use dogs to protect their outside chickens? I have lost 4 hens in the last 2 months to hawks. My sister in Tennessee uses dogs with her sheep and she said they watch for hawks and all predators. I would appreciate any feedback you my have, like training the dog and the breeds you use. Thanks in advance.

 

[centrarchid]

I do it. Still work out from protecting chickens via other means. In my experience, the dogs do not just start protecting stock. More likely than you will be starting with a pup and have to work on rearing it and breaking it of wanting to harm stock through play.

I currently use English Shepherd and German Pointer but have used hounds as well. My approach involves training dogs to work with me in protecting site more than the birds directly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Ditto here

 

[chickens really]

I have a Maremma and an Aussie/Golden Retriever that watch over my Birds...

 

[ARpullet]

I do it. Still work out from protecting chickens via other means. In my experience, the dogs do not just start protecting stock. More likely than you will be starting with a pup and have to work on rearing it and breaking it of wanting to harm stock through play.

I currently use English Shepherd and German Pointer but have used hounds as well. My approach involves training dogs to work with me in protecting site more than the birds directly.

I have been coon hunting for 55 years and have always had blue-ticks. have stopped hunting because of knee problems, but thought I might try one, they are easy for me to work with. What do you think?

 

[centrarchid]

I have been coon hunting for 55 years and have always had blue-ticks. have stopped hunting because of knee problems, but thought I might try one, they are easy for me to work with. What do you think?

One of my best as I had kid was half bluetick / half black and tan. She was penned up during coon season.

 

[Nuffy]

One of my best as I had kid was half bluetick / half black and tan. She was penned up during coon season.

I have a Kangal dog that protects my flock about a week ago I stepped out of the barn in time to see him Leep into the air after a sharp shinned hawk
very deadly to my chickens have not seen the hawk back the crows help with the larger hawks but have seen him go after red tails l now limit free range because the hens go places he can't get to I am starting to think about getting 2 more gld , just need to socialize them to people, once they get to know it's the chickens you want them to protect it is easy just take them around the coop hens and run daily, put them in the run with the hens supervised. By the time he was 9 months he had his first kill a raccoon came into the pasture, he now watch's the f l ock like a hawk

 

[ammie1018]

Do they sleep in the coop, run with the flock? I'm building a coop for my chicken's, but the will have a run, fenced off section of my backyard. Do you have "pet" dogs also. If so how do you separate pet vs flock dog? Not letting it in the house and stuff the pets do?

 

[K813ZRA]

Well, not intentionally. I have a border collie and she does in fact run off small predators and or neighborhood strays etc and sound the alarm with something odd is going on. She rounds them up and puts them away when they refuse to go to bed, that is, when SHE thinks it is bed time for them. Sure is crazy to watch and that is pure instinct because I sure never taught her to do such a thing...I wouldn't even know how to begin teaching such a thing.

of course she is about as much of a farm dog as I am...lol. She is asleep on the couch right now. But 9 months of the year she is out there with 'her' chickens. She sure thinks they belong to her!

 

[Nuffy]

Do they sleep in the coop, run with the flock? I'm building a coop for my chicken's, but the will have a run, fenced off section of my backyard. Do you have "pet" dogs also. If so how do you separate pet vs flock dog? Not letting it in the house and stuff the pets do?

My dog stays in the house at night when the weather is not good the rest of the time I adjust. They hunt at night so when it's summer, he stays out. I have a big pasture for him to roam. I tend to give him time off when I am home. I don't have other dogs right before now I would start with a puppy when I get another. He is very good with my 6 cats and 4 horses and very loving with me. It will be up to you if you wont Him to stay in a run but I would teach him to go into a coop
There are many breeds of gld so be sure to read about them. Some can be a handful I am 115 LPs my dog is 150 I have no problems with control. But they are independent dogs. I would like a marram so next