How do we train our dogs not to kill our chickens?

[Thistlelady]

We just got our first chicks. We have 2- 7 week old Barred Rocks and 3- 1 week old EE's. I have a 5 yr old Labradoodle & a 8 month old Yorkie.
I want to free range my girls, but my dogs need to know they are not food or toys first.

Any help PLEASE!

 

[ellie32526]

We just got our first chicks. We have 2- 7 week old Barred Rocks and 3- 1 week old EE's. I have a 5 yr old Labradoodle & a 8 month old Yorkie.
I want to free range my girls, but my dogs need to know they are not food or toys first.

Any help PLEASE!

There are many training methods available but it will depend on your ability as a trainer which one you use. There is Cesar's method if you are the 'Pack Leader' type, which it doesn't sound like you are. There are shock collars available if you are not bothered by the idea of the shock collar. I use a spray bottle with water for my Pittie who hates water, but that is only effective as long as I am between him and the chickens.

The bottom line is dogs will be dogs and chasing chickens is just pure fun for them. We have 7 dogs of various sizes in our family and have surrendered the idea of training them to leave the chickens alone, so we have designated a yard for the chickens and a yard for the dogs, never the twain shall mingle.

Of course there's always a tractor so the chickens can free range a different area of the yard each day, but that is work for you to move the tractor each day. Good Luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Thistlelady]

There are many training methods available but it will depend on your ability as a trainer which one you use. There is Cesar's method if you are the 'Pack Leader' type, which it doesn't sound like you are. There are shock collars available if you are not bothered by the idea of the shock collar. I use a spray bottle with water for my Pittie who hates water, but that is only effective as long as I am between him and the chickens.

The bottom line is dogs will be dogs and chasing chickens is just pure fun for them. We have 7 dogs of various sizes in our family and have surrendered the idea of training them to leave the chickens alone, so we have designated a yard for the chickens and a yard for the dogs, never the twain shall mingle.

Of course there's always a tractor so the chickens can free range a different area of the yard each day, but that is work for you to move the tractor each day. Good Luck with whatever you choose.

We have a small urban yard, so having two areas will probably not work. We also just build a big stationary coop, so a tracker coop is also out. We are the "pack leaders" and our dogs are well trained but have never until last week even seen a chicken. Right now they are small and squeak kinda like their toys and I really need tips. I will look into the Cesar method. I have not had luck with shock collars, I had a dog burned badly by one in the past. Neither of my dogs mind water, but was was told to add vinegar and it helps more.

The reason I ask for help is we have never introduced the dogs to a new type of animal before except cats and they are very good with cats.

 

[ellie32526]

We have a small urban yard, so having two areas will probably not work. We also just build a big stationary coop, so a tracker coop is also out. We are the "pack leaders" and our dogs are well trained but have never until last week even seen a chicken. Right now they are small and squeak kinda like their toys and I really need tips. I will look into the Cesar method. I have not had luck with shock collars, I had a dog burned badly by one in the past. Neither of my dogs mind water, but was was told to add vinegar and it helps more.

The reason I ask for help is we have never introduced the dogs to a new type of animal before except cats and they are very good with cats.

I watched an episode where Cesar Milan trained a dog to respect a new baby in the house because the dog was jealous of the new baby and was being aggressive to it. I think Cesar is the bomb! Good Luck!

 

[Thistlelady]

Anyone ever done this?
http://www.canterlc.com/StopChickenKillerDogs/site/pages/home

 

[ellie32526]

Anyone ever done this?
http://www.canterlc.com/StopChickenKillerDogs/site/pages/home

Wow, sounds interesting. Not that expensive either. I might just give that a shot. It would be well worth it if it worked.

 

[browning6]

I have a lab that i trained to fetch duck and it took me a while but he knows now to not touch a chicken. The key for me was #1 to establish dominance so the dog knows that i was in charge. I used the method cesar uses where you pin the dog on his back by the neck and keep him there until he quits fighting it. after a couple times he will realize you are the dominant figure.

The second thing i did was put my dog on a leash and stage a chicken attack. i took him out by the coop and as soon as he saw a chicken run from him he was in hot pursuit. i let him hit the end of the leash really hard then i scolded him something fierce. When the dominant figure says NO!! my dog listens very well. I did that twice a day and on the third day he refused to even acknowlegde that the chickens even existed. Since then he has been a very good dog. I still don't leave him out in the coop but he never chases a bird.

 

[ellie32526]

I have a lab that i trained to fetch duck and it took me a while but he knows now to not touch a chicken. The key for me was #1 to establish dominance so the dog knows that i was in charge. I used the method cesar uses where you pin the dog on his back by the neck and keep him there until he quits fighting it. after a couple times he will realize you are the dominant figure.

The second thing i did was put my dog on a leash and stage a chicken attack. i took him out by the coop and as soon as he saw a chicken run from him he was in hot pursuit. i let him hit the end of the leash really hard then i scolded him something fierce. When the dominant figure says NO!! my dog listens very well. I did that twice a day and on the third day he refused to even acknowlegde that the chickens even existed. Since then he has been a very good dog. I still don't leave him out in the coop but he never chases a bird.

Sounds Awesome. It would be easier to train mine if there was only one or two, but with seven I sometimes feel it is impossible. They can all be doing good ignoring the chickens and one will get a little too close to the fence, then one of the dogs gets excited and they all go nuts barking like idiots. The chickens run for the house. I will have to try to do something soon. It could get out of hand if I don't get control of the situation and I could lose my hens.

 

[aart]

We have a small urban yard, so having two areas will probably not work. We also just build a big stationary coop, so a tracker coop is also out. We are the "pack leaders" and our dogs are well trained but have never until last week even seen a chicken. Right now they are small and squeak kinda like their toys and I really need tips. I will look into the Cesar method. I have not had luck with shock collars, I had a dog burned badly by one in the past. Neither of my dogs mind water, but was was told to add vinegar and it helps more.

The reason I ask for help is we have never introduced the dogs to a new type of animal before except cats and they are very good with cats.

I would introduce the dogs to the chickens much the same way you did with the cats. Start right away while the chicks are new. Basically you are teaching them that the chickens are part of the pack and must not be harmed. If you already know how to train a dog, you can so this too.

Maybe do a search on chickens and dogs, there are a couple very good threads on the forum addressing this with lots of first hand experience, to find some specific tips.

Good Luck!

 

[Lulluby]

I had a small dog(yorkie)when I had my old chickens, he would always try to attack them when we first got them. However, as they got to know each other I noticed my dog started to protect them. He would "stand guard" during the day when I let all of them out. I never had a problem with them ever since. Just make sure your dogs know that you are in charge. And that the chickens are another house-hold pet.

Hope this helps