how to protect my chickens

[cracked egg]

we had german shepard before she would kill the chickens but she did keep coyotes away. i'm thinking putting a muzzle on the pup and putting her by a chicken telling her no whenever she wimpers or growls, any suggestions for training a dog not to eat chickens?

my dogs were all pups, what I did,after the weimeramer killed one was to spank her and a mean no. Everytime she would try to sniff one it was the same treatment. After 3 days she pretty much stayed away. Now she patrols the perimeter 3 or 4 times a night,wakes us if she knows something is roaming around and plays around with the birds most of the time. Guess she considers them as her pack. The mini Aussie follows the other two dogs around and was trained by them. One other important thing is to praise the dog when it behaves the way you want it to.
Anytime a chicken cackles,or the guineas start carrying on the dogs are right there to see what's wrong.

 

[Ghostbelly]

thanks

 

[centrarchid]

I successfully use German Pointers (1 short-haired male and 1 long-haired female). Prey drive in those very high and they are usually employed to hunt birds in US. Prey drive is asset for me as it is directed towards predators of chickens.

I use a combination of imprinting and training. Coyotes are not a major problem for me, rather smaller predators are my biggest concerns and the dogs enjoy helping out.

If only one dog to be used, then bigger than mine is better. Several breeds (LGD's) have been developed to guard animals like sheep and goats but in many ways their management is different from typicall used by people expecting a pet or hunting dog. Some of the LGD's are prone to be people or dog aggressive under conditions that are not desired.


Dog upkeep can easily be more than that for birds. My dogs, excluding vet bills cost about the same as maintenance of 100 birds. I justify by having dogs work at hunting and as pets. Not all folks can pull off having dogs being flexible. The dog can easily be a bigger challenge than the birds.


Coyotes are pretty easy to beat through coop / run engineering and sometimes a combination of management and breed selection if birds free-ranged.

Research dogs and livestock thoroughly before going route of using them to protect poultry.

 

[Ghostbelly]

i was thinking about when the puppy was an adult i would buy it a dog house by the chickens (she would be leashed up to the doghouse) and whenever she started barking we could come out and check it out of course when she is a pup i won't do this and i will always play with her and take her for walks.

 

[centrarchid]

i was thinking about when the puppy was an adult i would buy it a dog house by the chickens (she would be leashed up to the doghouse) and whenever she started barking we could come out and check it out of course when she is a pup i won't do this and i will always play with her and take her for walks.

Many other threads are relavent to your interest with some dealing with particular issues. See mine below as to how process progressed.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/426408/planned-livestock-guarding-dog-for-poultry

 

[furbabymum]

I've got 2 LGD's. A great pyr and an akbash. If you've never handled this type of dog before I wouldn't suggest getting one. They can be difficult for new dog owners to handle as they are strong and independant. Plus, they require training. We are in the process of training and while they aren't killing any chickens neither are they protecting them from anything. Course our predator is also a bird so I don't think they "get it".

Anyway, I've a neighbor who has a GSD that does a decent job at protection. She's lucky enough that it shows no interest in hurting her birds. It's not the most protective dog out there though so I'm not sure I'd go that route.

 

[furbabymum]

i was thinking about when the puppy was an adult i would buy it a dog house by the chickens (she would be leashed up to the doghouse) and whenever she started barking we could come out and check it out of course when she is a pup i won't do this and i will always play with her and take her for walks.

So you are planning on leaving this dog outside permanently? Where do you live? It's just a lonely existance and most dogs that aren't bred for the purpose of guarding livestock will not do well when left alone. They are social/pack animals. Livestock bred dogs are better equipped mentally to deal with the trial of having only what they are gaurding as a companion. Keep that in mind.

 

[Ghostbelly]

no if i housed trained her i could keep her inside.

 

[centrarchid]

I've got 2 LGD's. A great pyr and an akbash. If you've never handled this type of dog before I wouldn't suggest getting one. They can be difficult for new dog owners to handle as they are strong and independant. Plus, they require training. We are in the process of training and while they aren't killing any chickens neither are they protecting them from anything. Course our predator is also a bird so I don't think they "get it".

Anyway, I've a neighbor who has a GSD that does a decent job at protection. She's lucky enough that it shows no interest in hurting her birds. It's not the most protective dog out there though so I'm not sure I'd go that route.

At work we have nearly a dozen LGD's. Most are Great Pyrenees must others are Comodore or Akbash. All are imprinted on sheep / goats and are competitent against predators against their charges. My favorite as it compares to what I consider to be the ideal defending poultry is the Akbash which until just a couple days ago I thought was an Anitolian - German Sheperd cross. That dog is very good speed and agility, yet is big enough to handle even most domestic dogs. I think it is much more suited than the Great Pyrenees and Comodore for dealing with foxes. In have no doubt all three breeds could have been imprinted on chickens but the flocking habits and limited ranging habits are not well suited for how such dogs are bred to operate. Nonetheless, if the Akbash were confined in an area that encompasses the poultry flocks entire free-ranging area I think such would not only deal effectively with foxes but would quickly learn language of its poultry charges and begin to repell raptors as well. Still manage so poultry have some cover to buy dog time to get over and harass raptor.

 

[furbabymum]

At work we have nearly a dozen LGD's.  Most are Great Pyrenees must others are Comodore or Akbash.  All are imprinted on sheep / goats and are competitent against predators against their charges.  My favorite as it compares to what I consider to be the ideal defending poultry is the Akbash which until just a couple days ago I thought was an Anitolian - German Sheperd cross.  That dog is very good speed and agility, yet is big enough to handle even most domestic dogs.  I think it is much more suited than the Great Pyrenees and Comodore for dealing with foxes.  In have no doubt all three breeds could have been imprinted on chickens but the flocking habits and limited ranging habits are not well suited for how such dogs are bred to operate.  Nonetheless, if the Akbash were confined in an area that encompasses the poultry flocks entire free-ranging area I think such would not only deal effectively with foxes but would quickly learn language of its poultry charges and begin to repell raptors as well.  Still manage so poultry have some cover to buy dog time to get over and harass raptor. 

I've heard quite a few people that prefer akbash. The farmer we got our pup from said he traded from pyre to akbash because. The pyr was "too lazy ". I'm Interested in seeing how our pup turns out. So far he's. A hellion.