How to raise dogs with chickens?

[werttyy]

I currently have a dog and I am very interested in raising some chickens. For those of you who have been in my situation, how do you get dogs and chickens to get along? I'm scared that my dog will bite or even eat the chickens, since he likes to bark at birds and chase squirrels.

 

[secuono]

You gotta watch 'em and keep on top of any aggression or when he pays too much attention to them, like stalking or staring. Start with chicks and get him to be around them a lot while they grow up. I wouldn't leave him alone with any chickens basically ever, unless you accept the fact you might loose one or more by accident.
My Dobie will chase squirrels, chipmunks, birds, etc. But when it comes to chickens, he knows they are different, unless they totally freak and fly off, he is fine wandering through the flock on his way to the other side of the yard. He is only interested in 'air-birds', not ground birds, lol. I had to teach him to leave them be, being a dobie and growing up with all sorts of prey animals around him, he got it quick.
What breed is your dog?

 

[ScotianChick]

What breed do you have? I got my golden retriever as a puppy shortly before I got my chicks. I would bring her out in the yard with the pullets and show them to her, let her smell them. When they got old enough to free range I would watch my dog closely. If she chased them, she was scolded and put back in the house. We did this until she finally learned. Thought sometimes she runs through them if she is excited and just tearing around the yard... I call that bowling for chickens

 

[GardeNerd]

Here was a post with some good advice on training dogs to behave around chickens:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=423861
A few of the techniques mentioned by the OP are similar to ones I used. A lot of time is spent desensitizing the dog to the chickens. My dog has caught birds, rats, and squirrels, so training was very important. Training is a slow process, but extremely important.

 

[allmypeeps]

Yes, great advice above...definately learn how to ''read'' your dogs body language and thoughts- the idea is to be a stern 'pack leader' -scold your dog for the mere THOUGHT of pouncing a bird...if he gets away with pounching/chasing he is apt to remember the FUN of it rather than the consequence of it which means he may very well attmept it again and again. Learn to correct before its allowed to reract. Hopefully he does not have a high prey drive as its hard to train that out.

Definately raise the chicks visibly to the dog/ meaning indoors or in easy view of the dog, care for them like little family members, dogs usually realize when something is ''part of the pack''. Handle the chicks around the dog, allowing to sniff and nothing more do this every time u care for the chicks. I call all tiny things ''babies'' around my dogs and they are trained to be very calm and nice to ''babies''...so anytime i want them to treat something with care I say "its a baby" and they pretty much know what that means. My cats were raised the same way. They wouldnt dare kill a baby chick.

I have 5 dogs, a pitbull, a smooth border collie, an aussie/pit, an aussie/sheltie, and a jackrussell/beagle/border collie mix. And they ALL get along fine with the chickens. in fact, the chickens rule the dogs -chicks hop all over them. The dogs however follow the chickens around as if they were ''candy dispensers''. lol and they often sneak in the coop to eat chicken grain. (which gives them explosive diarreah so I dont know why they insist on doing it!) I never worry about them with chickens...though the pitbull loves stealing eggs. lol I collected some one day and placed them on the deck....next thing I know they are gone and the darn dog's got yolk on her face! lol

Good luck with intergrading dogs and chickens! Worse case sinerio the chickens will need to be securely fenced.

Growing up, we had a family dog (rotti/pit/beagle) she would kill and EAT squirrels, rodents, ground hogs, and chase strange cats/dogs out of the yard...but she NEVER touched our pet rabbits and our chickens. We never even trained her that way, some dogs have good pack insticts and can tell what is supposed to be there and what is not.

I didn't placethe chick there, it fluttered up on the og's head and I just held them still to take the pic. So cute! lol

 

[werttyy]

My dog's breed is a toy sized american eskimo dog. He is currently one year and a half. By the way, thanks for all the comments so far!!

 

[waryyear950]

I was lucky both my dogs were more worried about what the chickens were eating than eating the chickens!

 

[MareeZoCool]

I have 2 Jack Russell Terriers, notorious small animal killers,BUT they won't bother my chickens!
We introduced the dogs to the peeps on a daily basis as soon as the peeps were 2 weeks old, and we took them outside for a few hours. We sat outside all the time to protect them, and remind those dogs of their manners! After a few months, the dogs became protective of "their" chickens, and will chase off any hawks, or other stray dogs wandering near our property.

 

[newchik715]

my dog is a blue heeler and he killed a chicken with his previous owner so needless to say i was waorried about having him around them. i took a very aggressive stance bc of his history. i would let him sniff the babies when i allowed it and only when i allowed it. i said "mine. My babies" to him all the time and corrected him for showing unwanted attention. he would not even look at them if i did not allow him to. seems harsh but once they got into the yard together i could see i had done what was right for my dog and the birds. we have only had a small flock for a year now but i trust that dog and do not like to let the chickens out without him in the yard because we have an eagle's nest nearby. i still supervise though. and often times i will not let the dogs out with the chickens for casual interaction. it is best to keep my dog on his toes!

 

[mrathb]

hi


i have two dogs and one rabbit and i am getting chicks the dogs are very friendly but i am concerned how the best way to introduce them so do not scare chickens or dogs/rabbit.

thank you

dawn
xxx