How To Train Your Dog Not To Kill Chickens

[centrarchid]

So do I understand that I should not allow my Black and Tan to chase or follow the chickens? I have been taking my 8 week old out there every day with a leash to make sure he isn't showing signs if aggression, but I should not allow him to follow them around?

Pup can follow chickens around so long as it does not try chase or play with them (neither are aggression). Ideally chickens are adult, large and calm to facilitate control of pup. Make so pup finds excitement away from chickens. Will pup be used for hunting?

 

[KerenR]

5 hens are adults, 2 roosters and 28 hens are about 10 weeks old living in harmony with each other.

We will not use him for hunting, but maybe to trail deer that have been hunted. Primarily he will be a family pet that we want to live in peace with our chickens and even protect them when he's older.

 

[centrarchid]

5 hens are adults, 2 roosters and 28 hens are about 10 weeks old living in harmony with each other.

We will not use him for hunting, but maybe to trail deer that have been hunted. Primarily he will be a family pet that we want to live in peace with our chickens and even protect them when he's older.

Problems, short-term, will arize mos likely involving younger birds. Allow interactions with them only under supervision.

 

[OScarlet]

We had two adult dogs who were way too interested in the chicks we bought last summer so I did the following. Put the dog into a down then 'belly' (roll over onto side). Then I held the dog firmly but gently while tell her she was a good girl and stroking her. Then I sprinkled scratch around the dog very close to her and held her while the chickens peck it up. She is a little freaked out by this and will give the chickens a bunch of space, especially when they flap or run. I repeat it any time I see either dog being a little more casual around the birds. They leave them alone.

That said, I still don't completely trust one of our dogs with the chickens when we aren't supervising. She tends to act first and think second.

 

[bemba]

This is not a prey drive or herding drive issue. I use high energy hunting dogs and always have. The dogs are expected to free range simulataneously with poultry (mine are juveniles) without supervision. Too many people that have read up on dog breeds but not actually put them through their paces are saying what can and can not be done. It is a combination of training and conditioning that is needed.

Keeping a dog penned up or in house except to use bathroom is not putting it through paces. Neither is keeping a dog for show purposes. Get to know your dogs. Develop communication so you have control. The dog needs a focus of interest that is not directly chicken / livestock oriented. Give the dog outlets for energy so it is not expended on poultry. You can realize a situation where poultry are safe like household furniture in the company of the dogs.

Perfectly said! This is exactly how my dogs are with our birds.... They are just like a piece of furniture or other pack members total indifference! Love how you explained this

 

[bemba]

I was told all my dogs would kill birds when I bought them as pups, but I've done basically the same as what Centrarchid has done, with excellent results! I could lock my dogs up in a fowl house full of day old chicks and not have to worry, in fact they view the chicks as "puppies" and really dote on them.

With my latest pup Kodah (Working German Shepherd) which I got at 8 weeks old. I basically took her outside when it was feeding time so we were mobbed by fowl all around, at first she was a bit inclined to run toward something but as the fowl got thicker and noiser around us this really intimidated her so she was looking all around just sitting there, then I would throw grain all around her and then she had no personal space LOL It worked perfectly, now 8 months on she is absolutely fantastic with them all. I have a few birds who still chase her and she won't retaliate. If she has a bone the chickens flock around her trying to steal bit of meat, she will growl and mock charge like dogs do to each other....never bites them though.

 

[roadsendchicken]

How is your turkey? We have the same one and just found out that they can't roam together with chickens or they get black head disease or something along those lines. Looks like you got lucky if they're roaming around together! And my chocolate lab is the same way, he plays with the chickens and just sun bathes out in the grass while all of our birds walk around him!

 

[bemba]

There is some truth to that statement but it's generally only as a precaution... Adult turkeys in top form will be able to fight it off with no ill effects. I generally keep young poults and peachicks elevated for a few months before they are free to roam.

 

[roadsendchicken]

okay thanks, good to know. we just learned about this so will keep an eye out and watch for any signs, but they have been doing good so maybe they got past it. Thanks !

 

[kyexotics]

Our first massacre was at the hands of our 6 dogs...They got out and we came home to a slaughter house of ducks and chickens...They are untrainable at this point...We did, however, acquire a great pyranees that has stopped all predator traffic and so far is great with ducks and chickens...We still keep him chained during day when ducks are out and he can access chickens as his mitts are so big he could crush any bird on the yard, so until trained, chained during the day, except when training, and runs the 2 acre range at night, keeping it safe!..

He's Sarge and he's a badass at 6mths and 50lbs so far...