Huskys and chickens

[ranchhand]

Given your statement above, I have to say that the "dream dog" is just that. And your husband hates them. That alone would cancel the plan for me. My husband is far more important that a dream dog which may also kill your dream chickens.

I'd suggest a compromise- get a dog that husband likes as well and build a fenced run/coop and get the chickens. Huskies are incredibly active dogs and require more hours of work than most kids. Take the middle road and everyone will be happy!

 

[sourland]

Well, kvmommy, you could get rid of the chickens and take up sled dog racing. Went to Jeff King's kennels on a trip to Alaska. Great experience!

 

[michickenwrangler]

I have a part husky (3/4 lab, 1/4 husky) and she acts more lab than husky. She is great with the chickens because she considers them part of her "pack." However, she does have a strong drive to attack small dogs. Huskies are very high energy and need a job. Even my part husky, when she was younger the only way I could wear her out is if I took her for a walk when I was riding the horse!

 

[kvmommy]

I'm looking to show my husky and get into ski-joring. i've been researching this forever. Maybe with enough activities and treating the chickensike a pack we'll be ok. Biiig maybe. lol

 

[MrsPinkKitty]

well i know that german shepards didnt do well around my flock

 

[cafarmgirl]

Quote:
It is entirely possible to have both. It's simple really, I've been doing it for years. My chickens have a coop and large run, well fenced and includes a hot wire around the outside at dog nose level. Work's beautifully. My dogs also have enclosures for when I'm not around or when the chickens are out in my pasture. So at my house, never the two shall meet. But, if you are expecting the dog to learn to mix with the chickens, well then, I would not even give it a big maybe.

 

[greekbioguy]

i would not trust any dog in the same area with chickens. you kan keep them as long as they never come in physical contact. dogs like to bite everything, especially pupies and chicken necks are not buit to be used as chew toys

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

You've got tiny kids, you're a Navy wife, and you have chickens? Honestly, I'd seriously consider a different breed (and, though I hate to burst your bubble, you won't be considered an ideal candidate for any show breeder to put a show puppy with). Sibes are SOOOOO high-needs. It's not just high drive, it's the incredible exercise needs and they're loud and sensitive and they chew on little kids (not meanly - I mean that they use their teeth a lot and don't learn bite inhibition as easily) and they jump on toddlers and knock over babies and they need eight-foot fences and ... well, I've got my entire life set up to make dogs happy, and I won't bring a Siberian Husky in.

What is it about Siberians that attracts you? The color? The eyes? The skijoring? All of those can be gotten in other, less demanding breeds. It sounds like a Siberian is your dream dog in terms of looks, but I doubt it's actually your dream dog in terms of your household, at least right now. When the kids are older and there's no danger of deployment or transfer, it may become more of a possibility.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Not many dogs around here but boy when they are!!!
We have a pom that I don't trust around my chickens, the next door neighbors dog

has been peering into the chick pen, he's smaller than our pom so they could probably beat him up. The other neighbor lives across a field about a quarter mile away and has 3 huskys. They only get out about 5 times a year but they hunt as a pack and make a bee line for my house looking for poms and chickens for appetizers before dinner. They rarely respond when she calls so it's a concern, in fact she usually has to walk the neighborhood looking for them. Here's one on their last trip to my yard, they were sizing me up as prey.

They live in a barn and don't have nearly enough to do.

I believe some of the sheep guard breeds like anatolian, Akbash and Maremma if raised with a flock will think it's a chicken - here's a thread on the subject
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=4005039
It can't be a herding breed but a guard breed.
Some of those breeds could even go skijoring with you.
You might even try it with a newfoundland, they're great for pulling.

 

[michickenwrangler]

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If you search through the Livestock and Other Animal section, you'll see several fairly recent (within last month) threads on huskies. They are not dogs for a novice owner and while they are gorgeous, they are first and foremost working dogs. They have as much stamina as a horse and very wolf-like behavior in addition to the gorgeous appearance. Again, even with a part husky, I have to be very careful with her around other dogs. If it is smaller than she is and canine, she'll go after it. She's fine with cats, chickens, horses, deer, even rabbits, but she does not like small dogs and this is very consistent with wolf behavior as they will go after domestic dogs, foxes and coyotes.

Showing dogs can take up a lot of your time for grooming and prep (not to mention money plus training and trainer, latter needed if you are novice to showing). You would also need to take the dog skijoring every day to wear it out.

Again, even the part husky I have would only receive the exercise she needed when she was young if I took a trail ride on horseback and she came with me.

So unless you can take the dog out for a 5 mile run every day or mush the kids to school and back, look into a golden retriever.

Your children are also young. You want a dog that will tolerate being poked in the eye on occasion.