If you have a dog.....

[LyonFuzz]

My two female dobermans love the chickens. The birds have literally stepped over them while free ranging in the yard.

 

[redhen]

How did you all train your dogs to be safe with the chickens??

 

[Critter Crazed]

I have a Golden Retriever who is also our hunting dog. She loves the chickens so much.
When they were hatching, I had her watch them and then I let her sniff each one. She would go downstairs to the brooder and just lay down by the box (she never goes downstairs).
Now she sits by the chicken coop on her "post" and "guards" the coop!!
There was a chicken hawk sitting on the coop one day and she sure did let us know!

And yet if she saw a chipmunk, mouse, squirrel, anything she would want to kill it! It's really weird because when I had my hamster she loved my hamster too. Even though he looked really similar to a chipmunk, I could leave my hamster and my dog alone in a room, come back and ask my dog "Where's Peanut?!" (hamster's name was peanut) and she'd find him for me!

I think golden retriever is the way to go for a family pet, hunting dog, and chicken guard.

Oh, and I also believe just sitting your dog down by your chickens and letting them sniff the chickens and telling your dog that they are family not food is the way to train. Also, hug and snuggle the chicken with your dog watching to show her that they ARE part of the family. Then when the dog behaves, make a big deal and give the dog lots of treats.

That what I did.

 

[BlacksheepCardigans]

We have Cardigan Welsh Corgis that are wonderful with the birds, but I still don't let them in unsupervised. I usually have to do one big lesson on "don't chase chickens" and after that they realize that they're supposed to herd them, not chase them. My current puppies will go so far as to gently nudge them with a nose but won't move them at anything faster than a walk.

The Bad Dogs - my Dachshund/Jack Russell and my sister's Catahoula - are death on paws. I have a young rooster recovering in a bird cage upstairs right now from a broken leg and multiple punctures from five minutes with the gate left ajar. If he makes it, he'll be a great forever-lesson on why you do NOT neglect the latch when Bramble is out.

 

[pips&peeps]

Two mini schnauzers and a chocolate lab never even thought about looking cross eyed at my birds.

 

[JustAChickenLittle&More]

I have two old english bulldogs, and one rottie mixed. My rottie grew up with chickens and he thinks he is the dad. Never bother them. My female bulldog the same. I can't say that for my male though. He was raised by someone else and he is a sweetie, but he is still young and loves the chase. He has never hurt any of them, but I wouldn't take the chance. Actually we put him up for sale just the other day. He is fawn and white, Big fat head and wrinkles on that nose.

 

[muscovy94]

When my dog Junior was a pup he did kill one of my fantail pigeons. But after the spankin he got, he doesn't even dare to look at the birds anymore lol. He's a good dog and we now trust him around the birds.

 

[busybeelee]

We have a Great Dane. She is wonderful with the chickens. For the most part she ignores them. A couple of times she has chased after them when we were trying to herd them. Mostly I just worry she might step on them.

 

[scbatz33]

We have a ten year old rottie who couldn't care less about the birds......

She loves them as babies though...right after they first hatch she is interested but after the third or so day she couldn't care less

And a not quite two year old Neo/cane corso who doesn't usually pay much attention but every now and then likes to play with the feathery toys.....

Oh and yeah, that is a 12" pony saddle on him. Since everyone calls him a horse we thought we'd put one on and see if it fit...he was NOT happy!

 

[Eggie and Me]

We have 7 hens who are guarded by our mini doxie and boston terrier. Both dogs are great with the girls.