Keeping my dogs away from the coop

[margaretweiss]

I just put three chickens in the coop. My two goldendoodles are very aggressive towards the chickens and the coop. They follow commands well but I am afraid that their instincts are taking over. I want to keep the chickens safe while letting my dogs out in the yard off leash. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[DobieLover]

I just put three chickens in the coop. My two goldendoodles are very aggressive towards the chickens and the coop. They follow commands well but I am afraid that their instincts are taking over. I want to keep the chickens safe while letting my dogs out in the yard off leash. Any advice is appreciated!

Electric wires around the coop and run charged with a 10,000 volt/1.2 Joule output charger does the job with my dogs. My two boys got one zap each on the fence and won't so much as look at the chickens now.

 

[Hencraze24]

What kinds of chickens?
Any roos?
If not, having just one rooster might keep your dogs away.

 

[Hencraze24]

Electric wires around the coop and run charged with a 10,000 volt/1.2 Joule output charger does the job with my dogs. The two boys got one zap each on the fence and won't so much as look at the chickens now.

Yes, fencing will work well

 

[BreanneRN]

You must let your dogs know that the chickens are part of the family and to be protected not attacked. Scold them when they act aggressive around the chickens. Show them you love and value the chickens. Say, "those are OUR chickens"... Use a leash to take them past the chicken coop while doing this training. If they lunge at the chickens, scold them and pull them back. Never use a food reward or leave them unattended with access to the coop until they exhibit total disinterest. This would not work with just any dog, but with Golden Doodles, who usually care a lot about what you think, and are very smart, this may work. In the meantime, while you establish this new attitude, yeah, use that electric fence! Every farmer that has ever had a farm dog, will sic his dog on chicken predators. That is another way of letting the dog know that chickens and other farm animals are to be protected, not attacked. A farm dog that doesn't learn doesn't last on the farm.

 

[getaclue]

Electric fence, or underground fence with shock collar.

 

[TwoShepherds]

I'm new to chickens... have my first batch of chicks right now, and we have two German Shepherds. I have my chicks in a brooder in the garage. I let the GSDs come out with me when I care for the chicks so that both the chicks and the dogs can get used to the sights, sounds, movements, and smells of the other. I'm hoping the dogs will perceive the chicks more as part of the "pack" since they're starting off in the garage/house with us.

Though they are going to share the backyard, I'm not going to allow the chickens to free range when the dogs are outside. I'm going to have a secure coop and run, and just let the chickens free range for a couple of hours most days when the dogs are inside. Still, I don't want the dogs bothering the chickens in their run.

I was advised by someone experienced in both chickens and GSDs to do puppy style obedience outside the chicken run, then work up to obedience inside the chicken run, and then finally just allow the dog to be around the chickens (which I don't actually plan to do). I was told to correct the dog for "any chase precursors - eyeing, crouching, freezing up, so it never escalates to the point of actual chasing. It's a lot harder to break them of the habit once they learn how much fun birds are to chase."

I don't know how this will work on my dogs, as the chicks are still in the brooder in the garage. The GSDs haven't shown much interest in them yet. I hope to keep it that way.

Good luck with your dogs. I hope you figure out a solution.

 

[pennyJo1960]

The electric fence can be bought at any farm store talk to them about the strength you want best deterrent

 

[aart]

You must let your dogs know that the chickens are part of the family and to be protected not attacked.

Yes...training!
Takes time and patience.

 

[ColtHandorf]

"Yes...training!
Takes time and patience."

And maybe a little alcohol...lol

My two miniature dachshunds could care less about the chickens. And the geese are to be avoided at all costs. My male standard poodle is great with the geese because they don't run away. In fact yesterday morning I let them out to use the bathroom before work, popped in the house to pack a lunch, and looked outside and he was in the pen with the male goose. I have no idea how he got in there. I'm sure he just pushed under the wire but they were both just walking around while he ate goose poop.

My female poodle however is a maniac and love, love, loves, to chase the birds. I purchased a training collar and the vibrate function is very effective when I tell her to leave it and she doesn't. She still bounces around the yard but is less exuberant about bouncing off the fence, barking at them, or running up and down the fence line trying to get them to run from her.