OK - I'm going to jump in here and share some links to published articles I've written on training pups to be around and guard, poultry. They were in Backyard Poultry Magazine and Countryside Magazine earlier this year. But in the OP"s case, they aren't going to help - but - for others, I think it would behoove people to read them.
I'm going to stress with you how vital it is that you cannot expect success from non-LGD breeds and non-LGD breeds that are crossed with LGDs. That is a crap shoot - and a train wreck waiting to happen. LGDs are bred to have less and/or NO prey drive and come from centuries of breeding to guard flocks - not herd them, not chase them, not eat them. You're asking something from the dog he can't give you. German Shepherds are NOT LGDs.
The second thing: YOU are going to be involved in this, hands on, every day, for probably more time than you initially planned on. This is not "Chicken Guards 101 Auto Pilot". Teaching LGDs to remain with and protect fowl is a little trickier than sheep and cattle. Go into this with your eyes open. If you ever do get a real LGD, don't set the dog up to fail by expecting too much, too soon, or entirely the wrong stuff. Tying up a dog only increases frustration and aggression. Don't do it.
But again, you need to cut to the chase here: the German Shepherd is not an LGD, so you are fighting against the tide.
I have numerous clients with my LGDs working all over the country who successfully reared them to protect their poultry. All are either purebred recognized LGD breeds or a cross of known, recognized, purebred LGD breeds - no monkey wrench tossed in with high risk non LGD breeds. All of these people had great success. None of them did it from the kitchen table or the couch. No one used cameras, or hid out of sight. They were there, monitoring. Good old dirty work, hands on, lots of time and patience. Trial and error, praise, correction (and never inhumane - forget the tying the dead chicken around their neck BS), continual guidance. Baby steps.
If you cannot commit to the work it takes to bring up a (real) LGD on fowl - and it is work - then consider using other means to deter predators from your flock other than guardian dogs.
The rescues and shelters are overloaded now with LGDs of every breed and cross because they have unfortunately become a huge fad in America - and people THINK they HAVE to have them. Many people do not need them; even more should never even think of having them because their set up is not right, or they as an owner, just are not made out for the work that is involved and the responsibility.
There are no easy fixes. Again, German Shepherds are not the right breed to be using as an LGD. They are not guardian dogs for livestock.
There are many resources out there in books and on the Internet listing recognized LGD breeds. You will not see German Shepherds listed with any legitimate source. I have a blog, a website, and numerous published papers and articles out there all over the place in tons of ag magazines and newspapers, with free, good, solid advice and training tips. And in at least one article, if not more, I talk about the importance of not using non-LGD breeds to guard livestock. I hope you will avail yourself of them.
Having made a mistake in breed choice, my advice to you is this: swallow your pride, dust yourself off, pick yourself up, and re-purpose that dog as a family companion/guardian/pet. Stop trying to make something out of a dog that cannot and will not be an LGD. Think about making your fencing better and your coops secure. Give the dog a part in your family but don't expect him to guard fowl. Make wonderful lemonade out of this "lemon" situation. Place the dog in your lives so that he can be content, secure, happy and provide you with joy and companionship. Just don't try to make him an LGD.
This is where people get to find out if they have the grit it takes to be farmers - we all screw up, make mistakes…so don't be ashamed. Its how we learn from those mistakes that makes the difference and dictates our success in the end. Learn from this.
http://countrysidenetwork.com/topic...ct-your-poultry-with-livestock-guardian-dogs/
Livestock Guardian Dogs Keeping Heritage Hens Safe:
http://countrysidenetwork.com/tag/livestock-guardian/
Finally, the books I insist all of my clients own and read: Turid Rugaas, renowned dog behaviorist in Europe. Her books are affordable, easy to digest and read, and no hoy-faloy talk or PhD mumbo jumbo. Anyone can understand her books and if you will read them, you'll open your eyes to better understanding of dog body language and behavior that can help you have a more enjoyable relationship with any of your dogs, whether they are pets, herders, or LGDs.
http://https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=turid+rugaas
