LGD Eating her charges

[Greendecember]

Quote:
I wish there were more 100%s in life but I'm afraid you are correct.

I did some talking with some local dog rescues. Being in a more rural area they see many dogs re-homed for incompatibility with livestock. The consensus tends to be neutered males are better with the birds but again nothing is 100%. I am in NO WAY looking for her a new home. Just a way that everyone can LIVE on the farm

 

[Greendecember]

Quote:
I'm not a shock collar fan myself. Besides, she is too smart to do it while I am watching. That is why I can't be 100% sure she is the killer and not just reaping the rewards of something she spooked off it's kill.

I am considering electric poultry fencing though. Since their wings are not clipped they have run of the farm but this way they will have an outdoor safe zone besides their coop.

 

[mulewagon]

Hmmm, you know, you could spray the bodies with something nasty, like the bitter apple flavor that people put on leashes to keep the dogs from chewing. That would keep the dog from developing a taste for chicken, even if she's not the original culprit.

One problem about dogs is they just don't think like people. Our last dog, a rottweiler/ pit bull, was just great with the chickens - in the daytime. They would sleep in his house, peck his nose, eat his food, etc. But if one didn't return to the coop at twilight, it was dinner. Then at dawn, the birds were his buddies again. It was kind of creepy, the way his inhibitions vanished at night.

 

[Greendecember]

Quote:
Good idea in theory but the problem I see in practice is the birds might not like it either and they have to clean themselves.

That is odd about the day and night behavior. Well odd to me. It may be perfectly normal LOL As you say, they don't think like us.

I know my doberman hands down sees a self propelled squeaky toy. There is NO WAY she is allowed around the birds. I can't peg Freckles MO though. Sometimes I see her laying around with them then bam a week later I'm taking one away from her new hideout.

 

[mulewagon]

No, no, squirt the DEAD birds! Goodness knows I wouldn't want you chasing a bunch of live chickens with nasty spray...

(If you're finding the bodies, the dog is likely keeping them to chew on...so maybe if you make them icky, she'll lose interest.)

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I'm not a shock collar fan myself. Besides, she is too smart to do it while I am watching.

That's why the collar works when nothing else will
With a good shock collar, you can be a couple of hundred yards away.

You can't correct behavior until they do it, and they won't do it with you close by.​

 

[shellyga]

My Rotties and our Designer dog (some call them mutts) would just LOVE to chase those feathered things that Mama pays so much attention to! I believe they are conspiring a way to get into the front yard as I type. My Rottiedaughter Sable almost drown in the pond trying to get a wild goose..

So the rule is: Front yard is chicken yard from light to dark when they free range. Dog yard before the chickens are released and after they are cooped for the night. Hoping the smell of canines might deter some sort of predator. Back yard is always dog yard. IF a chicken were to decide to cross the fence.. well I can not fault the dogs for being dogs.

Good luck with your puppy training.

Shelly

 

[Greendecember]

Quote:
I have a doberman who I presume is much like your Rottie hehe. She is not allowed to be any where near the "Self propelled squeaky toys".

The yard time share was what I was doing until we spring cleaned the coop. The Guineas were apparently insulted and went to the oak tree and most still refuse to go back in the coop! I still do Yard share with the chickens and the smart guineas that go up at night.


I caught the Pyr last night with what I THOUGHT was a dead bird in her mouth and taking it over to another dead bird. I told her to drop it and let her know how very bad she was for having a guinea in her mouth. I have to give her credit. She dropped it right away and didn't fight me for it or run away but you could tell she knew she was in trouble. Then she was locked in the barn yard with the goats for the rest of the night. Apparently only 1 was dead though because when Hubby returned with a trash bag to pick it up the white one move and then ran away. It is still running around this morning so I dono what the deal was other than it was a lucky bird I heard the comotion at midnight when they are usually 60+ feet up in the oak tree. WHAT they were doing on the ground at midnight god only knows!

 

[Greendecember]

Quote:
That's why the collar works when nothing else will
With a good shock collar, you can be a couple of hundred yards away.

You can't correct behavior until they do it, and they won't do it with you close by.

When I say not looking I mean in bed asleep hehe

 

[Greendecember]

Quote:
Well squirt me with stupid

I've just been taking them away from her and disposing of them.

I really wanted to think she was stealing other varmints kills but last night she proved me wrong

I had an local farmer tell me today her Dad tied the dead bird around their Pyr's neck and she never killed another. I dono if that is more punishment for me or the dog though!