Lost a chicken to my dog :(

[Birde]

All my animals live in harmony most of the time. Dogs, cats,turkeys,ducks,guinea,geese,chickens,ect....but any small creature,baby duck or chick is in danger from that same list.

 

[Aumlet]

A training collar is very poistive reinforcement. I have beagles that i train not to run deer. Before traing collars it was almost impossible to break them. some dogs more poistive reinforcement than others.
My dogs want even look at chicken .

Technically, a shock collar is positive punishment. "Positive" as in adding something rather than taking something away.

Positive reinforcement = adding something good
Negative reinforcement = taking away something bad

Reinforcements encourage a behavior.

Positive punishment = adding something unpleasant
Negative Punishment = taking away something good

Punishments decrease a behavior.

Shock collars are punishment. Period. They have their place, but they shouldn't be used by someone who doesn't have a firm grasp of behavioral conditioning. Too much room for error.

 

[jesirose]

I don't use positive punishment with my dogs, we only use +R or -P. The dog that got in is a terrier - there's no way I'm going to train her not to go after the chickens, and I would never use a shock collar.
We've added some more height to the fence as we think she was actually scaling it - I watched her do it and get 3/4 the way over then stopped her. She won't be able to get high enough on it now to get over.

I was more concerned about making sure the chickens were okay after the shock, not about how to train the dog. My other dogs are very well trained but the terrier mix hasn't had any training for this situation and wasn't supposed to be anywhere near the chickens, especially unsupervised, but we learned a hard lesson about the fence. She won't be out there again without us making sure she can't get over under or through it, and we also strengthened the areas of the coop that have the hardware cloth by adding more wood on the other side so it's not just stapled in, but between two 2x2s just in case she or something else gets in that area (the entire yard has a 6.5 foot board on board privacy fence so I don't know what would get in but just in case)

I appreciate the advice on how to help the chickens and everyone's kind words. It was very sad and frustrating for both of us. it would be easy to be mad at the dog but it would be like getting mad at a chicken for eating the grass. It's her nature.

 

[nzpouter]

we have jack russel, etc that got along with chickens.... training is important, for both dogs and birds. You are correct about the dog, it is her nature, but nature can be kerbed.

 

[bj taylor]

when my chickens suffered a shock, i added heat to their coop for a couple of days. the temps were chilly at night & normally they would be fine, but i know shock can kill chickens. the added heat seemed to be greatly appreciated - they gravitated to the warm spot.

 

[jesirose]

when my chickens suffered a shock, i added heat to their coop for a couple of days. the temps were chilly at night & normally they would be fine, but i know shock can kill chickens. the added heat seemed to be greatly appreciated - they gravitated to the warm spot.

Thanks, I will have my husband take the heat lamp out there and add it to the hen house. They seemed okay yesterday evening when I fed/watered but it can't hurt right?

 

[jesirose]

The four chickens are doing great, they run into their house whenever someone opens the fence gate, but they quickly come out if they see me or my husband. If one of the dogs is nearby they stay inside.
No visible injuries and they are eating/drinking well and still letting us pick them up without much fuss. They are going into the hen house at night when it is dark which they didn't want to do the first few days, I had to keep putting them in it. Thanks for the advice on helping them!

 

[chicknerd]

The dog has basic obedience but I hadn't planned on trying to introduce them at all until the chickens were bigger and I could supervise. I thought the fence would keep the dog out.

I meant for the chickens that are left, to make sure they aren't too stressed. Just leave them alone, or anything else?

My dogs were exposed to the chicks from the day they (chicks) came home. It was always in a controlled manner. Age doesn't matter for the chickens IMHO, I personally think earlier is better. I have a Great Pyrenees and a cocker spaniel and both are good with them now. We got our first chicks when they Pyr was young and she accidentally killed 5 trying to 'protect' them. She was seriously contrite about it. To the cocker, the chicks were all her babies and she raised them all. I have photos of her 'guarding' the brooder. She loved each and every one. So my chickens actually dont remember ever NOT having dogs around.

Both of my dogs went to basic obedience training and know how to behave.

Both of my dogs go into the run anytime they want, especially to chase away chipmunks. The chickens are totally used to the dogs now. When I let the chickens free range the Pyr comes over and just lays down thrilled to have something to guard. She has chased foxes and other animals away.

When every I get new chicks I still introduce them to the dogs when they first arrive and encourage lots of meetings with me there.

Right now my chickens are free ranging and the Pyr is out there somewhere. I dont even bother to look now. But I did work at it so everyone would get along.

 

[ChickenLilyBell]

So we brought home 3 day old baby chicks and our 8lb toy poodle has been guarding them ever since. They are about 4 weeks old now and he will cry if someone holds one of them and only relaxes when they are all back together. He hung out in the brooder with them (he is small enough) and continues to spend their outdoor time with them in a small enclosure. He will push peoples hands away if they try to pick up the chicks..He is really protective of them and they seem to enjoy his company, lying next to him, perching on his back...Is this weird??

 

[real_redhead]

So sorry that happened. We had a dog attack (a neighbors) and killed all but one of my girls (nutmeg). When she hears a dog she starts clucking, my neighbor has 2 dogs she brings out in her yard on a leash and poor Nutmeg. It has been a few months and she still clucks like crazy when she hears a dog. After the attack she wouldn't go in her coop for several days, I woul have to put her in and then she slept in the nesting box for over a month. Your girls will be fine. Good luck!