My dog killed my chicken :(

[FrankHomestead]

I'm gonna step on some toes here...
For one, if you have EVER disciplined your dog for doing wrong and corrected the behavior, they know the difference between bad behavior and good behavior. my dogs know they're in trouble if I discover their antics hours after the crime, they hang their heads in shame and cower. If you never once give them consequences, because they "don't know any better", or "just following instincts", then no, they won't know it's wrong. Same with kids who never have to take responsibility for their actions.
My dog would definitely be punished for killing my chicken, regardless how much time had passed. They KNOW, as soon as you walk in the direction of the mangled chicken. If you believe your dog is stupid and won't understand, then, the dog definitely has one up on you.
Also dogs have been used for hunting birds forever, they're called bird dogs. I have 2 of them. Labs and hounds specifically duck hunting.
Everyone has their own reasons for keeping the animals they choose. For me, we aren't rich, and in order to feed all our animals, they All need to serve a purpose. chickens for eggs & meat. cat for mousing. dogs for protection. if they aren't holding up their end of the bargain, I can't either.

 

[centrarchid]

@FrankHomestead,

How long have you been working with dogs around chickens?

 

[FrankHomestead]

@FrankHomestead,

How long have you been working with dogs around chickens?

Not long at all, first time chicken keeper for me. Though dogs, I've raised and trained dogs all my life. Don't know chickens very well but I do know dogs. And I know they are a lot smarter and more aware than a lot of ppl realize.

 

[pennyJo1960]

For me, anytime a persons dog kills a chicken, place to blame on the owner. Dogs can be trained. The owner is responsible for that. My wife's GS killed one of my chickens when she was a pup. Now she goes in the pens with me and just watches. They do whatever they do and she just sits and watches.

If you catch your dog in the act, yes, correction at that time works. 5 minutes later they don't have a clue.

One thing I make sure I don't do is get a bird dog. That is just plain ole not smart.

that is what we have all said we have five dogs only one is safe with chickens at this point and one ever will he is a bird dog had him before chickens I too am older than dirt dog trainer

 

[sannabelle]

Prey drive is a very hard thing to train out, or train to be controlled. You must provide another outlet for your dogs prey drive if you have a highly prey driven dog.

I have trained my bird dog (GSP/lab) to be 100% bomb proof with all my poultry. Not one single incident. It is possible it just takes work and consistency.

 

[centrarchid]

Rabbits, we catch and eat a lot of our own rabbits. Not effective rabbit control but we eat a lot. German Pointer is partial to rabbit for breakfast.

 

[Ole rooster]

A bird dog has a drive to "fetch" birds. Labs, pointers, etc: Just like a Fist has for hunting squirrels. I personally like a herding dog around my chickens. They are calmer and just more as laid back. I never said bird dogs catch and kill birds. But when a dog plays a game of fetch with a young chicken , that is death to the chicken.

 

[jeria]

Sorry I feel your pain. My dog killed 4 - 4 week chicks a while ago, I figured she was being a terrier. My fault that I trusted her and did not have the chicks secure enough in the fenced raised bed so she found a way in. Not sure if she was playing with them or not, I left the back yard for too long with the dogs loose.

Ordered more chicks and won't let them be outside until my run is secure--it will not happen again. Figure the pups will get used to the chickens inside the fenced run and also re-do the raised bed fencing so I can let the chickens play in them when they are older.

 

[Geena]

I'm gonna step on some toes here...
For one, if you have EVER disciplined your dog for doing wrong and corrected the behavior, they know the difference between bad behavior and good behavior. my dogs know they're in trouble if I discover their antics hours after the crime, they hang their heads in shame and cower. If you never once give them consequences, because they "don't know any better", or "just following instincts", then no, they won't know it's wrong.

Your dogs hang their heads and cower because they are very good at reading body language and they know what's coming to them. Maybe they know why you are angry, maybe they don't, but that posture is an outward expression of fear and submission, not an acknowledgement of wrong doing.
A dog doesn't intrinsically know it's wrong to kill chickens, they ARE just following their instincts, that's how canids feed themselves, they kill things and eat them.

That said, of course you can teach dogs to leave chickens alone, quite easily if you know what you are doing. Training before they are ever allowed unrestrained access is the most effective way to go. Hours later punishment may give one the same result in the end, as eventually they will put two and two together, but personally I believe that method to be unfair to the dog.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

let me just say, I am sorry you had to go through this. Afraid I have no real advice, just simpathy