My dog went after a chick this morning.

[kellysmall87]

I don't think there's much you can do about the dog wanting to hunt the chickens. As with different breeds of chicken, you get more docile ones and more aggressive ones. Same for dogs. If you have a hunting dog, I don't think you will ever be able to trust it around the chickens or ever truly supress the natural yearn to hunt. Good luck though!

 

[kmatt87]

our shepard mix is kind of acting the same way. He's gotten into trouble a few times already. I'm going to put him on a leash when i have the running around the yard for the first time and see how he acts then.
He has caught and killed many rabbits, but he usually ignores everything else.
He'll probably end up being put in the basement when the chickens are in our yard.

 

[gg706]

Thank all for the advice. I think I am going to fence off some our property and keep the chickens and dog seperate. They really won't be "free rangeing" but it will be pretty close. I think I am going to do two seperate pens so I can "rotational graze" them. I will have about 10 chickens once the roo's are culled out. Any advice on how big to make the pens so I can keep the chickens from completely destroying the pasture?

 

[Bev in Nevada]

In my experience with hunting dogs (actually hunted with them) and my herding breeds (border collies and Malinois) here's what I have learned over the past 35-40 yrs of working dogs.
the instinct to "carry" is extremely strong in a field dog, it's genetically hard wired into their core being. Owner shoots bird, dog retrieves and carries back. Chickens being "carried" back to owner are the same as dead chickens or they will soon be dead chickens. ( the dogs are not allowed to chomp or chew on what they are carrying, but a full/solid grip is needed because most times they are returning through marshes. A firm grip is going to put holes into the chicken)
as for my herding dogs, I have some border collies who work just fine on ducks, I have one who can only be put on cattle because he is to harsh on sheep, he is NEVER allowed to be around the chickens no matter the age. My malinois are never ever allowed around the chickens, they also are very rough with sheep so are only on cattle.
So, with that said, the way I see it is, doesn't matter if the weim. did not come from actual/current field dogs, BUT the puppy millers have not diluted the genetic gene pool on weims yet, so all instinct is still there. What *I* would do is, Lots of maintenance (dog in house or crated or in garage) while chickens are being cared for, played with and or free ranging. Put up a hot wire for safety back up incase something fails during maintenance. (i.e.: child opens a door while "chicken chores" are being done and dog bolts)
As for an electronic training collar, A good one is going to cost upwards $200-$300 (to guarantee that it is one that IS going to work and not malfunction and is water proof) A hot wire and maintenance will run you about $80 tops? and time. ALSO, *IF* you ever decide to work your weim, you wouldn't have wanted to ever had corrected her/him for carrying a bird!
good luck

 

[gg706]

Thanks Bev, I appreciate the info. She is a great dog all around. I had a feeling the chickens would cause an issue for her. So I am prepared to do what is needed to ensure she doesn't get herself in trouble. I have started putting her up when I go to the chicks to care for them. I hope it will help. I won't EVER trust her around them! I do think a fenced in area for the chickens as a precaution is a good idea. I also had a neighbors dog get thru my fence yesterday.....so now I have that to contend with as well. So some fence maintenance is needed anyway. I just got my chicken tractor mostly complete, just need to do some trim work to pretty it up! SO now a chicken fence! Onward and upwards!

 

[ccrow]

DH has a hunting dog; when he was about the same age as your pup, he did kill one of my girls. And a couple weeks later he went for another one- she escaped with only a scrape and a (temporary) bald spot. Do you hunt your dog? Ours knew what "bird" was; DH would scold him and tell him "No bird!!" about the chickens. He is still interested but he doesn't go after them anymore, and he is three now. Some of what is going on with your dog is undoubtedly due to adolescence. As she gets older it should be easier to get her to ignore them, or at least not go after them! Maybe you could have her on lead, and walk her around near the chickens... scold her for interest in them, praise her for ignoring them. IMO it's worth a try to train the dog to leave them alone.

 

[gg706]

No neither my husband nor I hunt...never will. Not that I have an issue with people hunting I just personally don't have any intrest in doing it. Interesting your dog took to the training and aged into "some sense" about the chickens. I will continue to scold her for any intrest shown in them...I do need to start praising her for ignoring them...I didn't really think of that

Duh! I think I will continue to lock her up while caring for the chicks or playing with them. And try training her on leash. See what happens! Thanks!

 

[feathers_3]

My lab who is a duck dog, actually brought me a chicken one time. Thank God she had some very good training so the bird was not harmed. It just scared the you know what out me! I had trouble with my Jack Russell too. She actually dug into the pen and killed one of my hens. But now she knows to leave them alone. But, one of my good friends has electric wire around the bottom of her pen and has not had any trouble with predators or her dogs. I personally think the electric fence is not only good to keep the dog out but also to keep predators out. Good Luck!!

 

[real_redhead]

I can't tell you how she did it but my step-mom has 2 springer spaniels and a Griffon and she has trained them not to go after her chickens. The chickens free range and the dogs come and go outside as they please. The only trouble they have with the dogs is sneaking eggs! Yes, the dogs go into the coop and take eggs out of the nesting boxes. Good Luck! I can tell you that the dog is the number one predator for a chicken. I recently lost 4 of my girls to a neighbors dog who thought they were play things.

 

[Davaroo]

Thank all for the advice. I think I am going to fence off some our property and keep the chickens and dog seperate. They really won't be "free rangeing" but it will be pretty close. I think I am going to do two seperate pens so I can "rotational graze" them. I will have about 10 chickens once the roo's are culled out. Any advice on how big to make the pens so I can keep the chickens from completely destroying the pasture?

This is the approach I would recommend. The only dog that seems much use around chickens is the adult dog that has had training from puppyhood to ignore chickens.
You might get lucky, but I wouldnt bet on THAT. Youre going to have to put in a good bit of training, Im afraid. Meanwhile, its probably best that the two are best kept apart as much as is practical.

As for pen size, so that chickens wont destroy the pasture, well.... here you go: a minimum of 87.12 sq ft/bird. moved as often as necessary. This will probably be once every 10-14 days.