My dogs are demons.

[No Coop No Problem]

Huskies are sled dogs. They're for pulling sleds in the far north. During the warm parts of the year huskies were traditionally sent into the wild to fend for themselves, and so they have a very high prey drive

You shouldn't have a wolf used for pulling sleds around chickens. That's like using a hammer as a screwdriver, then getting mad at the hammer

 

[BelovedBirds]

These are 2 of the top breeds that people get not knowing enough about the breeds. High energy working dogs have to have a job. There are so many couch potato breeds but these are the opposite of that. I've seen people give up on these 2 more than any other. Most people that encounter issues with them actually love the dogs. For you to not even like them, you're probably not willing to do the work. What they need is obedience training (go to a class,) and a job (pulling, carting, running, swimming, hiking with packs.) The 2 breeds are not even identical, they have different DNA. Behavior like this is not about them, it's about what's missing. They will always turn to bad behavior when not given the right amount of exercise and training. I'm going to assume from pics that you're not in Alaska. If you really don't like them and don't think that dogs are for life but chickens are, then maybe you can give them a better home elsewhere. Put ads for them on breed specific groups in the PNW and Alaska. If you got them from a good breeder that person would help you too.

I agree
Except this isn't just about op, from what I gather the dogs belong to both OP and his wife. It would be irresponsible to rehome them behind her back.
Perhaps, hopefully, she is willing to put the work in with them if OP isn't.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I agree
Except this isn't just about op, from what I gather the dogs belong to both OP and his wife. It would be irresponsible to rehome them behind her back.
Perhaps, hopefully, she is willing to put the work in with them if OP isn't.

Yeah of course let's hope she's all in. Sorry if it sounds like I'm suggesting something sneaky. I never suggest re-homing unless both owners dislike the dogs OR if the case is that just one owner is going to be cruel to them. No one truly knows the dynamic here but I know that if this was puppies placed by me and word got back to me, I'd be all over it.

 

[BelovedBirds]

Yeah of course let's hope she's all in. Sorry if it sounds like I'm suggesting something sneaky. I never suggest re-homing unless both owners dislike the dogs OR if the case is that just one owner is going to be cruel to them. No one truly knows the dynamic here but I know that if this was puppies placed by me and word got back to me, I'd be all over it.

No of course, I didn't mean to imply that you were implying that, I'm just pointing it out is all. I agree with you

 

[Vixen with Chickens]

These are 2 of the top breeds that people get not knowing enough about the breeds. High energy working dogs have to have a job. There are so many couch potato breeds but these are the opposite of that. I've seen people give up on these 2 more than any other. Most people that encounter issues with them actually love the dogs. For you to not even like them, you're probably not willing to do the work. What they need is obedience training (go to a class,) and a job (pulling, carting, running, swimming, hiking with packs.) The 2 breeds are not even identical, they have different DNA. Behavior like this is not about them, it's about what's missing. They will always turn to bad behavior when not given the right amount of exercise and training. I'm going to assume from pics that you're not in Alaska. If you really don't like them and don't think that dogs are for life but chickens are, then maybe you can give them a better home elsewhere. Put ads for them on breed specific groups in the PNW and Alaska. If you got them from a good breeder that person would help you too.

I don't think his wife would be happy if he re homed her dogs.

 

[Nym]

Nah. These things are freaking evil.

Dogs need training in order to have good manners / boundaries.

 

[Karen Glatz]

Nah. These things are freaking evil.

I'm betting YOU eat chicken. Does that make you freaking evil? Are your chicken eating friends freaking evil?

If you don't take into consideration natural prey drive in the animals that you take on as your dependents, that is YOUR issue. You are not a responsible owner.

My dogs have NOT shown that they will kill small animals, but I still double gate my chicken yard. If one of them kills a hen, that's on me for carelessness.

 

[Vicker]

Yep, my setup evolves as new problems come up. Some of my birds would fly over a 4 ft fence. Clipping one or both wings was semi-effective. I'm able to free range for now.

 

[lafinestra66]

They were fine with the pullets and chicks we raised inside. This is what really confuses me. When the husky killed Joy I had left the run open cause they were free ranging. I found her inside the run. She’d never shown any interest in actually going in or messing with the birds. Second one, I have no idea how the husky got Peekaboo. But I got Peekaboo away from her still alive and the malamute got her away from me and ate her before I could get her back. I hate them. I really do.

I'm so, so sorry I love my dog Shadow dearly but he would most likely chomp on my girls if he got the chance because he loves to chase and catch anything that runs.
I think creating a big, separate pen for the hens with top cover (for hawks) and foregoing free ranging is the best option. I have a large pen around my coop with netting on top so my hens have some space outside of the coop, but they are contained. I lock them up in their coop at night, but this pen works to give them space during the day.
I would love to free range but with my dog and other dogs that occasionally wander around the neighborhood, it's just too risky. I think you are making the best choice you can to keep your dogs and your hens.
I was really, really mad at my dog when he found a nest of baby bunnies in my yard and killed two of them. It was hard to move past but I had to realize he's just an animal and didn't mean anything by it and just chases/catches anything that moves. Hang in there.

 

[Karen Glatz]

I was really, really mad at my dog when he found a nest of baby bunnies in my yard and killed two of them

It's probably good to remember that chickens are omnivorous too. My hens found a rat or mice nest in a pile of bricks and joyfully snapped up the pinkies and swallowed them whole. Not a pretty sight if you love little newborn animals, but it does keep the rodent population down (which is also my responsibility) and it's part of nature. Chickens doing what chickens do.