My puppies attacked my chickens this morning

[bobbi-j]

Training, training and more training. That's where you need to start. At 5 months, they may already be a little too old for easy training, but there is still hope. I don't buy the "once they've tasted blood they'll always be killers" myth. I think it's more, "Once they've discovered a fun self-propelled squeaky toy they'll continue to want to play with it unless taught not to." You will also need to separate the dogs from the chickens until you're 100% sure that the chickens will be safe. There are those who will say that dogs and chickens never mix, and there are those like me who trust our dogs completely with our birds. Every situation is different. I've never owned an Aussie, but my neighbor used to breed them. In my opinion, they're a little too aggressive. At least hers were. Once again, consistent training will be very helpful here. As in, EVERY SINGLE DAY, and don't let them get by "just this once" with any bad behavior toward your chickens.

 

[patvetzal]

The first summer we had our Golden puppy he was terrified of the chickens after the Roo and one of the older RR's put the run on him a few times . Winter came, the birds retreated into the coop for 4 months while the dog GREW. During this time we also bought an E-collar for him.
One warm day last spring the birds ventured out while I wasn't watching and I found Willy carying a very mad RR back to the coop. When I shouted he dropped the bird and came to me, (while the bird skulked back to the pen)
When we bought the collar the dog would wear it all day, every day. We live in the bush in deer country, but had gotten out of the habit of carrying the transmitter during the deep snow season.
With the collar we have found that it is very easy to persuade your dog NOT to do something, such as jumping up on doors, visitors, entering flower beds, or chasing chickens. You just have to take a bit of time to watch his habits and give him a quick nick when he STARTS to do whatever you don't want....
An E-collar is not instant training, you still have to spend some time, but it sure beats shouting at a dog who is on the far side of the yard knowing that you will never catch up to him.

We also have put the collar on visiting dogs who insist on jumping at the door to come in, or harassing the birds. Doesn't take long to break them of bad habits. (can't say how long the lesson stays with them after they leave....)

 

[Nicole01]

I have to keep my chickens kept in the secure run and coop. Otherwise, the dog across the street will come over and eat them. I'm not taking any chances whatsoever! We built a run adding more space then what we actually need. My chickens are very happy. There are a few stray dogs and cats that come into our yard as well. We also have wolves, coyotes, fox, possum, hawks, eagles, owls, ect that will eat our chickens as well. Free range is out of the question here. The kids and I look for bugs and we give the chickens grass and weeds everyday. I clean the coop about 4 times a day and the run gets raked and hosed down once a week, so there is no poop build up at all.

 

[mikensara]

our old boy we put down last month who was 14 was an aussie/ golden mix. for the most part he was mellow and calm. best guy ever. we have a lab/ husky mix shes 4 and shes the devil covered in fur shes so head strong its just fortunate for her she has a country home where she can run free but we keep the chickens seperate from her for own peace of mind shes an animal and we never know when she may get a whim to play with the chickens. she has killed other animals before a skunk, and we have neighbors with a colony of diseased ferral cats they wander up the road and she snatches them when they enter the property. I have notified the neighbors of this happening and they refused to round up the cats and try to get the spca involved to help them with the spay and neuter and shots for the animals saying it costs too much. I know its inhumane to allow my dog to keep killing them but they are coming here shes not hunting them down at their place.

I say and its my opinion seperate the chickens from the dogs its a problem that could escalate.

 

[Dogfish]

Quote:
This + 100

 

[The Yakima Kid]

Quote:
Leghorns lay larger eggs and very frequently. They come in a wide range of attractive colors; the downside is that they are cannibalistic and not overly fond of people.