My rooster has started stalking my dog

[joneus]

He's done it twice, that I've noticed. She wont even be looking at him or the hens (she ignores them completely) and he'll start stalking her. I thwarted his last sneak attack by yelling- when she looked up, he turned around and walked away.

Messing with my dog is right up there with messing with my kid, but I'm not sure what, if anything, I can *do* about this- short of getting rid of him (havent ruled it out-

). I dont want either of them to get hurt. If she fights back- she'll kill him (she's a 50lb lab). If she doesnt, I worry that his behavior will escalate or that he'll start going after my son (in that case, his head will literally be on the chopping block!).

Is there anything I can do to nip this, or do I let them work it out themselves?

 

[RedDrgn]

Keep one or the other in a run and don't allow them access to each other. That's your only sure-fire solution. Dogs are chicken predators and roosters are observant and defensive of their flocks. Your roo is only doing his job (correctly).

 

[qball53]

He's done it twice, that I've noticed. She wont even be looking at him or the hens (she ignores them completely) and he'll start stalking her. I thwarted his last sneak attack by yelling- when she looked up, he turned around and walked away.

Messing with my dog is right up there with messing with my kid, but I'm not sure what, if anything, I can *do* about this- short of getting rid of him (havent ruled it out-

). I dont want either of them to get hurt. If she fights back- she'll kill him (she's a 50lb lab). If she doesnt, I worry that his behavior will escalate or that he'll start going after my son (in that case, his head will literally be on the chopping block!).

Is there anything I can do to nip this, or do I let them work it out themselves?

Sorry can't agree with the other fella answering you question. We have Anatolian sheperds and they guard the flock! If your dog is really ignoring the chickens and I mean when you are not around then the roo has to change his behavior. First make sure you KNOW what your dog is doing, if he is truely blameless you have to change the roos behavior or get rid of him. Changing their behavior can be difficult to impossible. Roosters are not all the same different breeds present different attitudes and not all roosters in a breed will be the same either. But aggressive behavior is HIGHLY inheritable and should be culled for !!!

 

[RedDrgn]

Sorry can't agree with the other fella answering you question. We have Anatolian sheperds and they guard the flock! If your dog is really ignoring the chickens and I mean when you are not around then the roo has to change his behavior. First make sure you KNOW what your dog is doing, if he is truely blameless you have to change the roos behavior or get rid of him. Changing their behavior can be difficult to impossible. Roosters are not all the same different breeds present different attitudes and not all roosters in a breed will be the same either. But aggressive behavior is HIGHLY inheritable and should be culled for !!!

Take a look at the Predators/Pests section of this forum - dogs are one of the most common killers of chickens (and most of the time, they kill them just trying to play with them or chase them, not for food/out of maliciousness). Yes, there are flock dogs, but they are bred and trained for the job. If a dog isn't used to chickens, they can turn on them at any time, for any reason. It only takes one bite.

A roo that recognizes a dog as a potential threat is a normal roo. You can try to change their scope of "threats" but it's not easy and often not permanent, especially if they're not used to the dog.

 

[TheJadeChicken]

I think it really depends between each situation.

Like here is my situation, I have small dogs and big dogs. If our rooster attacks them, it is fair game. He doesn't go after them, though. The dogs start chasing them. And Roo is just doing his job of protecting his ladies. Also, our head drake chases my Chiweenie, because the chiweenie chase his ladies. But they won't go after humans. They know who feeds them and they know the feed bucket. ;D

 

[joneus]

she totally & completely ignores them. Even when she thinks she's alone. If they're out free-ranging in the back yard, she doesnt go out there with them unsupervised. She's always been good with the chickens, but I fully understand that she's a dog and has a prey drive.

As far as the roosters exposure to the dog- he's seen her/been around her, literally, every day of his life and never gave her a second look until the other day. This stalking behavior is totally new for him.

Regardless, I've got him posted on craigslist (with the warning that he's not dog-friendly). If he's still here a month from now, I'll see if I can find someone to help me send him to freezer camp. I obviously dont WANT to do that, but its not worth the headache.