Need Advice from Owners of Chickens who Have dogs that eat them.

[dainerra]

Honestly, I never trust any animal 100%. They are animals and the safety of all it's my responsibility. I have seen dogs that were good withchickens for years just one day device to c chase. They weren't wanting to hurt the birds, just running and racing about. The bird fluttered across their path and the dog took it as an invitation toplay. Yup, dead bird 20 seconds later. ROMP ROMP SQUISH.

Dogs and chickens are living brings and s such will eventually do something you never thought they would do

 

[LeviWalker]

What others have said about the breed of a dog is 100% true. Some (most) dogs have an ingrained drive to chase prey that will over-ride any and all training *at some point* if given the opportunity.

Your best bet, if you want to have dogs that are cool with your chickens, is to get a breed that is built to do it and raise them from puppies around it. Once we made the move from no livestock to raising chickens, goats and sheep we had to re-home three dogs and get a Great Pyrenees puppy that was born on a working farm and raise her with all of our animals. However, I still keep a close eye on her when they are all in the field together. She does not want to eat anything but she still wants to play (only 18 months old) and does not get that she is 100Lbs. As she gets a little older this should not be an issue but even dogs bread and raised to protect your flock can and will kill them, regardless of the intention. And once the dog kills one chicken, you wont ever get it to stop doing it.

Now if I could just get these dang hawks to leave my flock alone

 

[centrarchid]

Note bird dogs. One is pup. To make even more of challenge, bulk of free-ranging birds are juveniles starting at 6 weeks when brooder-reared and from hatch with hen-reared.

Prey drive very high and dogs very athletic to boot. Combination of imprinting and training employed. Loss of bird or two during training is part of process. Elder killed a couple as pup but now trustworthy enough to be allowed to be out with free-range birds 24/7.

It takes a little work and patience and not over reacting on your part. Chicken friendly means not a threat when dog does get loose, which odds are it will get loose, additionally you can have excellent predator detourant.

 

[TXchickmum]

Patience and not overreacting are relative and subjective terms. Losing a few birds during training pertinent to a large flock isn't necessarily an issue for many. Losing a few birds in a small backyard flock of four or five perhaps is an issue for some. Free-ranging a large flock on a vast expanse of land may necessitate employing a dog/dogs for protection (regardless of breed). It's risk vs. benefit, IMO. The loss due to predators might be greater than the loss due to an occasional/rare mishap with a dog. I do agree with you that persistence and intensive training is valuable and may work most of the time regardless of breed; however, dogs are instinctive creatures. It is arrogant at best (and this isn't directed personally but generally) for humans to assume that their best efforts negate decades/centuries of instinctive drive and behavior all of the time. I think each must contemplate the best scenario for his/her own situation and assess time, commitment, flock, and environment.

 

[SIMZ]

We have a mix of some sort that LOVES birds. We had her before the chickens and her favorite thing has always been to chase birds. With lots of work she knows to lay down when chickens come by her, but this is the same dog that drinks my coffee whenever I turn my back.

We take a "better safe than sorry" attitude with her because of how tempting the flying and clucking sounds are to a dog programmed to chase.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

We have a mix of some sort that LOVES birds. We had her before the chickens and her favorite thing has always been to chase birds. With lots of work she knows to lay down when chickens come by her, but this is the same dog that drinks my coffee whenever I turn my back.

We take a "better safe than sorry" attitude with her because of how tempting the flying and clucking sounds are to a dog programmed to chase.

This sounds like my dog!!!!! He is perfectly fine with a chicken walking under his nose, but if they flap and make a really loud cluck (exluding the egg song) he chases them.

 

[SIMZ]

Calm is one key -- don't flip out when the dog starts getting excited the chickens. Do work around the chickens with a leash or something so you ultimately have control. Then, just take precautions so the dog isn't around the chickens when you aren't - or they're protected by a barrier of some sort. Chickens flap and cluck - it can't be avoided! lol

 

[centrarchid]

Patience and not overreacting are relative and subjective terms. Losing a few birds during training pertinent to a large flock isn't necessarily an issue for many. Losing a few birds in a small backyard flock of four or five perhaps is an issue for some. Free-ranging a large flock on a vast expanse of land may necessitate employing a dog/dogs for protection (regardless of breed). It's risk vs. benefit, IMO. The loss due to predators might be greater than the loss due to an occasional/rare mishap with a dog. I do agree with you that persistence and intensive training is valuable and may work most of the time regardless of breed; however, dogs are instinctive creatures. It is arrogant at best (and this isn't directed personally but generally) for humans to assume that their best efforts negate decades/centuries of instinctive drive and behavior all of the time. I think each must contemplate the best scenario for his/her own situation and assess time, commitment, flock, and environment.

Virtually all dogs have thousands of years worth of breeding to be suitable around areas of human habitation and in many if not most cases to be safe around lifestock. This business of bred to purpose for specific looks is very recent(centuries to decades) and as not had time to override previous selective pressures. The limitation still exist on the human side of arrangement where despite much greater flexibility, humans are prone to be bone-headed in their approach to dogs especially when they are considering everything in context of dog breed.

 

[centrarchid]

This sounds like my dog!!!!! He is perfectly fine with a chicken walking under his nose, but if they flap and make a really loud cluck (exluding the egg song) he chases them.

My pups all seem to go through that phase. More or less constant exposure desensitizes birds to movement of birds. Even after dog no longer causes real trouble, dog may still mouth at rapid movements out of reflex or fight birds over food. That is generally not a problem but effort to reprimand if dog pushes issue.

More exposure, not less helps. I use a calm rooster in a 4 x 5 pen kept in close proximity to housed dog if training to occur later in life.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Quote: My dog lives right next to the run. Today my dad was out with tucker, just reading on the porch. Whenever the chickens went into the garage, Tucker chased them out. He stopped as soon as they got out. Also, he was off the leash and the chickens were free ranging, and he chased one of them. But he definately WAS NOT going for the kill. He can run fast when he wants too, and he was just leisurely running. And i could get his attention away from them. should i take that as a good sign?