Need Good Ol' Chicken Dog

[TytoAlba]

I didn't intend to belittle anything. I was just honestly curious. It didn't seem like they had time for anything other than their farm work but maybe they spent a lot more time training the dogs that I didn't see because I wasn't around all the time.

 

[centrarchid]

I didn't intend to belittle anything. I was just honestly curious. It didn't seem like they had time for anything other than their farm work but maybe they spent a lot more time training the dogs that I didn't see because I wasn't around all the time.

Training was / is a part of every day chores / activities around farmstead. It is neither formal nor dog-centric. The farmer family was around the dogs through much of the day providing opportunity for baby steps with respect to the training process. In our setting the farmer wife managed layer flock, garden and household spending a great deal more time with the barnyard dogs. The farmer husband and older kids tended livestock and row crops plus hunting dogs that were mostly penned up except for older dogs that were past prime or exceptional guardians. Companion dogs also figured in when they went with you in truck to more remote sections of farm. Our setting had numerous free-range birds in multiple locations (outbuildings and discrete barnyards) and penned dogs where interspersed among them. Younger dogs tended to be problematic around chickens but also got better with age without outright training. Better dogs got play time and disciplined when targeting chickens or other stock. Better dogs were more likely to see time in breeding books if they also where not problematic with respect to non-hunting activities.

 

[TytoAlba]

Thanks for that explanation. Very informative and sounds like what my grandparents must have done.

 

[TalkALittle]

I imagine a number of dogs who didn't make the grade were culled back in the day.

Oh, and rather than "belittle" I think"underestimate" was what might have been intended.

 

[centrarchid]

Culling is likely even more extensive today even though we do not realize it. There are a lot more dogs today than ever in the US. I wonder what the ratio of neutered dogs to breeders is. These days we have a relatively small number of breeders producing a large number of pups, many specifically for end use as companion animals. LGD's do not appear to differ from that trend. It is from that pool of effectively neutered dogs that most have chickens interact with these days. In past, even when dogs were less abundant, more people bred their own and traded with like users. Culling was done by owners in a more conciencious manner based dog not meeting particular need rather than as a result of birth control efforts.

 

[dekel18042]

my advice to you is to try a guard Goose...a nice big white one...feed it with the flock and house it close by...I had one in with my birds and it pretty much kept most day time predators at bay...they were always closed in at night...the goose had its own little house,do not start with a baby goose..get an older one preferably one that is familiar with chickens...the chickens might beat up on a really young goose..they didn't seem to mind Gooser Honkala...if the goose made the alarm noise and stood still out in the middle of the yard..all the chickens would run for cover...then you would look up to see what it was the goose was watching..and way up in the sky you would see a speck...flying in circles above the yard...when Gooser decided it was safe..the chickens would come out of hiding and resume their normal behavior...try a goose.

But would a guard goose be effective against foxes?

 

[the poppster]

But would a guard goose be effective against foxes?

well I never lost any birds during the day...at night they were securely housed in their coop...I did have an Australian Shepherd that was loose in the yard.. she didn't pay any attention to the chickens..unless my dark Cornish roo decided to take her on..then it was no holds barred...if I didn't intervene she would have done him in...he started it...maybe you should check around and see if you can find someone who raises or trains or even owns a good Yard Dog...My Aussie stayed in the general area...her territory...and kept the Deer out of the yard and the weasel in the wood pile...she was my house dog and did not stay out all night...she was smart and loyal...but I wouldn't advise you to get an Aussie if you've never had a dog before..they aren't a dog for a first time owner,they can be pretty intense...and there's that Herding thing they like to do...she was Great with the birds,but never could stop her from herding people..and kids were irresistible...a kid moving to quickly was a thing that Must be herded...she herded my brother-in-laws three kids up onto the plow frame and wouldn't let them off of it...she could be an ankle Nipper....so you may get a good chicken guard but you've got to be ready to take the good with the bad...I'd try a goose or two..young ones..but not baby's...and feed them with the chickens...or see if you can find an older dog that has already been proven to be chicken safe...even LSG dogs don't always do what they were breed for...there are a lot of Failed LSG dogs out there...try the geese..they would attack anything that seems to pose a threat to their flock...it would be a Brave Fox that tried to take them on...and add a few Guinea Hens if you don't mind the alarm noise they make anytime something strange to them comes into their yard...

 

[jennjune26]

I've been looking for a dog to protect the 'free range' flock, but keep getting murderers instead.  I've been to the pound twice now, trying to kill two birds with one stone...no pun intended.  When I get them at the pound, I usually get young pups.  I raise them with the chickens, feed them together and just make sure they're used to the chickens.  They always turn on them as soon as they're big enough.  Last attempt, I got a mixed breed Great Pyrenees that was doing really well.  Last week we had a couple of our ducks wandering around the yard acting funny.  Upon inspection they had both been badly hurt.  We tried to treat them and clean them but the maggots were too far invested, and the ducks died the second night.  It didn't really look like something the dog would've done, but we were still a little leery.  Well, this morning when I went out to greet the birds and feed everyone, there was the pup sitting over one of my full grown chickens.  She was already dead and the pup was chewing on her.  Again, I'm not 100% it was the girl pup, but when are you ever 100% without seeing the act?  Anyway, she has to go too now and it's really a shame because she is a really smart and beautiful dog.

The reason for my post is, I NEED A GOOD CHICKEN DOG!!!  Does anyone have any recommendations on training a dog for such a job?  I know there are breed specifically bred for such jobs, but I really don't have the money to be buying $500+ dogs.  Please help!

Hi. Have you heard of the Maremma Sheepdog? Sheep hearder from Italy but supposedly great w protecting flocks.

 

[dekel18042]

well I never lost any birds during the day...at night they were securely housed in their coop...I did have an Australian Shepherd that was loose in the yard.. she didn't pay any attention to the chickens..unless my dark Cornish roo decided to take her on..then it was no holds barred...if I didn't intervene she would have done him in...he started it...maybe you should check around and see if you can find someone who raises or trains or even owns a good Yard Dog...My Aussie stayed in the general area...her territory...and kept the Deer out of the yard and the weasel in the wood pile...she was my house dog and did not stay out all night...she was smart and loyal...but I wouldn't advise you to get an Aussie if you've never had a dog before..they aren't a dog for a first time owner,they can be pretty intense...and there's that Herding thing they like to do...she was Great with the birds,but never could stop her from herding people..and kids were irresistible...a kid moving to quickly was a thing that Must be herded...she herded my brother-in-laws three kids up onto the plow frame and wouldn't let them off of it...she could be an ankle Nipper....so you may get a good chicken guard but you've got to be ready to take the good with the bad...I'd try a goose or two..young ones..but not baby's...and feed them with the chickens...or see if you can find an older dog that has already been proven to be chicken safe...even LSG dogs don't always do what they were breed for...there are a lot of Failed LSG dogs out there...try the geese..they would attack anything that seems to pose a threat to their flock...it would be a Brave Fox that tried to take them on...and add a few Guinea Hens if you don't mind the alarm noise they make anytime something strange to them comes into their yard...

I have and have had English shepherds, and IMHO they don't come any better than that for what I want. Nothing has ever been taken on his watch, and he always seems to know from which direction the danger came. He is excellent at watching the sky, also. Unfortunately he is getting up in years now and is in and out depending on the weather. A goose could be out all the time. He loves being out in good weather, but if he is inside and we hear any warning calls, we're out in a minute.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

But would a guard goose be effective against foxes?

As a matter of fact I have seen two geese chase off a gray fox once. The fox stared at them in a confused way (its ears went to its side like a scared dog!), and then, as they got within a few feet of it, took off. I have not seen it since and that was years ago.