Our LGDs killed a hen this morning.

[allymcshop]

We purchased two Livestock Guardian Dogs a month ago and just recently we are losing hens one by one. But this morning we found a dead hen which they had caught and mauled it. It's organs were exposed. We thought LGDs instinctively are protective. They have been out with the 50 hens for 4 weeks. The dogs are Maremmas.
Can anyone give advice?

 

[Folly's place]

Training! Supervision! More training!
These new dogs won't automatically feel that your chickens are to be protected, especially if they haven't ever had chickens to protect before. These breeds are meant to be raised with, and identify with, four footed mammals, not birds, and not new birds in a new location.
They have discovered the fun of chasing and killing easy targets, and need to be retrained.
Talk to your seller, get advice from other LGD people, and fix it soonest.
Mary

 

[allymcshop]

Training! Supervision! More training!
These new dogs won't automatically feel that your chickens are to be protected, especially if they haven't ever had chickens to protect before. These breeds are meant to be raised with, and identify with, four footed mammals, not birds, and not new birds in a new location.
They have discovered the fun of chasing and killing easy targets, and need to be retrained.
Talk to your seller, get advice from other LGD people, and fix it soonest.
Mary

Thank you. We have them separated for now. They were born and raised with chickens and goats. Not sure how to retrain them. But they have been chasing the smaller chickens. They don't seem to bother the larger sizes.

 

[Folly's place]

They still don't ID your birds as theirs! Chasing will turn into more deaths, for sure.
Mary

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

How old are your dogs?

 

[chickens really]

Age of Dogs and reason for why the were sold?
I have a Maremma and he is great with all livestock. Possibly the two are feeding off each other's energy?

 

[allymcshop]

How old are your dogs?

12 weeks now. They have been here 4 weeks. This escalated two days ago.

 

[allymcshop]

Age of Dogs and reason for why the were sold?
I have a Maremma and he is great with all livestock. Possibly the two are feeding off each other's energy?

I thought about the energy scenario. One is the leader of this aggressive behavior.

 

[chickens really]

12 weeks now. They have been here 4 weeks. This escalated two days ago.

Just puppies! That explains the problem. Training is needed.

 

[chickens really]

I thought about the energy scenario. One is the leader of this aggressive behavior.

Do you really need two?