Question

In my experiences they do bark a lot. Most herding breeds do.

 

It depends on the dog. Grew up with GS and none barked a lot, but they did bark at appropriate times which didn't include folks walking down the street, but someone they didn't know walking down the driveway or a car coming down the driveway was a different matter.

 

German Shepherds are a herding breed. Herding breeds bark. If you want something that won't bark much, and be good with kids, dogs, and various animals, consider a Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, or Great Dane.
Herding breeds (shepherds and collies) , sporting breeds (pointers and retrievers), and terriers all tend to have high prey drives which means they will react to motion by chasing and barking.
Different breeds were developed to do different jobs. Understanding what it is about the breed that makes it good at certain jobs will help you make the right choice for your family. Be realistic. How much exercise are you willing to provide? How good are you at setting boundaries and enforcing them? If you are the sort of person that shudders at the idea of going for a jog or long hike then a German Shepherd isn't a good choice. If you are the sort of person that has a hard time standing up for yourself or is always going along with what everybody else wants, a German Shepherd may not be a good fit.
German Shepherds can be great dogs, but they are strong willed and require a lot of training and exercise. They are not for inexperienced owners. In the wrong hands, they are very dangerous animals.

 

I had found the breed too be too protective, which is good in some instances and bad in others. I believe German shepherds rank high in the biting humans category, and are best kept by experienced people who know how to control that behavior.

I'm on my third Australian shepherd, none have ever bothered with my chickens, but they can be a bossy breed. Do plenty of research and pick a breed on compatibility with what you want out of a dog, not by looks which can get people in trouble. There are lots of low prey drive breeds. If you pick the right breed than you will have a friend for life.

 

There is a dog breeder nearby me and this is what she does: She tests all her puppies at 49 days of age, and then and only then will she agree to sell them. This is the test: http://www.volhard.com/pages/pat.php It's called the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test.

I would urge you to read that page, and learn about puppy testing. Then figure out what you want from a dog, and try and match to a dog that matches to you, if you see what I mean... instead of, "I want a Collie no matter what", try and find a breeder who tests so that you can get a puppy that is going to work out in your family.

A reputable breeder would probably charge more than if you adopt from the pound or whatever... but, you are far more likely to end up with a dog that matches your family and your needs if you go with the reputable breeder. A good breeder can also help you find help in raising and training your puppy so that you get the very most out of that pup that you can.

 

as a breeder of GSDs, training is most important. If they were allowed to, yes my dogs would bark a lot. Most dogs would. However, they have a "quiet" command and they have been taught to not bark at neighbors in their yard or people passing by outside the yard.
Most behavior that people think is "protective" is actually signs of a fearful or insecure dog. Sadly, most dogs of all breeds are born without any forethought as to temperament. It's important to go to a good breeder who tests and proves their dogs as far as temperament and working ability.
A responsibly bred GSD is going to be in the $1000 range for a working line dog. If you get a showline dog, $2000+ is what you will be looking at. If that is out of your price range, there are breed specific rescues all over the US. Work with a rescue that fosters their dogs in home environments so that you can get an accurate estimation of the dog's personality.

The same is true when it comes to chickens. A dog with high prey drive (no matter the breed) may not ever be trustworthy around the birds. No dog should be left unsupervised with chickens because they are animals and things happen. Most chickens are killed by accident by a playful dog who enjoys the fun of the chase and OOPS this chicken is broken!

A good breeder isn't only producing puppies but are a lifetime resource when it comes to your dog. Health questions, training questions, if you can't keep your dog because your life situation has changed, the list goes on and on. They will also guarantee health and temperament of your new puppy. My first GSD died almost 5 years ago but I still talk to his breeder for advice and just to chat about current dogs that we both own. The breeder my current dogs are from was a source of advice and support before I even owned a dog from him.