Testing My Dogs with the Flock

[Bonandal]

I have 2 border collies.....Roxie wants the birds in the pen! Angus just lays in front of the gate and counts them as they go in and out! They keep all other dogs out of the yard....Angus is almost 3. We were afraid we would have to get rid of him. He got a baby chick. Shook it like a toy and when it quit making noise he dropped it and it was of course dead. I found it a little bit later, but did not realize it was Angus. He did not tear them up or pull them apart and make them bleed...He did not seem to pay any attention to the other chicks. MY BIG mistake! Another dead baby chick the next day. They 3rd time I caught him shaking the baby chick and took it away from him. I was really upset, but he has never taken another chicken. There were 4 more babies and I watched him like a hawk....he loves those chickens. Most of my flock is over 5 years old except those. And they are 2 now. We have foxes in the neighborhood and a family of hawks (red tail) That had a nest in the tree above the hen pen. I swear that mom comes by in the spring to the living room window to let me know she is back. I have not had trouble with hawks.

 

[portlandhomestead]

So...after 2 years of only letting my chickens free range when the dogs are inside, yesterday we forgot the chickens were out, after the dogs were out with them for about 20 minutes we found our poodle hanging out within 10 feet of them. So we were in shock and confused. I would think she would have hurt them if she was going to immediately wouldn't she? My husband found them and said the chickens weren't even afraid of her. She hangs out by their run all the time so after 2 years they know each other, but for you people that have dogs that are out with your hens, how did you safely know it was ok. This opens up a new level of safety against hawk attacks if I can let them out together, so I'd love to if we can.

Our heeler gets along with them great! He's all about fetch and herds things as he comes from a working line so we were nervous about him with our growing chicks. Initially he was jealous that we would always be going to the brooder and ooing/ahhing. He huffs/whines when something is getting more attention than him. He kept trying to sniff them but they were just out of reach and we wouldn't let him near them since they were so small. Long story short when they were about three weeks old and out in a pen on a warm day, they got loose and our pup was out there. He completely ignored them as I scrambled to gather them. He did help me find the last three that were missing. That's when I knew he'd be totally fine! He sniffs them, touches their backs with his snout and the chicks aren't even remotely bothered by it. I think it helped that I started letting him come into the garage at feeding time. He could look through the brooder fencing and they could see him too. Now that they're almost six weeks old I let them free-range in our backyard but only when he's out there (we have raccoons/coyotes/ and last week I saw a hawk a few roads over). He's fearless and definitely wouldn't let any of the above enter our yard. Or at least he'd alert us. Just time, and getting used to each other may be all that you need! Today I introduced him to our three day old lavender ameraucanas and he sniffed then moved on. I'm hopeful that our next pup (joining us in May) will be able to do the same!
Here is Arlo with his chickens:

 

[Mitchellwhitey]

So...after 2 years of only letting my chickens free range when the dogs are inside, yesterday we forgot the chickens were out, after the dogs were out with them for about 20 minutes we found our poodle hanging out within 10 feet of them. So we were in shock and confused. I would think she would have hurt them if she was going to immediately wouldn't she? My husband found them and said the chickens weren't even afraid of her. She hangs out by their run all the time so after 2 years they know each other, but for you people that have dogs that are out with your hens, how did you safely know it was ok. This opens up a new level of safety against hawk attacks if I can let them out together, so I'd love to if we can.

My Neighbor used to have a golden retriever who would literally just sit with the chickens and they weren’t even scared. On the other hand my other neighbor had a husky who chased them around and two years ago unfortunately the dog got a bite out of one of the hens. She has had a limp ever since

 

[grandbayou]

So...after 2 years of only letting my chickens free range when the dogs are inside, yesterday we forgot the chickens were out, after the dogs were out with them for about 20 minutes we found our poodle hanging out within 10 feet of them. So we were in shock and confused. I would think she would have hurt them if she was going to immediately wouldn't she? My husband found them and said the chickens weren't even afraid of her. She hangs out by their run all the time so after 2 years they know each other, but for you people that have dogs that are out with your hens, how did you safely know it was ok. This opens up a new level of safety against hawk attacks if I can let them out together, so I'd love to if we can.

 

[Shiloh2298]

I know this is going to sound corny, but when we brought out baby ducks home we told our lab it was her job to protect them...we had to keep them on a kiddy pool in the basement for a while...every time they would get riled up she would shove her way thru the door to check on them and whine for me if she couldn't calm them down. When they went outside she would swim in the creek with them or lay on the bank watching them. I actually saw one of the running across the yard jump on her and keep running. The other side of the coin is that my neighbors dogs were also able to get near them. Lost few ducks that way. We need to keep them fenced in or be out with them since the neighbors cant seem to do the same with their dog.

 

[trapperwv1]

My biggest concern is that the my dogs eat the chicken poop they find , I did lose my rooster to one of my dogs but the rooster used to go to the dog pen and peck the dogs nose . One day the dog manage to squeeze out and that was the end of the rooster. I fixed the spot and that was that . They pay no attention to the chickens in the coop at all and they pay no attention to starlings eating their food so now I feed them just before dark so I don't have to pay to feed starlings.

 

[CuriousQueen]

I have a Pointer. When I first got the chickens two years ago, she was very interested in them through their fence. They were young and she was fascinated. The first time I let them out, she would be scolded if she got near them or even “looked” at them. She had to learn to leave them alone, since she loves being with me constantly.
Now she mostly ignores them. She will watch them sometimes, but it is casual observation not the “look” of a hunter.
The only danger they are in is her stealing their bread treat,

 

[didirt]

My goal from day one of getting the chickens was for all the animals (dog, cats, chicks) to be able to coexist freely as I didn't want to have to have one out while the other in etc. My dog is a mixed Terrier breed - def a hunter. We introduced her to the chickens as babies in the basement and then eventually when we moved them to the coop. We put the time in for leash training while the birds were loose. She def wanted to kill them! LOL But we kept with it and have had zero issues - to be honest I was more concerned about the cats (how do you train cats??) but the cats could care less. Now, they are all outside freely and drama free. I really felt my dog could do it - we've had her for 12 years and think we know her. Maybe not all dogs can get there - but don't assume they can't just because of breed (as some has suggested). Training, time, and patience - good luck!

 

[ewittig]

We had inadvertently left the "girls" gate unlatched and saw from the house that the girls were out destroying the flower beds. I went out the back door to round them up (sometimes not an easy chore if their desire is to be out of their designated area), and our 6 month old Mini-Aussie-doodle puppy, much quicker than me, also went out the door. I had no idea what would happen, as the puppy had gone to their area many times before, stuck his nose through the fence, and often get pecked on his nose. This time he went straight for the chickens and I was yelling for him to stop, but to my amazement, he started rounding them up back to the gate. My wife was looking out the window as I was yelling, "yes, yes!" It is now 2 years later and we often let the girls out to roam the yard for short stints, and some of the chickens actually play with Bodie. They take turns chasing one-another, and Bodie seems to know which chickens want to play and which ones don't. Now full grown at 15 pounds, Bodie is not much larger than the chickens, and I'm not sure I can re-train him to herd when I want him too, though it would be handy when a hen leaves the pen. However, there is certainly no fear of leaving the chickens with Bodie...they are true companions. Also, genetics is a powerful force.

 

[Attila the Hen]

My dogs are always out with the chickens. One killed a couple of chickens and a young turkey a couple years ago. I read her the riot act and it hasn’t been a problem since.
The birds nap next to her and she guards against everything. I don’t worry about predators. In retrospect I think the birds she killed were sick and she knew it.