Texas

[kajira]

We have seven dogs. A 12 year old Pomeranian, Greyhound/Lab mix, Anatolian, two Boxer/Bulls, Shelty, and a German Shorthaired Pointer. They have ONLY at fence access to our chickens, ducks and geese. They are VERY interested in the birds but don't charge or attack the fence. We would NEVER allow them to come in contact simply because we don't want to find out what they would really do. We love our dogs and our birds and part of us being responsible is to keep them apart. The dogs discourage critter visits from a distance unless the critter comes into the actual yard and that in turn helps to keep the birds safe. The yard around our house, where the dogs have free access, is about an acre. The birds have free range on three acres. Everyone seems happy with this arrangement.

Our chicken got out of her fenced area, when my daughter was out there getting the eggs. She told them to leave it alone, and they ignored her. The chase was just too much for them. They'd never intentionally tried to get through the fences to get to a chicken... but once it was out, it was fair game. My daughter wants a dog who won't harm a chicken, even if it "gets" out on accident.

 

[iloveduckies]

What a pretty egg! What kind of chicken laid it?

Thanks The hen that laid it is a Red Sex Link

 

[bnjrob]

My daughter wants a dog who won't harm a chicken, even if it "gets" out on accident.

Then don't get a dog.

There is no guarantee, no matter what breed, what age, or what training a dog has. Any animal has the potential to bite and the potential to kill another animal - particularly when the animal is considered a prey animal and would normally be eaten by another animal. People continually try to force animals to fit human expectations and when the animal doesn't live up to the expectation, they get thrown away and usually killed in a "shelter", if they manage to survive before they get taken to a shelter.

 

[kajira]

Then don't get a dog.

There is no guarantee, no matter what breed, what age, or what training a dog has. Any animal has the potential to bite and the potential to kill another animal - particularly when the animal is considered a prey animal and would normally be eaten by another animal. People continually try to force animals to fit human expectations and when the animal doesn't live up to the expectation, they get thrown away and usually killed in a "shelter", if they manage to survive before they get taken to a shelter.

Im very aware - but I promised my daughter since chickens are her babies. (literally, she's getting too keep two in the house as pets) that we'd look into breeds that are less prey-driven then pitbulls.

 

[MandyJ]

Im very aware - but I promised my daughter since chickens are her babies. (literally, she's getting too keep two in the house as pets) that we'd look into breeds that are less prey-driven then pitbulls.

Try little breeds. Toy breeds. Unless they are trained, there is always a chance that the dog will kill the chickens.

 

[bnjrob]

Im very aware - but I promised my daughter since chickens are her babies. (literally, she's getting too keep two in the house as pets) that we'd look into breeds that are less prey-driven then pitbulls.

Promises make people feel good. And they often are broken because people promise things they cannot deliver on. Sorry, I can't endorse helping people get an animal who may wind up turning that animal's life into a hell because the animal doesn't perform as desired. Have spent too many years picking up the pieces of dogs and cats that get thrown away because they no longer fit what their owners wanted - when it is most often the owner that was at fault and failed to provide the environment needed so that the dog or cat could meet the desired expectations.

 

[kajira]

Try little breeds. Toy breeds. Unless they are trained, there is always a chance that the dog will kill the chickens.

Our small dog, is the only one who ran away from the chicken... I'm hoping since the chickens are our "newest" addition, that when/if we are ready for a new dog in the future, that raising the dog as part of the chicken "flock" will help teach it to protect our chickens.

I know people with anatolian shepards and sheep dogs, who protect chickens, if raised with them. Our problem is our dogs all came before the chickens - but the chickens were my daughters thing, and the dogs were "my" thing.

I like the chickens, but if one dies, I'm not heart broken over it the way she is. It was stupid enough to get out, when it was protected, and the dogs did what dogs do... but I conceeded that I could get a dog in the future, that would be less likely in both nature, and breed, to not want to chase and maim critters like chickens.

Since she wants chickens long-term, in a few years, we'll need another big dog around and I can try to avoid getting one that is bred to kill small animals. Pitbulls and terriers aren't known for their "animal friendliness" compared to some breeds even with training.

 

[kajira]

Promises make people feel good. And they often are broken because people promise things they cannot deliver on. Sorry, I can't endorse helping people get an animal who may wind up turning that animal's life into a hell because the animal doesn't perform as desired. Have spent too many years picking up the pieces of dogs and cats that get thrown away because they no longer fit what their owners wanted - when it is most often the owner that was at fault and failed to provide the environment needed so that the dog or cat could meet the desired expectations.

I didn't promise I'd get her a dog I could promise wouldn't kill a chicken, I promised I'd look into breeds that aren't as prey-driven as pitbulls. Being autistic, i'm VERY literal, and I won't make promises I can't keep. Looking into other breeds, I can do.

I've never been a fan of a lot of the non-bully breeds. Dobermans, Rottis, german shepards, bulldogs, mastiffs, are the breeds I've had.... getting more farm-safe/friendly dogs aren't usually dogs I think of when I think of a dog that makes me feel safe and comforted. However, living with others means I need to take their feelings about breeds into consideration, so that's what I promised her I would do. )

 

[MandyJ]

How does your heeler do with them? I know aussies and other herding breeds can get nippy sometimes.

I posted this on my phone but it didn't appear. So sorry if this is duplicated:

We have 2 female dogs, one Austrailian Shephard mix and one Jack Russell mix. The Aussie S. went after our guinnies when we first got them, she killed 2. We did the "tie the dead bird to her collar and chain her" routine for 2 days. Now before you scream, understand that I HATE to chain a dog, it's cruel, but I felt she HAD to understand how bad this was. We then ignored her except for her food and water, I think this park killed her more than anything else. After that, when the dogs would even LOOK at the ducks we would shoot a pistol in the air.

In the beginning of their training with our ducks, I let them know in NO uncertain terms that they were not to mess with the ducks. I was VERY rough on them, but I hoped that by being really rough they would get the message the first time, they did. I used Cesar Mellon method of taking them down to the ground and holding them there while loudly scolding them. So far so good, my dogs are 9 and 7 years old. They have never gone after the ducks. The Aussie mix never went after another bird after she carried that dead bird for 2 days and was chained!

We used shock collars as well, but unfortunately they become "trained to the collar". If they don't have the collar on they won't behave.

Good luck, this is a hard one to break.

 

[MandyJ]

We have an intact 2 yr old male boxer. We are working with him!! [Warning: may be a trigger] He chased one a when they were about 3 months, she was fine just in shock. He got ahold of our speckled Sussex when she was around 4 months, she didn't make it. I've read a lot of dogs and chickens and i really want to believe he wasn't TRYING to kill her, she had no puncture wounds, she was soaked in slobber so I'm guessing he just shook her... A few days ago he chased one of our orpingtons, she only lost a few feathers, she's totally fine.
We've been using a shock collar to help with boundaries and it's worked most occasions. After this last one though we seriously contemplated giving him away..

he's a great dog, lets us know when anyone is even walking down the street. He's just a handful!!

Is training him hopeless since he's already gotten ahold of chickens?

Try the "tie the dead bird he killed to his collar and chain him up for a few days" trick. It worked for us. It does seem cruel but it promoted harmony at our place.

Good luck, don't give up, you can train him!