The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

One breed I am very not fond of is a Jack Russell terrier. Too many cases of packs of the little nasties killing chickens that I sold to folks. And I never did like the looks of them. I guess I'm really a big dog person, having been raised with Dobermans. But, a friend of mine who has had birds from me for many years, including my old Amanda's half sister, Bess (who is also 10 and I'm told is on her last legs now), has a JRT and I guess he doesn't bother the birds.

 

[speckledhen]

My older son and his two rescue dogs, Ghost and Sophia. Ghost is at least part Husky, while Sophia is a white shepherd (with issues, poor thing).

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

They are very pretty.

A lot has to do with the raising of the dogs, though choosing a less prey driven breed can help too, but not always. I take up to 2 years to properly raise my dogs, it's lots of work, but than I don't need to do anything.

I chose rat terrier over JRT just because the JRT is extremely prey driven and can't turn it off.

I've always wanted a Doberman, but instead went with boxers. My current one was the worse one for going after my chickens of all the dogs I've own. I had to resort to a shock collar, but now she can be trusted, and doesn't need any collar.

I will talk dogs and chickens all day long.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In case I never shared, here's my current pack, all girls.

 

[speckledhen]

They are very pretty.

A lot has to do with the raising of the dogs, though choosing a less prey driven breed can help too, but not always. I take up to 2 years to properly raise my dogs, it's lots of work, but than I don't need to do anything.

I chose rat terrier over JRT just because the JRT is extremely prey driven and can't turn it off.

I've always wanted a Doberman, but instead went with boxers. My current one was the worse one for going after my chickens of all the dogs I've own. I had to resort to a shock collar, but now she can be trusted, and doesn't need any collar.

I will talk dogs and chickens all day long.

I remember that photo of your dogs. Nice pack! One of my last dogs, Cody, was boxer/retriever. He had a SUPER high prey drive, would slaughter anything he could catch. He killed at least three neighborhood cats that jumped into our chainlink-fenced backyard in our last house. He was really smart, but very stubborn and dominant. I love boxers, very sweet dogs but they seem to stay puppies such a long time!
Dobes are good family protectors. They tend to latch onto one member of the family more than another, are very wary of strangers, but are not cold-tolerant dogs, being short haired. My high school friends loved my Dobes , played with them all the time. I think they'd be easy to train to leave the chickens alone, but I could not let one stay outside a lot during winter.

Of course, in my elder years, I think a dog that protects me would be more what I'd want, though for a long time, I felt I would not want another dog that stayed in the house much but stayed outside to guard the chickens. With our wraparound porch and outside power there, we could put a dog house and a heated pad in it. We throw an electric blanket over Finn's bed and it stays toasty inside all during winter.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@speckledhen and @oldhenlikesdogs

I was going to ask ohld how she trains her dogs not to treat the chickens as prey. I might like a guardian that would make "folks" think twice before coming on the property AND one that would protect chickens, chase down and kill weasels, rats, chippers, etc.

HOWEVER...
I don't want to do the intensive training. I used to train my dogs for obedience and loved doing it when I was young and had nothing else to do. But I know it's a lot of time spent daily in training. I'll bet there is a market for pre-trained guardians as a whole business (probably already exists). For farms probably affordable but for just little holder me...probably way too expensive.

You mentioned the shock collar which, I think, is what I'd use training around chickens.

Sigh..... I either need to be young with no real responsibilities ~or~ win the lottery so I don't have to continue to have a job.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@speckledhen and @oldhenlikesdogs

I was going to ask ohld how she trains her dogs not to treat the chickens as prey. I might like a guardian that would make "folks" think twice before coming on the property AND one that would protect chickens, chase down and kill weasels, rats, chippers, etc.

HOWEVER...
I don't want to do the intensive training. I used to train my dogs for obedience and loved doing it when I was young and had nothing else to do. But I know it's a lot of time spent daily in training. I'll bet there is a market for pre-trained guardians as a whole business (probably already exists). For farms probably affordable but for just little holder me...probably way too expensive.

You mentioned the shock collar which, I think, is what I'd use training around chickens.

Sigh..... I either need to be young with no real responsibilities ~or~ win the lottery so I don't have to continue to have a job.

Raising a dog is a lot of work, especially if you want them to turn out well behaved. They are a full time job and getting one should be a big decision.

I have taught every single pup to leave my chickens alone by tossing my plastic feed scoop in their direction if they start to chase or bark at the chickens. It startled them like a shaker can would. Some need constant reminding for a while, but eventually just a hey is enough.

My boxer had extenuating circumstances as I was going through chemo when she was a pup. I could barely walk, so I had to come in later with the shock collar. She didn't wear it, I put it on her, took her to the chicken she had been tossing and mangling and shocked her twice after the chicken made a noise. I did it to her twice and she hasn't touched another bird. Usually I work with them more but for her I couldn't. I don't generally recommend a shock collar but for certain situations they are great. We had bought it to keep the sneaky hound dog from wandering the neighborhood.

Certain breeds don't bother livestock. My Australian shepherds have never shown any interest in my birds.

 

[speckledhen]

Do either of you remember halo on here? Her name is Kathy and she lives near Ocala, Florida. She isn't on here much, or at all, I guess, but she had two or three Shelties around her chickens all the time. I got my Blue Rocks from her, we traded eggs a couple of times. Now, that is a heavy coated dog, but not a huge dog, could stand the cold even though they are not big dogs. I thought about those at one time because of hers.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Neighbor has a sheltie, boy does it bark. I can always tell when it's outside. They are nice little dogs otherwise. Most herding breeds are vocal, but do well around poultry. I do not know halo, so that's where you got those pretty rocks from.

I rely on my donkeys for predator protection @Leahs Mom , have you considered those? Miniature ones are adorable.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had Shelties and my mom raised collies before I got the Shelties. They love to bark for sure! As a herding breed, I wondered if they would be a good choice for chickens. The breeder of my last sheltie had her sire as a working herd dog on their farm. I didn't have the common sense to ask them back then what he was herding or any info. I've read that they have such a strong instinct to herd that they will herd small children in the family to keep them where they should be. Folks had spoken about teaching them to herd with a small flock of 3-4 ducks.

My experience with Shelties is that they would chase small prey like rabbits, squirrels, etc. That makes me wonder how they'd behave around a flock of chickens.

I have considered a donkey but right now I'm just not wanting to add any more work - especially in winter. Feeling old and lazy.