The trouble with dogs....

[Cetawin]

Well the first kill...head and throat thing...sounds like a coon...not a dog. You can train the dog but it will take work and consistency.

Start with an electronic collar...a good one, monitor all outdoor activities and a run and hotwire is another option. It depends on whether ou want to keep the dog. But dogs kill 9 out of 10 times because they are playing with the feathered flapping thing. They are not killing to kill.

Good luck with the dog.

 

[nzpouter]

Quote:
We have our share of dogs... all breeds, from rotties down to daschunds... we currently have 3 pitbull/ bull terriers. All our dogs live with the chickens.. there is no way I'll be bothered to keep them separate, the dogs are there to do a job, to protect their territory and whatever is in it.
They are fed raw diet (includes chickens, lambs, pork, beef, rabbits, etc..) and they live with those things side by side (I got pics you can see if you want).... the blood thing is a fallacy, it all started with a chase... then one day it went too far.
Time, consistency and common sense is the trick...

 

[PunkinPeep]

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I wouldn't give up hope so quickly. I have a lab/shepard/collie mix, and i know what you mean about liking to following things around. It took some time, but she doesn't bother them anymore. They sleep together, and i can trust her to sleep in the coop with the chickens - no problem. Age definitely helped. The only thing i haven't cured her of is bathing young chicks. But she has never eaten or tried to eat any of my chickens. And she understands that they are mine. She also chases squirrels and things like that, and she loves to watch the rabbits in their cage, though she has no access to them. I hope you have similar success.

 

[schk9s]

Quote:
The only sure fire way to ensure the dog doesn't go after the chickens is to not allow the dog around the chickens alone. If it was indeed the dog that did it, what tends to happen is the act of chasing and catching the chicken is self rewarding. The catching is the reward for the chase. Even highly prey driven dogs can be taught to not chase chickens. Number one is to work on the obedience and make sure it's rock solid on leash first. Then start working the dogs around distractions to proof the commands you ask of the dog. When the dog can perform them repetitively without corrections, then try off leash with an electric collar. Never give a command you can't enforce and train for instant compliance of the command. Dogs like to stalk, chase, catch and some will dissect as well (ever see a dog tear the stuffing out of a toy, couch, chair, etc?). Rarely do they intend to kill. The chicken is usually viewed as a play toy. It boils down to the drive of the individual dog as far as the ease of training. It can be done though. Just takes patience and consistency.

Shawn

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

I have a blue heeler and as long as we are outside with him he does not seem interested in the birds. HOWEVER, if one of them starts running and/or flapping their wings it is another story. My point being, as long as all is calm the dog does great, but the second the girls move too suddenly, he goes into herding mode. I certainly cannot retrain him, I just have the girls in a large run and don't have to worry. I do have a leghorn who likes to fly out and back into the run the she seems save, but it is because she just likes to get some fresh grass and does not run anywhere.

 

[ronikins]

Thanks, guys. I appreciate all the great advice. I still don't know what to do with the chicken with the raw neck. I went to the feed store and they didn't have any antibiotics. The best he could do was a spray antiseptic that I'm too afraid to put on her. It still looks clean as of today. She is still eating and running around as usual. Should I just leave it and see how it goes? I'd feel silly taking a chicken to vet.

Or should I move this to Emergencies / Diseases / Injuries and Cures?

 

[Beekissed]

I've talked with my mom, my friend (he's an older man that's raised ALOT of chickens), his mom, and a few other people. I've been told that dogs CANNOT be taught to not attack chickens. It's just in their instinct to do it. But then I've been told that it CAN be done. With alot of monitoring, treats, and time, it can be done. I've heard, for a long time now, that once they taste blood, they'll keep attacking. I just don't know. I love my dog. I

Well, THAT one is certainly not true. There are many dogs here on BYC that do not attack chickens.

For some dogs it can take a lot of time, etc. For some, not so much. My high prey/herd instinct dog took all of about 20 min. when he was 7 mo. old, and there were no treats involved. He is now 4 yrs. and is with my free range flock 24/7 and has never had an incident. My older Lab/GP mix didn't require any training at all.

You will never know until you actually try to train your dog to consider your chickens as your property even when you are not there. All things regarding chickens and dogs are relative....every circumstance is different. Please don't give up because people tell you it can NEVER happen and you can NEVER trust a dog around your chickens.

If you love your dog and your chickens too, don't give up. Heelers are smart dogs. You might try leaving the dog outside more often so he can establish your yard as his territory~I use wireless electric fencing. Then work on his reaction to your birds when you let them out. Basic obedience training is helpful...this should come first.

Good luck!​

 

[badwolf7914]

I agree, we are attatched to our dog and don't want to give her away. Our teens kept letting her get out and we couldn't catch her. Now since she's recovered from getting shot in the neck by our neighbor with a shotgun from going after his chicks that escape their dog pen, she stays close to us for the most part and lets us put her on her chain so we can keep her out of trouble if she goes outside while we are busy or gone. If the teens would have listened to us about keeping her in the house she wouldn't have gotten shot. However, after never bothering our chickens for 4 months, she disturbed us by shaking a chicken in her mouth yesterday. She dropped it when yelled at, and it was fine. I just want to find a way to teach her that the chickens are off limits.

 

[Lorije1]

My Lab killed 5 chickens from the time he was 9weeks until just under a year old (my neighbor's chickens came into my yard). I spent over a year in formal training and training at home for basic obedience and now he has a reliable "leave it" . He goes into my backyard with me to tend teh chickens. I have left him there while I go inside to get treats - but that is it. He is a predator and a playful young dog - flappy, squawking feathery things make great toys.
Just a few days ago one of my pullets flew over the fence into the main yard. Rio (lab) ignored her until my terrier mutt pinned her to the fence, and then it was game on. Neither dog grabbed her with a vicious intent, she didn't have a mark on her and when I yelled "leave it" they both backed off.

I am of the belief that dogs peacefully coexisting with chickens are the exception more than the rule, and therefore the person is responsible for the protection and quality of life for both.


Regards to the injury - pack it full of neosporin or other antibiotic cream without pain reliever or spray it down with Blu Kote. Be careful leaving her with other chickens as they will peck at the wound and kill her.

 

[Tala]

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Ditto.
I'm not entirely positive that your dog is to blame. With a dog that is playing with chickens, there are usually lots of kills, feathers everywhere from the dog chasing them, etc. Just going on my experience though.
A raccoon bites the head off, and I've had them steal one roo a night, bite the head part of the breast and leave the body a few feet from the coop just like you described.
Also foxes hunt in the daytime and could have gotten your roo. Not sure about the one with the sore neck, the only time I've had sores like that it was from other birds pecking a youngster. They will heal up though if you can keep the others from pecking at it.
I guess the real test would be keeping the dog completely separated and see if the losses continue.