Want to get turkeys but we have a dog

[Frosty]

It is a bird dog that has already killed chickens! I hope you can train it but I really doubt you can. Your best bet if you want turkeys is to build a big pen that is covered or rehome the dog. be ready to loose some birds in the training. I have had a few non hunting dogs that I thought were broke. They would even go to feed with me and walk through the birds without even looking at them. I thought it was great for a few weeks. Then when I wasn't there, dead turkeys!

Kind of like a Siberian Husky I had that was killing my barn cats. I had the dog penned, but my cats were used to my other dog that wouldn't hurt them so they would actually climb in the pen with the dog. That dog seemed to know if we were watching, even if we were in the house peeking out the window. He NEVER attacked a cat when we could see him. Hard to correct behavior if you can't catch them at it...

 

[erinchelsea]

Thanks for all the responses. Not sure a shock collar will work in this case. We have used it in the past when we lived in town and it worked great for keeping the dog in the yard but if the neighboors had garbage out no amount of shocking or punishment would stop him from getting food. I can see him being like that with the birds too. I'm thinking I'm not willing to risk losing the turkeys trying to train him after he's already killed some chickens. I can see how it would work for some dogs though so I'm not discrediting that theory & appreciate the advice! I think I'll have to talk to DH and figure out a housing situation. Thanks for all the great advice about the fencing.

 

[Frosty]

Best of luck to you, I hope you can work something out. Turkeys are a LOT more fun than chickens IMO...

 

[erinchelsea]

LOL, thanks for the enabling.

Best of luck to you, I hope you can work something out. Turkeys are a LOT more fun than chickens IMO...

 

[Frosty]

Any time

My friends husband is probably ready to tell her that she isn't allowed to talk to me anymore...