What breed do you recommend to live outside in a fenced yard and protect chickens?

[mama_clucker]

I live in central Alabama and am getting back into raising laying hens. Right now, I'm planning the setup and costs, but I'm struggling to decide on a dog breed.

I've been walking the yard and am planning on fencing in about 400+ feet of my front and side yard (with some of the fence extending into the woods some). The hens will not be free range, but I'd like to have a full time outside dog to keep an eye on them, patrol the property, etc. In the past when we last had hens (same kind of setup), we had two sheltie brothers who were wonderful, so I was thinking maybe some sort of sheepdog, shepherd or collie breed.. since I'm wanting a medium sized dog?

The predators in this area are: stray dogs, coyotes, raccoons, opossum, snakes and hawks. Thoughts on the breeds I mentioned or suggestions? Wanting a breed that will be ok staying outside (will obviously have an area for shelter), aren't prone to trying to escape and wander and can be trained easily enough to be good with chickens. Thanks so much!

 

[nuthatched]

Nothing with a high prey drive, honestly, a dog will only slow down land predators, and most of those operate at night when chickens are secure in their coop.
.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Look at a Livestock Guardian Dog specifically meant to guard. Example is a grrat pryness they are large dogs though.
They will guard day and night and kill off predators if they pose a harm. Otherwise just chase them off

 

[CraziChknLady]

All dogs have a prey drive,and I agree you want something that guards. I don't think a sheepdog would be bad, just no experience with them. Many around us have great pyrenese, anatolion shepherds, or a cross of the two. My corgi was easy to train around the chickens, but anything like that does take time. My dog was older before we got the chickens. I was really strict with my training though. I'm not sure how other breeds would work, but you want a dog that has some weight to it like probably 40-50 and higher.

Just make sure whatever dog you get, do supervised interactions, and train A LOT. A see don't touch approach and be very consistent.
My mom failed this and sadly her three dogs attacked my chickens. They got 5. She has a great pyrenese/ heeler mix, terrier/corgi mix and a Corgi mix. They actually broke into the run that the chickens were in. A mess.
She did a few introductions, but that was it. Just be very thorough with training and make sure you add time for them to play, especially with you, then time for them to "work".

 

[BoundlessLove]

I highly recommend the Great Pyrenees breed. However, our dogs were raised around chickens, ducks, and turkeys.
Raise them together if you can.
ALSO, I Strongly suggest to get a pup from a farmer who has working dogs.
Not pets

 

[BoundlessLove]

One of my Great Pyrenees
(also shown with my phantom GD who completely ignores the other animals - the Snob)