Your own dogs: Good or Bad

[Two Creeks Farm]

LOL.....would you trust him

 

[UrbanFarmerGirl]

At first my two dogs- a West Highland Terrier and a Terrier/Doxie Mix - both very prey oriented, wanted to check out the chicks but I wouldn't let them. They wanted to chase and possibly eat the pullets- and the westie caught one once. After one full year of consistent training they have been taught to be fine with the chickens and can be alone in the yard unsupervised for hours.

It helps that the birds got bigger and more confident, but still- I have seen my dogs kill rodents and chase large cats and vultures with 'that look' in their eyes so I know they could easily pick off my fat, sweet, buff orps in about two seconds.

This is what I did:

Put enclosed coop and run behind tall wire fence (see through) for 3-4 months, so that dogs could not get right up next to coop or run and harass chickens. Had to learn to be relaxed. All times dogs in the yard closely supervised. Any barking at second fence, dogs had to go back in house.

in 3rd month: Over time, allow chickens out behind second fence, but dogs on other side of fence. Chickens can run into coop or enclosed space for shelter or easily move away from dogs. All times dogs in the yard closely supervised. Any barking or obsessing at fence, dogs had to lay down calmly on other side of yard or go back in house.

1-2 months: Took down 2nd outside fence, locked chickens in enclosed run, so dogs could sniff very close to where they actually were. Chickens and dogs never loose in yard at same time. Dogs finally learning to be relaxed even with chickens a few inches away (but separated by hardware cloth and coop/run)

another 1-2 months, allow chickens to be loose in entire yard. Dogs can watch them through the glass door. Get used to seeing them and smelling them in all parts of yard. When dogs go outside chickens are already locked up in coop/run, or dogs are on leash. When chickens are locked in enclosed run, dogs are allowed to sniff and they are just a few inches away. Chickens are now confident and don't spook/run as much. Heavy praise for dogs being relaxed around chicken coop or when on leash with chickens. Dogs get other good things to chase- frisbees, balls, etc.

Finally- several months of closely closely supervising dogs and chickens together, first with leash dragging, then with no leash. Dogs heavily reprimanded for any barking or chasing. Praised and given treats for ignoring chickens.

I did not think it would ever be possible, but I now look out under the apple tree and see my two little hunter terriers sleeping under the apple tree as 4 chickens pick the ground around them.

 

[Tala]

My dogs are not super-high prey drive, so it was easy to teach them that chickens are off limits (as are our cats). They ignore them in the yard, and are only interested in a WHAT YA DOING THAT FOR?? kinda way when I bring one inside.
My male dog doesn't like other dogs coming around, so that's definitely a PLUS!

We raw feed too, like someone else mentioned, but they won't eat anything with feathers still attached. Food comes from the refrigerator, in their opinion.

 

[drumstick diva]

Nope

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

I think we have all seen this thread topic a few times. I love talking about my chicken guardians, but I wonder if the forum might have a way to tally a list of all of the members that use dogs with chickens and make it a sticky. As one thread had recognized, the level of dog and chicken interact can vary from backyard flock to another. Some dogs are used for protect; some are just well behaved around the girls. Anyway, just a thought.

As for our flock, they are guarded during the day by 5 dogs, all free range on a 1 acre fenced yard. So, all the dogs are good with the chickens and pretty good at listening. In practice, I finding this is the only way for me to protect the birds 100% of the time.

Jim

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

Quote:
Yes, looks very concerned, but trustworthy.

Jim

 

[Two Creeks Farm]

Quote:
Yes, looks very concerned, but trustworthy.

Jim

I only garuntee he would bring you every chicken he could get ahold of.....

 

[julie75]

I have 2 Jack Russells that I trust completely. They know what's going on at all times. They even let me know when the ducks get in the garden. With these 2 around, I don't have to worry about too many predators. They even try to chase the birds by following their shadows. My other dogs are in kennels so I really don't know about them. The chickens hang out around their pens sometimes and the dogs don't pay them any attention.

 

[skilful1]

None of my dogs have ever chased or hurt my chickens (I have a German Shepherd Heeler mix, a Lhasa Poodle mix, and a spaniel mix). In fact, the Lhasa mix knows the sound of crows, hawks and eagles and will run outside to scan the air and trees in order to protect the chickens (he will even run outside and scan the trees if he hears a chicken make an unhappy noise). HOWEVER, we have brought a little dachshund into the mix and if it runs she turns into a hunter.

In the past I have let the roosters teach the dogs that chickens are scary (very effective with dogs that are not terribly interested in killing) but I no longer have a rooster (moved back into town and want to keep the neighbors happy). How can I teach her that she is not to touch mama's chickens? I have babies in our living room in a brooder and even after living with them for 2 weeks she is still obsessed. Even when they are sitting on my lap sleeping she is eying them. I have tried everything. I know that it is in her breed but there has to be some training that can work, right?

Thank you!

 

[Mountain Man Jim]

Skilful1 brings up another good topic to have as a sticky or a separate forum category ... chicken guardian training. Skilful1, I know this has been discussed a number of times, I'd do a search on the forum. I know I have thrown in my two cents in the past.

Jim