Comments on: Train Your Dog to be Chicken-Friendly

By: Christi Williams

Christi Williams — Tue, 19 May 2020 01:24:35 +0000

We had 2 cocker spaniels (bird dogs) when we had chickens in Colorado. We started with day old chicks in the garage and slowly moved them to more and more time outside in a small portable run with chicken wire on all sides and top. The dogs were agitated and excited when the chicks would cheep. We found a couple of dead chicks outside of the run over a few days. We had let the dogs run free around the run. All we could figure is that the chicks had stuck their little heads out through the chicken wire and one of the cockers had grabbed them. We waited until the chickens were larger and began to cluck rather than cheep (about half grown) to introduce them to the dogs. We used leashes and muzzles. One of us held a hen, the other a dog. We let them smell them and gave them a sharp NO! if they lunged at the hen or tried to bite at it. It took about a week of doing this a couple times a day. We held a hen on the ground to keep it quiet and let the dog have some slack on the leash. They tended to paw at the hen (still wearing a muzzle) again, getting a NO! Then we removed the muzzle and let the dogs sniff the chicken’s butts. There were a few nips at tail feathers but that ended after the No! We began taking the dogs into the chicken enclosure on a loose leash and just let them wander around. Then we let them loose. Finally we let the chickens roam in the field with the dogs. Even after a year, the dogs liked to run at the hens and make them scatter and squawk as the dogs went out in the field, but that was the extent of their chasing. Eventually, we trained one to herd the chickens back to the chicken house at night (partially successful). We got new chicks a few times in the years after and found we just had to let the chickens get big enough to not cheep in those enticing chicky voices and just wait until they were a bit bigger before putting them in with the dogs. We did get some Buff Orpingtons who, when threatened just flattened themselves down on the ground and froze. They were no fun for the cockers! The pups wold nip at a tail feather or two and quickly lose interest until they left them completely alone. We now have moved to Hawaii and have 2 new dogs of the “poi dog” type (here it means mutt) of whippet/terrier/lab/pit bull type mix and are introducing our recently acquired year old Welsummer hens to them. They live in a chicken tractor in the field and we make the dogs heel until we get to the chickens and then let them sniff around it. So far so good. We would like to let the chickens run free but we may have a harder time. These dogs are less anxious to please than our cockers were and are just out for a good time if they can pull it off. It can be done, we think but not sure if we could ever leave them unsupervised with loose chickens like we could the cockers. Right now they think the chickens are just mildly interesting except for the smells. Wish us luck!

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 13 May 2020 17:20:45 +0000

In reply to Renee’. Your doberman sounds like such a sweetie. :)

By: Renee’

Renee’ — Wed, 13 May 2020 12:36:21 +0000

I got a full grown Doberman mix from the pound, Got 18 chicks kept them inside in a little swimming pool. From the first day I got them, I allow her to sniff them, The by the second day, I had to change the litter. ( remember there in my house). She was watching me pick them up and put them in a basket, She thought It was alright for her to pick one up. I slap her on the the mouth and told her No. it was the first time I ever slapped her. But I did it automatically. But she knows, that they are babies and she can’t pick them up. They are now in coop and she goes in and out with ease. But I still tell her no, when they ( chickens) get excited. But I really like the way y’all took the time to train your dog. But I know some dogs Owners are just too busy or the dog has already got the taste of catching and killing a chicken. You can’t get them to stop ( I had a great dog before I got my new one. She would kill anything that enters her eye sight.) I had to use hot wire fence to keep my chicken safe.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 04:13:58 +0000

In reply to danica prowse. Oh my goodness! I've met some Irish Wolfhounds, I think they're called, who look a lot like Bix, but I've never seen another labradoodle with his coloring. He was a rescue from a farm where they practiced poor breeding standards, so I never thought I would meet another Bix. You should share a picture of Charlie! (Over on my fb page or in a private email.)

By: danica prowse

danica prowse — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 03:34:50 +0000

I had to show my husband these pictures because we have the same exact dog! He asked where Charlie(our Labradoodle) was. Lol. Our boy is around 6.5 years old and half chocolate lab half standard poodle.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 03:33:04 +0000

In reply to Danielle. Oh, you're so welcome Danielle! I know the whole process was such a blessing for us; I was so downhearted when I thought we'd have to never allow the dog off the leach whenever the chicken were out of their coop (which is from about 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. most days). Please keep me posted how it goes for you!

By: Danielle

Danielle — Wed, 21 Feb 2018 02:52:58 +0000

Pretty sure I book-marked this post when you wrote it, but I’m glad I read through it again. We’re trying to acquaint the puppy with the chickens, but truthfully, other than letting her see them and telling her “no” and not letting her eat them, I haven’t done much training. At this point, as she teethes, she wants to chew/eat EVERYTHING, so I need to be extra cautious, but I can have the kids and I work together on your technique to get her more comfortable and calm around them once they are both outside for the spring. Thank you so much for writing this!

By: Jenn

Jenn — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 02:15:13 +0000

My dogs are just great with our chickens, basically mind their own business and ignore them. However; our chickens attack our dogs. Yes they full out hit with their wings, jump/fly at them and let their voices be heard. My dogs take off and can’t get inside the house fast enough. Can chickens be trained to coexist with dogs? 😉

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 06:17:08 +0000

In reply to Charis. I had to research a Catahoula Cur... what sweet dogs! They look like they'd be great working dogs on the farm. I hope this post was helpful on YOUR farm.

By: Charis

Charis — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 03:27:01 +0000

In reply to Dee B.. This is the best thing I've read today. Belly laughs. I could see my Catahoula Cur responding well to this.