Black Mouth Cur dogs; How are they with chickens?

[Gittx]

Whoops, I called Maggie a "he". My dogs hate it when I do that

. I have 5 dogs, my youngest is a Doberman. He's 2 years old, and like you said, will probably take another year or two before becoming an adult. I don't want him to hurry too much, I adore his antics. Oh yea, then there's Nip and Tuck, my two rescued litter mates, (Manx), now about 10 yrs.
Now I need to ask what muscovies are??? 10 sounds like a perfect number, (if they're not too large)
And then there's the chickens. No matter how I "plan it" I end up with at least one rooster when acquiring chicks....then I decided I would get an adult so I don't try to introduce yet another rooster. That's when I got the hen who is a carrier of Infectious Coryza. I probably gave over 50 antibiotic shots, but everyone is fine...for now.
I'm in the process of building an ICU addition to the coup, so when the Coryza raises it's ugly head again, I'll be able to keep the sick ones outside instead of the bathroom or utility room. (I need to be able to easily catch them to give the shots) Also, since that flock is officially closed, I'm building another coop far away from the first. Coryza spreads through poop, water, and close contact to the sneezing. I have 6 Easter eggers growing up too quick in the Utility room, and I won't be able to take them out til the new coop is done. This is my first experience with chickens, and I must admit, it's been quite an education.
I also have a horse and a donkey. I've always wanted a horse and when exploring information about them, discovered that donkeys are Excellent Guardians. (Something you might want to consider for the chickens) The horse and donkey totally ignore chickens, but would be deadly on chicken predators, except maybe raccoons.
The GP/Lab sounds wonderful. He's bound to be a wonderful pet, and the Lab part will guard the people, and the GP part the chickens. Most Excellent!

 

[LaynaDon95]

Whoops, I called Maggie a "he". My dogs hate it when I do that

. I have 5 dogs, my youngest is a Doberman. He's 2 years old, and like you said, will probably take another year or two before becoming an adult. I don't want him to hurry too much, I adore his antics. Oh yea, then there's Nip and Tuck, my two rescued litter mates, (Manx), now about 10 yrs.
Now I need to ask what muscovies are??? 10 sounds like a perfect number, (if they're not too large)
And then there's the chickens. No matter how I "plan it" I end up with at least one rooster when acquiring chicks....then I decided I would get an adult so I don't try to introduce yet another rooster. That's when I got the hen who is a carrier of Infectious Coryza. I probably gave over 50 antibiotic shots, but everyone is fine...for now.
I'm in the process of building an ICU addition to the coup, so when the Coryza raises it's ugly head again, I'll be able to keep the sick ones outside instead of the bathroom or utility room. (I need to be able to easily catch them to give the shots) Also, since that flock is officially closed, I'm building another coop far away from the first. Coryza spreads through poop, water, and close contact to the sneezing. I have 6 Easter eggers growing up too quick in the Utility room, and I won't be able to take them out til the new coop is done. This is my first experience with chickens, and I must admit, it's been quite an education.
I also have a horse and a donkey. I've always wanted a horse and when exploring information about them, discovered that donkeys are Excellent Guardians. (Something you might want to consider for the chickens) The horse and donkey totally ignore chickens, but would be deadly on chicken predators, except maybe raccoons.
The GP/Lab sounds wonderful. He's bound to be a wonderful pet, and the Lab part will guard the people, and the GP part the chickens. Most Excellent!

I could have sworn I responded to you... oopsie.

It sounds like you have wonderful animals. It sucks that your flock has Coryza. Doesn't that stay with them until they die? How are you gonna get rid of that, or will your flock just always have it?
We are meeting the Aussie/Cur mix today. I'm so excited! If he doesn't work out we have the GP/lab or another Aussie mix we can look at. I've never really considered a donkey for livestock guarding. We had a pack of neighborhood dogs attack our flock last Saturday and kill 15 chickens, so we've been considering a LGD, but that would put us at 3 dogs, so we aren't sure.

 

[dainerra]

there is a LOT of info on how to train dogs to ignore chickens. It's going to be quite a while before you will know if he can be trusted around the chickens. At least a couple weeks of working with him to even see how hard it is going to be.
A new dog in the family has what trainers call a "honeymoon" period. Some will stay quiet and reserved, just observing the scene and not show their true personality until a few months later when they are comfortable with their place inthe family. Then people wonder what happened to the nice quiet dog that they thought they owned. Others are the opposite. Wild and crazy acting, growling and "get them before they can get me" Then, suddenly, one day the dog turns into the sweetest little love.

Some dogs have a low prey drive and are safe around chickens with almost zero effort on the owners part. Others are high drive but learn to ignore the birds because they want to please their owners. And then some dogs can just never be trusted to not give in to excitement and chase the birds. All of them can be managed with no loss of life; it just takes dedication on the part of the owner and an honest evaluation of what they expect the dog to do.

Find the closest distance that the dog first notices the birds in the brooder. This might be in another room if he is one to constantly glance at the door. Put your dog on leash and get some extra special treats that he only gets for this work - bacon, grilled chicken (no spices!), hot dog chunks, etc. When the dog glances toward the birds, say his name and "leave it" If he looks at you, give him a treat - if he doesn't, give a light pop on the leash (think tap on the shoulder). When he looks at you reward him.
You can also teach him "watch me" the same way. You can practice this at random times though out the day. If you have a couple extra minutes while you're watching TV or whatever, just say his name, pause, "watch me" When he makes eye contact, then reward him. You can also (if you get in the habit of keeping a small treat in your pockets) catch him looking towards you say "watch me" and then reward. Or just praise him verbally.

Once the dog is reliably paying attention to you and the birds at a distance, move a little bit closer. If he absolutely blows you off, you're too close. Just back up a bit and begin again. Eventually you will be right amongst the birds. You can then start at a distance or with a long line (20' leash or so) and work from there. I never ever leave my dogs/chickens loose unattended together.
I don't even trust Rayden
I don't mean I constantly hover over the dogs when they are out with the birds, but I am in the area and aware of what they are doing. Think of it as a small child. Even though you've taught them not to play with matches, would you leave them alone in the house with matches scattered all over the floor?

The most important part of the training is to set the dog up to succeed. Don't give him a chance to chase the birds. Don't give him a chance to disobey.

ETA: The best thing about teaching "leave it" is that it works for everything. Drop something on the floor and don't want the dogs to touch it? "leave it" See dog running toward a snake? "leave it" Lots of training and work, but it pays off!
Of course, some dogs just can't be trusted off-leash. Period. They are just too focused on the birds. In that case, just confine the dog when the birds are out.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Great! Thanks for all the info. He is home now, and a bit too interested in the birds. I taught Maggie to the point where I pretty much trust her to be left alone with the flock (except that she has developed an egg stealing habit), but Hershey seems to have been abused before. His foster home said she was very, very nervous and skittish when they brought him home. He's much more social now, but every time you say "no!" he crouches down with his tail between his legs. I don't feel like I'm free to be as stern with him as I was with Mags, because I don't want to make him scared during his first few days here. I like your method. Thank you.

 

[dainerra]

Great! Thanks for all the info. He is home now, and a bit too interested in the birds. I taught Maggie to the point where I pretty much trust her to be left alone with the flock (except that she has developed an egg stealing habit), but Hershey seems to have been abused before. His foster home said she was very, very nervous and skittish when they brought him home. He's much more social now, but every time you say "no!" he crouches down with his tail between his legs. I don't feel like I'm free to be as stern with him as I was with Mags, because I don't want to make him scared during his first few days here. I like your method. Thank you.

He might have never been abused. He could just have a soft temperament. Positive methods and re-direction can increase his confidence. Do other obedience work with him too. It will help increase your bond with him and build trust.

 

[LaynaDon95]

He might have never been abused. He could just have a soft temperament. Positive methods and re-direction can increase his confidence. Do other obedience work with him too. It will help increase your bond with him and build trust.

I hope he wasn't. Poor guy. He has already mostly learned to sit by watching Maggie, and will leave the chickens by command on leach, and sometimes off leash. (I don't put him with the chickens off leash yet, but there are chickens inside the dog fence in tractors, healing from a dog attack. He's very curios about them.) He's a very fast learner. I'm not pushing him too hard with it being his first day, but I have to let him know what's expected of him here. He's a good dog.

 

[LaynaDon95]

Maggie and Hershey during a quick stop to petsmart on the way home.



Handsome boy.


ETA: Maggie really doesn't have a spinal problem. She was just standing funny. =P

 

[Gittx]

I am so sad! One of my dogs, a border collie mix, tore the leg off of one of my chicks (about 3 months old) I've been frantically building a coop and yard for them since I keep them in the house in a large metal dog crate with additional 1/4 wire mesh all around it. I still don't know how it could have happened, she must have actually gotten her leg to poke out somehow and he grabbed it. The dog crate has 1 inch square holes all around, and that's why I added the wire mesh. It happened near the cage door, so the door crack must have been large enough for her little leg. I got on line and found that Chickens can survive with only one leg, so I called the vet. He said shock is usually what kills them, but if she's still alive in the morning to bring her in. He said since the bleeding has stopped, to wrap her whole body in an ace bandage, so she won't struggle and let her rest. I have done so, and then placed her on a bunched up blanket and in a wire mesh trash can I have. Then I put the trash can back in with the other chicks. Hopefully hearing the other chicks around her will calm her, and the ace bandage will make her feel secure. I trust mother nature will be on her side, and we can make that vet apt tomorrow.

 

[OnceAroundTheBlock]

Aww, hate to hear that, Gittx. Hope your little chick will be alright.

 

[Gittx]

Well, my chick was alive this morning. I called the vet and made the appointment. Mean while, I tried to get the baby to eat or drink. She would not even consider it. On the way to the vet I decided to have her put down. I know how chickens pick on another chick that is different. She would never have a chance at a normal life if she has to live in seclusion, and I don't want to watch her slowly starve todeath. The vet reinforced my decision, and the sweet baby is no longer in pain. It's raining so I can't get out there with my power tools to get that coop done sooner rather than later. I need to numb out in front of the TV now.