Blue Heeler/Lab for guarding?

[sbureau93]

Is there anyway I can train my lab and blue heeler mix (3 yr old) to guard chickens? I've been told those breeds are a lost cause to train for chickens, but I really want to try. I don't have chickens yet and we're planning on getting full grown RIR hens. If this is a lost cause what would be a better breed since we're planning on adopting another dog in the future?

 

[HeritageGoose13]

By better breed, do you mean one that can better survive free-ranging/predators?

 

[sbureau93]

Better for having instincts for guarding. I've been told that the lab breed has too much instinct as a birding dog and the blue heeler will just want to herd.

 

[HeritageGoose13]

Oh, I see a better dog breed. I thought you meant chickens.

It would have to be trainable, but independent. Any dog traditionally used as guarding (livestock or property) would be a good bet.

Livestock Guardian Dogs include: Great Pyreness, Anatolian Shepherd, Mareema, etc.


Some people seem to have real good luck with pit bulls and mastiffs, but pits are illegal in a lot of places and mastiffs are very big + expensive.

 

[centrarchid]

Is there anyway I can train my lab and blue heeler mix (3 yr old) to guard chickens? I've been told those breeds are a lost cause to train for chickens, but I really want to try. I don't have chickens yet and we're planning on getting full grown RIR hens. If this is a lost cause what would be a better breed since we're planning on adopting another dog in the future?

It can get the job done with respect to predators like foxes, raccoons and raptors. You got to get dog past harming birds which is not all that breed dependent. Then start getting dog into patrolling area and responding to chicken alarms which is where your dogs breeding will be an advantage. I use dogs and have experience with LGD's. Latter only have an advantage with larger predators and and other dogs. Fence can keep other dogs out just fine. More than one dog on your side also helps. Dogs of any sort not cheapest option but they are the most flexible and they make fences mush more effective.

 

[sbureau93]

Our property is fenced in and out dogs have attacked dogs that have gotten in (one of them came back and our dogs were fine with it. So they seem to be able to determine intention). We do have a dog on property that is known to kill chickens so I'm hoping that my dog will deter him (along with building a strong coop/run). I don't think he's been around chickens before I got him so I don't think he has any learned behavior with them besides he does like to chase squirrels but I don't think I've seen him chase birds.

 

[centrarchid]

Make no assumptions. Train and vet all dogs you have to be safe around chickens. Past chicken killer is not big deal as training the same. All my current poultry guardians have killed birds previously but more than make up for that in losses prevented since the last loss.

 

[Carter Critters]

My friend has a blue heeler .. and it does well .. I have a lab she does not do so well. she is good with adults but so much babies.

 

[Ifish]

Most dogs make good deterrents to predators. You can train most dogs to not kill chickens, some take more work than others. I have trained labs and setters to hunt over the years with chickens on our farm. They learn quickly that chickens are not "game" and leave them alone later. Some with a higher prey drive take longer to get the idea, but ignore chickens after a few weeks of training.

It comes down to handling and training in most cases. Working guardian dogs have it in their blood, but still need guidance/training. Any dog breed trained to leave the chickens alone will make a great deterrent, urine and feces alone can keep some predators away.

 

[puzzledsky]

I got a collie two years ago. I had just witnessed a coyote cross the field and kill an astrolorp about 60 ft from me in broad daylight.
At 16 wks, I began bringing my pup into the chicken yard. Maybe twice she was scolded about 'playing' with chickens. She quickly accepted all our animals as her charges. She doesn't tolerate any animal in the chicken yard. She drives off cats, fox, even hawks and kills snakes. She has access to their yard 24/7 . I got a brother from a repeat breeding and he is good but not like her. She is driven to do her 'job'. A good dog is invaluable on the farm. I did research and her breeding included a lot of working dogs. It isn't a guarantee but it increases the odds if you can determine that the line has those instincts whatever dog you chose.