Training a puppy to guard chickens

[rvr350]

We brought home an Anatolian puppy and hoping he will be able to protect our flock of chickens from coyo. He was born in a farm, and learned from his parents, both livestock guardian dogs as well.

He has been very calm around chickens and we brought him into the pen where we raise the young chickies and he was very relaxed. We also do leash training and basic recall training. We let him off leash during the day with all our free ranging chickens and he did superbly well for a week or so. But today we found him nipping at a hen’s tail and broke skin. He didn’t seem overly excited but we are trying to formulate a plan forward to train him better with chickens. Any advice is appreciated

 

[cavemanrich]

Let me offer an opinion. BTW, never had LGD's
I think you are doing well ,,,,,training him to be around chickens. When you see him doing something inappropriate, scold him with a loud NO NO, No.
He will get idea that did something wrong.
When he is gentle among the hens, reassure him with a fine pat.
Remember that, the way he protects the chicken flock,, is to drive the predator away.
Beautiful dog BTW.

WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Anon112]

The people at Deer Run Farm have dogs who protect their chickens, and at one point it was in their newsletter how they trained them. You might reach out to them or search on their website.

My memory is that they had the dogs on a tether so that they could not physically reach the hens.

 

[WhatsUpDuck]

How old is he? I would be slow on letting a puppy go unleashed around any live stock he could hurt or get hurt by..he may not even mean harm, but hurt them anyway! My experience with males is they tend to wander as they get closer to maturity.

LORD JESUS is KING of kings and LORD of lords!

 

[rvr350]

He is kenneled when we are not around, and this evening, i let him out, i literally pour seeds for the flock and they eat next to him, around him, and he just lay down quietly looking down. But the day prior, he nipped the tail on a grown hen for no obvious reason and he did it so quietly, i didn’t even caught him red handed. Just tough to know what triggers him. I think its a combo of boredom and teething.

 

[rvr350]

I am truly at a loss. So he nibbled another grown hen yesterday. He was sleeping and chilling with us out in the open, and then 5 min later, he got ahold of a hen and the hen just kinda let him nibble her. Ugh! He is doing so well when he is chill, which is like 90% of the time when he is unleashed. He responds well to positive training and i think i will need to put a shock collar on him and wait and catch him red handed and give him a big shock. He is kenneled for most times and even when he is out in open, he just pick a shady spot to nap most days.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I would not shock a puppy. Keeping him leashed around the chickens is the best idea, coupled with you paying close attention. Watch him closely at all times. If he reaches for a bird, say NO and give him a little snap on the collar to pull him away from the bird. When he looks at you, praise him. You must be calm and consistent.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Do not allow him to make these mistakes and take the birds into his mouth. Every time he does, what is he learning? That it is okay to take a bird into his mouth! It is your job to control him, to prevent him from learning bad habits. He is a baby. Teaching takes time, effort and knowledge. Learn from someone with knowledge.