How can I get my dog to stop eating the chickens?

Question

I have a two year old sheep dog who is always chasing our chickens. He will actually catch one about once a week or so and kill it.

How can I train him to get along with the chicken, insteed of chasing and eating them?

Most of the time the dog is on a run when he is in the yard, and the chickens stay away but he barks at them all the time too. We just got the chickens a month ago, and they are almost all gone!

Answer 1

The electric collar actually works.  Yes some think it's cruel but that's sometimes how you have to train animals.  You can stand there and watch the dog all day, and scold him when he gets near the chickens, but that just teaches the dog not to chase chickens when you're around.  He'll start up again as soon as you're gone.  With a shock collar and remote, you can be inside where he can't see you, zap him when he gets near the chicks . . . he'll soon realize that chasing chickens always earns punishment, even when you're not around.  You can get remote-controlled shock collars for around $100 online.

Another suggestion: if you catch him with a fresh kill, get it from him, put a lot of cayenne pepper on it then leave it where he can eat it if he desires.  The cayenne pepper will teach him they're no good to eat.  May take a couple times since he apparrently already has a taste for  them.

This way is GROSS but it works, most of my family has kept chickens for years and they all swear by this method.  Next time he kills one wrap it up in a gunny sack or pillowcase and tie around your dog's neck, so it lays on the back of his neck and he can't get at it.  Leave it on him for several days so it's good and rotten and stinky.  Be sure and scold him verbally while you're doing it.  He'll never kill one again.

Bottom line is, unfortunately, once your dog gets the "taste" for chicken it's hard to break him of that habit.  Good Luck!

Answer 2

if the chickens are kept in an area that is wired off from the rest of the yard, a sheepdog will not be able to jump over!!

Answer 3

get a couple of BAD *** roosters . MEXI COCKERS

Answer 4

well once a dog eats a chicken then its something in there blood that makes the dog go crazy and it will attack anything..you just need to try the dog up  really its the best way to keep them living

Answer 5

poor chickens, keep the dog separated or tie him off

Answer 6

To the dog, the chickens are prey - natural enough.

If you want your chickens to survive, keep them in a chicken run that the dog can't get into.

Nature is what it is, and dogs kill their prey - chicken being high on the list of prey.

Answer 7

better protection for your hens.. better training for your dog..

do NOT allow this ever.. if they kill one - they will not stop until you make them stop

put the hens where they are safe. behind chicken wire..

keep the dog in a run..

better training is a MUST

Answer 8

Spray stuff on the chickens that dogs hate (those spray things you can buy to spray on your shoes, doors, etc to keep the dog from getting to em - dunno what they're called, but my friend had a bottle).

Would make sure you bought the dog stuff though, it shouldn't harm the chickens if it don't harm your dog if your dog licks it.

Or you could get an electric collar and sit at home and zap your dog every time it goes near a chicken.

Kidding... That's cruel. DON'T do that.