Your chickens are indeed unsafe around Australian Shepherds, and they are in no way near being a fan of dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this is a common misconception that all herding dogs have an aggressive demeanor and a strong drive for their prey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They fail to know that these intelligent breeds will take no time to use their brilliant minds and proper training to build a healthy bonding between chickens and pups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So are Australian Shepherds good with chicken?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a complete guide to answering all of your questions swarming in your head right now and training techniques to get the best results.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, let’s dive in!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Are Australian Shepherds Good With Chickens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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To briefly answer that question, yes, Australian Shepherds are good with chickens, but you need to train and socialize them properly at early age.<\/mark><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Australian Shepherds are bred to be herding cattle with a strong prey drive for smaller animals and to help humans and large animals for their protection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, in particular, it is something even Aussie ancestors couldn’t ignore when it comes to birds or chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are prone to shove, or nip other animals, which is enough to hurt or even kill a chicken in one go. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although they are likely to do the same for sheep or cattle, a little nip won’t do much damage to someone as strong as full-grown cattle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The struggle comes when they get the same strong drive for your fragile chickens running around in the garden or poultry farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, blaming them for this doesn’t sound like a wise decision either. Instead, looking for possible solutions can be the key to having harmony between them. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, it is recommended to carry out thorough training and familiarize your dog with the chicken to make sure he doesn’t just get along with them but herd and protect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Train A Australian Shepherd To Herd Chickens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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If you are a poultry owner and looking to get an untrained Aussie to give you a helping hand in guarding and herding your chickens, then that’s surely a recipe for a disaster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without training, sure, you can get them to herd the chickens, but it can be extremely stressful for chickens to avoid becoming a victim of the aussie’s sudden urges or if he’s not following the training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, you always possess the risk of losing some chickens by having an Australian Shepherd around them at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, there is a solution.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considering the high intelligence of Australian Shepherds, they are fast to learn anything, literally anything<\/em>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is one of the many reasons why many poultry owners prefer to invest their time and energy in training Aussies to herd chickens and ensure their complete safety.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is easier said than done. You first need to start by introducing and familiarizing the dog to chickens in your presence; the earlier, the better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can eliminate the curiosity they have of “exploring” the new bird.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the things you can do to train your Australian Shepherd to herd chickens effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction And Socialization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Before beginning the training, it is recommended to start with a puppy instead of a grown dog as they are likely to be more friendly and decrease the risk of harming your chickens.<\/mark><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Nothing can be left unturned if you manage to change their perspectives and see chickens as friends rather than prey. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How you do that can vary from owner to owner, or even Aussies have a different approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, I recommend you to take your Australian Shepherd near the fences where you have your chickens safely locked inside.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This way, they will take the time to smell, hear and see the chickens and let their herding instincts shine through. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you see any signs of anxiety or the dog starts acting out, take them away and repeat the process the next day until you find him comfortable with the chickens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let Herding Instincts Come<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now that you have managed to familiarize your dog with the chickens, what’s the next? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s time you look for signs and find out if your chickens are truly safe with your australian shepherd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs in herding mode have a completely different approach than when they are in prey or friendly mode. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will get to see his head done, concentrated and tail down but away from the legs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their eyes are likely to be alert, flicking to calculate each move and making sure no one gets out of the circle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Aussie will have his ears raised high and moving around the animals to push the herd into a specific line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, bear in mind this doesn’t mean they are properly abiding by the training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During this time, try giving your dog a few commands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he listens, you can rest assured your chickens are in good hands; however, if they don’t, wrap up the training and begin the same session the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Train A Australian Shepherd To Protect Chickens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Now that you are equipped with the right knowledge to make your dog herd the chickens, it’s time we consider how to train your dog to protect chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a general rule of thumb, Aussies don’t make up excellent guard dogs. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because they are bred to be great herders with unmatched ability to chase, bark and control other animals and make their owners happy. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, to turn them into full-fledged guard dogs<\/a>, you may need to go the extra mile and ensure they are fully trained to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The silver lining is, they match good watchdogs as they are visually quite sensitive. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their attentive behavior is good enough to detect any irregular movement and warn you off at any time of the day. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although they may not depend on your chickens to death, they can surely bark and warn everyone around regarding the intrusion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are highly energetic so keeping them on duty is certainly not an issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best part about Aussies is the insane trustworthiness that helps you count on them whenever you need them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With patience, here’s how you can properly train your dog to protect chickens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you have an Aussie puppy, this is a perfect time for you to let your dog get used to the chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time, restricting him from going near the changes will only build up curiosity and make everything worse as he grows old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, never limit his freedom and let him explore the poultry and get to know the chicken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he grows up near them, it will reduce the chances of getting your chickens eaten by the herder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if your Aussie is slightly older, this may not be a good idea as he can actually end up eating them as soon as you divert your attention for a split second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Never let chicken have excess to the dog’s food or his place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While he is starving, it can be harder to control and not eat the chicken that’s right in front of him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you’re providing food for everyone altogether, this can lead to them competing for the food and cause chaos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Remember, the further you take your dog away from the chickens, the more danger you are posing to your little chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he sleeps far away from the poultry, bring him near the chickens and let him have fun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If this goes on for a few days and he doesn’t eat any of the chickens, give him a treat and cuddle with him<\/a> to let him know he’s appreciated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do this every time he sleeps away from the poultry and make him part of all the farm animals you may have in your poultry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you are 100% sure about your chicken’s safety, it’s time to check your dog’s protection effectiveness to see if you can count on him to keep the chickens secure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be done by creating artificial threats by throwing stones or balls in the woods to see how he responds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try to encourage him to create a verbal warning instead of chasing the stone, as this can also be dangerous for your dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Dog Breeds Which Are Good With Chickens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This was it for your Australian Dogs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven’t adopted an Aussie yet, it’s never a bad idea to compare all the possible options and find the one that works the best for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some of the other dog breeds that are good with chickens.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

• Akbash<\/strong><\/li>
• Kuvasz<\/strong><\/li>
• Anatolian Shepherd<\/strong><\/li>
• Maremma Sheepdog<\/strong><\/li>
• Tibetan Mastiff<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

  All in all, Australian Shepherds are loyal and intelligent dog breeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Although they do as they are trained, some of them can inevitably be dangerous to your chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  You can never blame the dog for his aggressive nature and strong prey drive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Once you have adopted them, it’s your responsibility to train them and make them the best dog for herding and guardian purposes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Create a checklist of the methods mentioned above and begin the training right away!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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