Dogs and Chickens | A Comprehensive Guide

Are you in the process of building up your backyard farmette? Every farm needs chickens to make it feel like a real farm, but it also needs a dog to make it feel like home. But can dogs and chickens live together? If you get both chickens and dogs, will the result just be chaos and dead chickens? 

While there can be some challenges in getting dogs and chickens to coexist happily and peacefully, it can be done. With the knowledge you’ll gain from this comprehensive guide, you won’t have to choose between dogs and chickens. You can have both and keep them all happy and healthy!

What Should I Know about Dogs as Predators?

You may not always think of a dog as a predator for chickens. More common chicken predators are foxes, hawks, and raccoons.

We all know a dog who is the sweetest thing on earth, and you could never imagine him wanting to kill a chicken. But then we can also all think about that vicious dog that causes chills to run down our spines. Which is an accurate depiction of a dog’s temperament? Are dogs predators that your chickens should be protected from? There are some key things that you should know about dogs as predators. 

Dogs See Chickens As Toys

Dogs, especially young ones, have a keen sense of fun and play. They are intrigued by anything that moves quickly, love chasing, and playfully attacking things. Dogs may see your chickens as things to play with. They may think that the chickens are just trying to have fun when the chickens are scared of the dogs. If not trained properly, dogs can seriously injure or even kill chickens while thinking they are just having fun. 

Domestic Dogs Have a Predatory Instinct

The dogs that we all interact with in our everyday lives are domesticated. These dogs have descended from wild dogs but have become tamer and more docile because of their dependence on humans. 

Even though dogs have been domesticated, they still have instincts that make them want to hunt or protect. This instinct isn’t as prevalent in some breeds as in others. The hunting and protecting instinct can become dominant if dogs don’t rely on humans for most of their needs. 

Some breeds of dogs have a high drive to catch and kill prey to survive. If dogs are well taken care of and dependent on humans, this desire comes out more in play. Your dog may show this by chasing your cat, birds, or other small animals. They don’t usually do it very wholeheartedly and enjoy the chase rather than chasing to kill.

Certain Breeds are More Prey Driven

Certain breeds of dogs are more driven by the desire to catch prey. This drive comes partly from the genetic makeup of dogs, but it can also be affected by the dog’s environment. If dogs are used to fighting for their survival or having to work to earn their food, they will be more apt to develop a high prey drive. 

Terriers and Hounds are two of the most common breeds of dogs that have high-preying instincts. These breeds have been conditioned to be hunters and working dogs. They’ve been used to hunt all kinds of animals, such as rabbits, fowl, foxes, and rats. While some of these hunting instincts are good and help to keep pests at bay, if you have your own fowl or rabbits, these breeds could pose a problem.

Dogs Rely on Their Sense of Hearing and Smell

Dogs have an uncanny sense of smell and hearing. They use these senses to gather information about their surroundings. Scientists have done studies that show that a dog’s sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than humans. This helps dogs sense danger, food, and even fear. 

Dogs can hear things four times further away than we humans can. This sense depends on the breed of dog. Some breeds, like Labs, are known for their exceptional hearing. Hearing abilities can decrease with age and health.

This makes dogs especially sensitive to any noises or smells your chickens may produce. Your dogs will be able to sense the presence of chickens before you are aware. The heightened awareness that dogs have makes them a lot more jumpy and easily provoked.

How Do I Deter Dogs from My Coop?

Now that you know that there is some danger with keeping both dogs and chickens, let’s look at some practical ways that you can keep both animals living in harmony. Sometimes, it’s not your dog that you’re worried about, but a stray dog that comes around. How do you go about making sure that your chickens are protected from both your own dogs and the stray dogs that come around? 

Train Your Dogs

If you’re most worried about how to own both dogs and chickens, make sure to train your dogs well. Several different methods of training can help your dog learn that the chickens are off-limits. 

The saying is, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” and this rings true in the case of helping dogs and chickens to get along. You should start training your dog when he is young. Training your dog can be time-consuming and patience-testing at times. Keep yourself encouraged, knowing that in the end, you will be able to rest assured that your dogs and chickens are kept safe and healthy. 

You should slowly let your pup slowly become accustomed to your chickens and learn how to control his impulses to chase them. This will take a lot of work and time on your end, but it can be a great way to bond with your new dog.

Repellent Sprays

Sometimes, a dog is impossible to train, and no matter how hard you try, whenever your dog has a chance, he’s bothering your fowl. All is not lost! Remember how dogs have an amazing sense of smell? You can use this to help you keep your dog away from your chickens! You can buy a variety of repellent sprays that will greatly discourage your dog from bothering your chickens. Pepper spray or bitter apple spray works well to repel dogs from chicken coops. 

Build a Barrier

A great way to deter all dogs from your chickens is to create a natural barrier around your chickens’ home. Use thick bushes or an extra fence around the keep to keep your dogs away from your chickens. If you use bushes, plant bushes like lavender or peppermint. These strong, natural smells will also act as a repellant for dogs. Not only does this help protect your chickens, but it also adds aesthetics to your property.

How Can My Dogs and Chickens Coexist? 

Is it possible for dogs and chickens to coexist in peace? Yes, it is! Most of the time, it’s just a matter of adjusting to each other. Sometimes, this combination of animals can result in really adorable friendships. 

If you want to make sure that your dogs and chickens get along, choose a dog with a mild temperament. Get them used to each other slowly and safely. If you don’t rush things, eventually, your chickens and dogs should at least tolerate each other, if not become friends.

How to Dog Proof a Chicken Coop

It can be relatively easy to make sure that your own dogs and chickens live happily together. However, there are stray dogs to think about as well. You never know where stray dogs come from, and there’s always the potential that they are carrying diseases. It’s key that you keep your chicken coop predator-proof. This will give your chickens a place to stay safe from all kinds of dangers. 

You can also invest in a chicken coop that can be fully customized to protect your chickens. The Hen House Collection offers top-quality coops that you and your chickens will love!

Designate a Roosting Place

One great way to keep your chickens safe is to have a designated enclosed roosting space. This way, they won’t have to go outside to roost in the open, where they are more vulnerable to attack. Roosting is an instinct for chickens, so you must have a safe space where they can rest how they naturally want to.

Use Quality Fencing

Even though chicken wire is called chicken wire, it’s not the best solution for fencing in your chicken coop. Chicken wire is thin, weak, and easy for dogs to chew through or break. Make sure you use a thick and sturdy type of wire to secure your coop. You should also make sure your fence is plenty tall, so jumping or climbing over is impossible for dogs or other predators. 

Using hardwire cloth or some other type of sturdy wire will also help you create a bear-proof chicken coop.

Bury a Fence

If a predator can’t go over a fence, they will try to dig their way under. You can easily get rid of this possibility by burying at least 6 inches of fence. That way, when a dog starts digging frantically to try to get to your chickens, they’ll have a huge amount of dirt to fly through before they get anywhere. Hopefully, once they realize that the fence isn’t stopping underground, this will dissuade them from going further. 

Cover the Run

You can take your chicken coop fence a step further by completely enclosing the entire run. With tall fences, six inches of fence underground, and a cover for it all, a dog will be hard-pressed to find a way to get to your chickens. 

Extra Tips to Help your Dogs and Chickens live in Harmony

Did you know that it’s not just your chickens that are in danger when you have dogs and chickens together? Keep reading to find some more tips for keeping your dogs and chickens happy and healthy together. 

Keep Your Chicken Out of Your Dog’s Space

As a general rule, your dogs and chickens should be kept separate from each other. If your dogs and chickens have free range of each others’ spaces, health issues can arise for both parties. 

Dogs, especially puppies, are incredibly curious. This curiosity is shown a lot in the way that puppies eat anything in sight. Chicken poop is at the top of the list of things that pups like to try out. Unfortunately, chicken dropping can cause some serious problems for dogs. Salmonella is sometimes found in chicken feces, and if your dog has access to chicken poop, there’s a greater possibility that he’ll get sick.

Sometimes, dogs have salmonella and don’t show symptoms. Some symptoms you should be on the lookout for are:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Dehydration
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Stomach pain
• Sleepiness 

If your dog starts showing any of these symptoms, take him to your vet before it gets any worse. Sometimes, it can take up to several weeks for a dog to get rid of this sickness. Be proactive, and don’t let your dog get sick in the first place by making sure he can’t eat chicken poop!

Chickens can also be affected by having access to dog areas. Chickens are natural scavengers, and if they find some dog food, they’ll enjoy pecking at it. Dog food isn’t a great thing for chickens to eat as it can cause digestive problems for chickens.

Watch Your Dog Carefully

Even when you think that your dogs and chickens are well-adjusted to each other, watch them carefully. You might think that everything is going great when, one day, your dog shows aggression that you didn’t know was there.

A great way to keep your dog’s predatory instincts in check is to take really good care of him. Give him the food that he enjoys and the amount he needs to keep him healthy and happy. Make sure he’s comfortable at night and during the day. If your dog isn’t going hungry and doesn’t have to fend for himself to survive, he should stay tame and less likely to cause disturbance with your chickens.

Dog Breeds That Like Chickens

What are some dog breeds that get along well with chickens? Some breeds of dogs have a natural tendency to be more docile and calm when interacting with other animals. This can vary a lot depending on the individual dog as well. Just because you choose a breed that’s known for docility doesn’t mean that you’ll get the most chill pup in the world. Each dog is different and unique. 

Some breeds that are known to be better with fowl are: 

• Great Pyrenees
• Sheepdog
• Anatolian Shepherd

Use a predator-proof door

Do you want a really simple way to keep your chickens safely inside their cozy coop during the night? Luckily for you, there is an invention that will make this so much easier. A Smart Pet Auto Door is designed to protect your chickens from all kinds of predators. This heavy-duty door is outfitted with a timer that you can set to a schedule you want. This saves you from constantly worrying about opening and closing the coop door at certain times of the day. 

Our automatic coop doors move slowly so that your chickens are kept safe from harm. They are also equipped with sensors that stop the door if a chicken is in the way. Our Wi-Fi automatic Door comes with a timer and a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth unit that you control with an app. All our doors come with a one-year warranty plus a four-year prorated warranty. Predator-proof your chicken coop with a Smart Pet Auto Door that will keep your chickens safe for years to come!