Thread: Pointers and chickens

Unfortunately my pointer pup (5 months) has a chicken jump into his day pen and is now in two pieces, I’ve trained pig and deer dogs but never a bird dog or a pointer so any advice for this incident? I want to keep up his bird interest but not munch chickens and as well as this I’m new to pointers and thus far he hasn’t really stepped out of line until now

bit unfortunate but heres a suggestion for what its worth.
Keep the pup away from chickens for a couple of months.
Then use a caged bird; say pigeon and hide it in the scrub somewhere upwind.
Hunt the dog on a fairly long lead into the wind and allow him to wind the bird. When your close, shorten up on the lead to about 3-4 m and steady the pup as he approaches the bird. Make sure he stops (don't be rough) about 3-4 m (no closer) from the hidden bird. Make sure he stands or points nice and steady and quietly stroke his neck and back for a minute or so, all the while keeping him from getting exited. (if he gets jumpy and excitied, lift him bodily and carry him back to his kennel and leave him alone there at least an hour. ) Assuming the dog is steady for a minute or two, continue behaving very calmly, praise him quietly and then lift him bodily and carry him to kennel still patting or praising him quietly. Repeat this excercise once a day, each time in a different location. Make sure you set the bird out when the dog cannot observe you and take a roundabout route so that the dog cannot folow your track (scent) to the bird in order that he must use wind (air scent) only.

Continue this excercise until you a re certain the dog will not rush in and try to capture the bird. Continue with the other training, especially stop , stay , down etc so you have full control at all times, eventually progressing to hand signals.

Next steps are to use release traps, such that if the dog get too close to the bird you can release the bird (homing pigeon) and growl the dog (no treat or reward) for rushing. Of course, if the dog remains nice and steady you can capture the bird while he remains on point, and then praise him and reward him (treat) for enabling you to capture the prize.

Those are the principles, but you can adapt to the particular dog. Any error on dogs part, go back to the previous stage and fully establish it before progressing further.

Hope this helps.

Do nothing. It’s a non-event.

Build a proper chook-run so the fuckers can’t get out.

lets look at it from a diferent angle...what would you do if it was a pheasant instead of a chook???? or a lamb???? 5mths old says a lot. dont let it happen again by keeping dog under control and indeed the chooks..... teach dog a chook is a chook...you MAY point it or ignore it BUT NO eating....... as to how to do so.....a lead is a good tool,time is even better,spend the time and you get results.

Woody, great advice thank you. I live bird train already and he’s pretty good with everything else, just this chicken incident. I’ve got him sitting at the shot and when a hare breaks close to him he sits and just watches it run off. My concern was just not making him bird shy but he’s that bird driven I don’t really think it’s an issue. Thank you again

Shit happens bro, keep your chooks out of your dog run. Problem solved

My lab pup got a taste for them. She never even looks at them when with me, but if she somehow gets out... boom stright in having fun! 3 weeks ago her chain broke and we arrived home to chooks and turkeys everywhere. None dead thankfully.

Seems once they get a taste, training only goes so far...

My older dog had a fascination for small wild pigs. My new young dog has a similar trait for fantails. They still fix on deer and pheasants when it matters. Let them enjoy being a dog. As a dude on ESPN said many years ago " i dont train the hunting out of my dog to get a toy"

My dog spends most afternoon's eyeing the chooks in the lawn and the pet lambs around home at the moment but knows no touching, stalking only. Half heading dog doesn't help but she knows the rules