Bird dogs and chickens

[deltaops]

if it takes a boat load of chicken stink and a big slow bird to get a PL to sight point then I guess thats what it takes.

I always thought it was asking a helluva lot for a bird dog to coexist with chickens, sure it happens all the time, but just don't get mad or surprised when your dog kills one. and don't get surprised when you punish your dog for killing one and he stops working game birds properly.

That is one reason why I will not introduce my Springer to our chickens. I need to build a wire cage for them so I can let my dog out back and not worry about the dang chickens. 

If my Springer ever did get a hold of one, well it would be my fault. I am sure he can be trained to not harm them, but I would rather he just treat all birds the same! 

[Special T]

I thought Bantam chickens had a smell like wild birds.... I think Happy  posted a thread about that a while back.

[AspenBud]

I'll stick with homers, quail, and chukar for training.

Or better still, grouse in the woods!   

[deltaops]

I wonder.......... Not using the ones  I have now, but buying a Bantam and letting it lose in the tall stuff, then getting my dog on it. Wonder if that would be good training? 

[Don Fischer]

A dog hasn't got any idea what any bird smells like until it smell's the first one.

You guy's keeping your dog away might and might not be doing the right thing. Squirt and Bodie started going out to the chickns the day they came home. They don't bother the chickens at all. Matter of fact they go into the hen house to evict the dicky birds that go in, never touch a chicken!

Early Dec my Red setter pup come's home and right to the chickens he goes with Squirt and Bodie. My chickens are always loose unless someone brings another bird dog over.

[lokidog]

A dog hasn't got any idea what any bird smells like until it smell's the first one.

You guy's keeping your dog away might and might not be doing the right thing. Squirt and Bodie started going out to the chickns the day they came home. They don't bother the chickens at all. Matter of fact they go into the hen house to evict the dicky birds that go in, never touch a chicken!

Early Dec my Red setter pup come's home and right to the chickens he goes with Squirt and Bodie. My chickens are always loose unless someone brings another bird dog over.

   Our Loki acted like they didn't even exist.  She'd lay out in the yard and they'd practically roost on top of her.

[Happy Gilmore]

I'll stick with homers, quail, and chukar for training.

Or better still, grouse in the woods!   

Non of which will run like a bantam or a rooster leaving a critical element out of training .

[buckfvr]

Before cancer took my shorthair, if she was awake, she was on point or workin our free range chickens......our lab totally ignores them,  to the point youd think they are invisible and scent free.