Dogs and Chickens

Maplemaam

Chirping
6 Years
Mar 12, 2016
17
8
82
Geauga County, Ohio
I have been reading about suggestions to help my schnoodle control her hunting instincts around my 8-week-old chicks. She is much calmer now, and I was really hopeful. Then yesterday, I had her on a leash while the chicks wandered around the barn. The chicks are not at all afraid of her, so they started approaching her and pecking at her fluffy gray coat. Oh my! She was not happy. Is there any way to discourage chicks from doing this? I know it does not hurt her, but she seemed very annoyed in a doggy sort of way. And...if I were not right there, she would probably nip or snap at them. Any suggestions!!
 
I have old dogs and they are not of the hunting or prey drive variety but after the chickens learned they were not their best friends (after a growl, bark and a few chases) they learned to keep a friendly distance but neither groups are aggressive to each other.
 
Last night I was brave and let the chickens roam around the barn while my dog was unleashed. I kept a close eye on all of them, and it went just fine. When a chicken started to peck at her she sort of did a little jerk of her head and the chicken quickly backed off. After a few minutes they all lost interest in one another, the dog went and laid down in front of the wood stove, and the chicks went about their exploring of the barn. Hopefully the problem is solved.
 

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