Introducing chicks to dogs

I introduced my dog to my chicks.

 

She would lunge and snap when they'd flap their wings.  I decided to keep her away from them after that.

 

 

...then she figured out how to open my bedroom door while the whole family was away and she killed all 25 of them.

 

:'(

 My dogs are fantastic with animals but never in a million years would I leave the two of them alone together.

 

A dogs may be your pets, but underneath that, they are still dogs.

 

I started introducing mine under close supervision, never putting the chick on the ground only holding them and letting my dogs sniff at them.I'd also pet the chicks and then rub my hands on the dogs so they have chick smell on them. They are all acclimated together now, but I have to remember that the dogs instinct to hunt will over power his training to be a good dog if you're not there with him.

 

I lost a chick to my aunts dog. It all happened in an instant and I never even had time to react.

 

I'd introduce them, but do so with caution and never forget that your dog is a dog, and a second of time can change everything.

 

[Sorry to be negative nancy but I've lost a hand raised chick to a dog and I'll NEVER make that mistake again with chicks and dogs]

Edited by WRVgirl - 6/19/12 at 4:08pm

I always let my dog in with my chickens. You dont really have to worry about the chickens just the dog. By the sound of it though you have two good dogs who wouldnt hurt the chicks. I first introduced my chicks to dogs when they were young. Honestly you can start any time, but the younger the better so they dont grow unneccesary fears. After some getting used to dogs your chicks will grow to adjust to them. My chicks even roost on my dog sometimes.
Remember its alot easier to start them young. I wish you good luck!

Oh good! I feel so negative when I tell people about it because my experience with [other peoples] dogs and chickens has been so negative.

 

I believe that introducing and forging a relationship between your dogs and your birds is a great thing, it just requires 100% supervision.

 

TBH, I came in the room one day and all three of my chicks [pre-dog attack] were asleep on the dog pillow WITH MY TWO DOGS! Lol. I wish I had had my camera at the time because it would have been a priceless photo.

 

But after the attack, I'm even paranoid to let my dogs wander the house with the chicks uncovered even when I'm there. It sucks, because I know my dogs would never touch my chickens [I think the fear of what I'd do to them is enough to stop them from ever hurting the babies] but this is because I force them to socialize.

 

My italian greyhound will sit next to their tub at night and peer in on them for HOURS at a time just checking on them,  but I still would never let them be alone together. There's too much risk.

 

I wish you the best of luck.

 

What worked for me was petting the chicks and then rubbing my hands all over their toys and pillows, this way the smell of chick becomes something they smell all of the time, and not something that they need to taste and investigate further :D

WRVgirl you are definatly not being negative. Its just common sense and you should always watch your dog when by any animals. They are animals and haveba mind of there own:)

WRVgirl you are definatly not being negative. Its just common sense and you should always watch your dog when by any animals. They are animals and haveba mind of there own:)