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My bantam cochin roo challenged my dog!

post #1 of 5
6/29/12 at 10:39am
Thread Starter 

My dog dashed out the back door and grabbed one of his bones.  Well, he ran past the rooster (who free ranges) and the rooster chased after him!  Then he started squaring off and flapping his wings and fluffing up his feathers.  At first my dog thought he wanted to play and playfully replied, but it became clear pretty quickly that Scooter the rooster wasn't playing!  My dog tucked his tail between his legs and hid behind me!  He didn't hurt him - not pecking or scratching with is claws, but he was very aggressive!

 

Is there anything that I should have done to stop this?  Or what should I do next time I see it happen?  Clearly the dog is not TOP dog anymore...

Started our first flock of 12 on 3/4/2012 with lots of learning and loss.  Our Current flock of 14 - 1 Jersey Giant rooster, 1 Tetra Tint, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 OEGB/Silkie mixes added 8 new chicks this spring: 1 Barred Rock, 1 Red Sex Link, 1 Black Sex Link, 1 Black Cochin, 1 RIR, 1 Silver-laced Wyandotte, and 2 Easter Eggers.

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Started our first flock of 12 on 3/4/2012 with lots of learning and loss.  Our Current flock of 14 - 1 Jersey Giant rooster, 1 Tetra Tint, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 OEGB/Silkie mixes added 8 new chicks this spring: 1 Barred Rock, 1 Red Sex Link, 1 Black Sex Link, 1 Black Cochin, 1 RIR, 1 Silver-laced Wyandotte, and 2 Easter Eggers.

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post #2 of 5
6/29/12 at 10:46am

I'm not sure, but it was a funny story  lau.gif

I think the roo was just doing his job to protect his flock from anything that might be a threat.  The dog came running out of the house which may have caused the roo to react automatically from being startled.

I wish I could have seen it.....lol

We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.

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We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.

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post #3 of 5
6/29/12 at 10:50am

I posted a similar thread a few days ago because my little tiny 5 week old red star roos are running at my yorkie/Pomeranian and pecking him.  He can't feel it because of all the fur but I wondered if the roosters were showing aggressiveness already.  The answer was that they were just doing their job.  Leading and protecting.

 

Sounds like the dog startled him by running by and he reacted.  

4 Easter Eggers- 3 Pullets, 1 Roo

32 Red Stars- 30 Pullets, 2 Roos

3 Buff Polish- Pullets

5 White Polish- 3 Pullets, 2 Roos

2 Delewares, 4 White Leghorns, 2 Buff Orphingtons, 2 Barred Rocks, 3 Easter Eggers- pullets

3 random silkie mixes- Unknown

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4 Easter Eggers- 3 Pullets, 1 Roo

32 Red Stars- 30 Pullets, 2 Roos

3 Buff Polish- Pullets

5 White Polish- 3 Pullets, 2 Roos

2 Delewares, 4 White Leghorns, 2 Buff Orphingtons, 2 Barred Rocks, 3 Easter Eggers- pullets

3 random silkie mixes- Unknown

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post #4 of 5
9/1/12 at 11:36am
Thread Starter 

I thought I'd post an update...the past 2 months have gone pretty smoothly until yesterday.  I had put some extra food out for the chickens while I was cleaning the coop and they were gobbling it up while my dog watched from a distance.  When all the chickens except one, had wondered away from the food, my dog started inching towards the food.  He started eating a little bit and when the hen that was closest started heading towards the food again, my dog kind of scared her away.  She strolled off - not bothered at all, but the rooster sure saw everything and he came hurrying over and waited until my dog was done eating, then as he started to walk away, the rooster flew at him.  My dog lunged at the rooster, and then my littlest roo and top hen joined in the attack on my dog.  There were wings and feathers flying around and lots of noise.  When I called my dog, he ran to me and hid behind me.  No one was hurt but now I am seriously worried about leaving my chickens and the dog outside together when I am not home...

 

I could tell that my dog (he's a 20 lb pug/boston terrier mix) was just trying to defend himself, but I'm afraid what might happen if they attack him again.  He truly ignores the chickens all day long...but if the rooster is out to get him, then it could be bad...
 

Any suggestions now? 

Started our first flock of 12 on 3/4/2012 with lots of learning and loss.  Our Current flock of 14 - 1 Jersey Giant rooster, 1 Tetra Tint, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 OEGB/Silkie mixes added 8 new chicks this spring: 1 Barred Rock, 1 Red Sex Link, 1 Black Sex Link, 1 Black Cochin, 1 RIR, 1 Silver-laced Wyandotte, and 2 Easter Eggers.

Reply

Started our first flock of 12 on 3/4/2012 with lots of learning and loss.  Our Current flock of 14 - 1 Jersey Giant rooster, 1 Tetra Tint, 1 White Leghorn, 1 Buff Orpington, 2 OEGB/Silkie mixes added 8 new chicks this spring: 1 Barred Rock, 1 Red Sex Link, 1 Black Sex Link, 1 Black Cochin, 1 RIR, 1 Silver-laced Wyandotte, and 2 Easter Eggers.

Reply
post #5 of 5
9/1/12 at 2:28pm

Your dog could turn around and get some nerve suddenly one day.  I interrupted our dog in the middle of a murderous rampage on one of our Spitzhauben roosters.  Thank God I was able to save the rooster in time, but there were feathers everywhere.  Now we've reached a compromise.  At night and in the morning, while the chickens are asleep and then laying eggs, and the morning sun hits the barnyard, the dog runs loose (we live on a farm).  In the afternoon and evening, when the barnyard is shaded, the chickens get to free range and the dog gets tied up under the shade of two 60' elm trees with a massive rubber bucket of water.  So far it's been working out well.

I love birds!  Chickens...canaries...ducks...blue jays...parrots....cardinals...and on and on!
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I love birds!  Chickens...canaries...ducks...blue jays...parrots....cardinals...and on and on!
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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › My bantam cochin roo challenged my dog!