Train your dogs to a "leave it" command. You can find how on the internet. Once they are reliable on 'leave it', you can work on them with the chickens. Using clicker will probably be the quickest way to get them to understand, but they will need practice before they can be reliable enough to...
There is quite a difference in climate between Raisin River and Iron Mountain. You should at least add "Michigan" to your name. And, in your thread you can mention where in Michigan.
I taught my border collie "leave it" when he was a puppy. With leave it, he must turn away from whatever the item is. I used it when we got chickens and he learned right away. But, he was a border collie.
I have been a dog trainer. I have taught people how to use the clicker and stay with them until they understand it. I used clicker to train my donkeys. I have not used a clicker in a few years, but I think it is a marvelous tool for people who have no experience training an animal.
I haven't...
When I had both chickens and ducks they got along well. I have a pond and one group practically lived on the pond and the other foraged about the yard and woods. Can't remember which group did which.
For a while I had Moscovites and they bit the chickens the backs if they got too close. The...
Orpingtons lay medium sized eggs. Your other standard chicks probably came from large or extra large eggs. I would put her in with the bantams until she gets some size.
My neighbor's Siberian Husky (old type, sled dog) killed our kittens and almost did in a friends little dog. I would not keep chickens at all with those two dogs. Even with electric fencing, if the power goes out those dogs will be right over the fence.
Please add your country in your information. In the future it will be helpful to know where you are. I live in Michigan, U.S.A. Hot summers, cold winters, snow, tornadoes.
They only land on the fence if they are looking for a roost. My chickens used to fly right over the 4 foot electric netting. Heavy birds aren't supposed to be able to do that, but the Australorps, Rhode Island Red, and Plymouth Rocks all did. The Brahmas do not fly out.
When I toss food on the ground it's just enough for them to eat in a couple of minutes. I feed the adult birds whole grain, which is attractive to cardinals and bluejays.
It might happen in the U.S.A. China is not buying our soybeans, they are rotting in Arkansas. It may be the same for wheat and corn also. I don't now how much we've been selling to China. Where I live the farmers sell to local dairies, so hopefully they won't be going under.
If your family eats meat, remind your son that you also eat other creatures. Now that he knows there are animals that eat chickens, he can use this as a learning experience.
I put a spring on the hinge side of the gate that kept our dog in because I knew with a three year old and 7 other kids...