am i crazy?

[agodlyhomemaker]

what do i do? my dog killed 6 chicks a few weeks ago and this morning she killed 5 more. i have them inside til they r big enuf for the outside but my 2 yr old the left the door open! this time we don't know how she got in the room. i love my dog very much but she is a lab and known for hunting prowess. i guess i was stupid thinking i could do both. i just wanted chickens so badly and she stays inside and they would be penned up outside and i thought it would work. am i crazy? do i get rid of the chicks or the dog and can i do both? if so how? i am very discouraged and upset. i love my girls and hate the thought of what happened. am i destined to not have chickens?

 

[outdoor junkie]

Maybe just put a latch on the door up high, so the kids can't reach it, thats what I did. The kids only go in when I do.

 

[Okie Amazon]

Your chicks safety is your responsibility. Crate the dog or leave her outside. When you do move your chicks outside, make sure they are in a secure coop.

 

[FMAFarms]

Sorry to hear about your chicks. Dogs are known as one of the main predators of chicks, unfortunately.

What to do? Can you move your brooder to a bathroom, something with a door that can get one of the kid-proof doorknobs put on it? That way, your little one can't leave the door open to where the chicks are. We've known of people who've brought their dog over the day the chicks arrived and introduced each chick to their dogs with the stern warning that these are valued animals and not toys. They never had a problem with their dogs and chicks. It might be too late for that, but for next time.

Also let your child know of the importance of keeping Doggie away from Chickies, because Doggie can hurt Chickies very very bad.

Good luck, but don't give up! At the worst, you could put your dog on a run outside so it can't get inside at all.

 

[suzeqf]

you can do both, work with your dog on leaving the chickens alone i have 5 dogs and i've introduced all of them to my chicks and my chi was the only one that tried to get one and as soon as he made a move it told him leave it the others are pretty good about leaving moma's chickens alone my youngest doxie got in the box with them and didn't bother them i just told him to get out and he did. i'm sure when they get in their coop and run we will have to re-vist leave it because i know they will run the fence until they get used to them being outside

 

[Karrie13]

You are not crazy and you can do both. You just have to take extra precautions now that you know you have a chicken killer. I have one too he has killed 9 chicks, all when I first started. I got smart and moved the chicks to a better, more secure location. They are now down in the basement and there is no way the dog can get to them. He is also a miniature schnauzer; any dog can be a chicken killer. I also have a corgi and a Rottweiler that have never harmed a bird but are never trusted alone with them. The Rottie likes to rob eggs so she has to be watched extra careful when the girls are free ranging.

Move the birds to a more secure location or put them in something that the dog cannot gain access to. You will also want to make sure the dog can’t dig and get into the coop/pen once your birds are outside.

 

[britsngrits]

I brought back a pair of Columbian Rocks from the Ohio National last fall and my puppy Zoe killed the hen and ate her. She is a lab/springer mix so it is in her nature to be a bird dog. I yelled and yelled at her. That seemed to have done the trick but I felt awful that it had been my responsability to keep my chickens safe and I failed. She no longer kills the chickens but she does "drive by's" where she runs past them to give them a start then she runs off on her own. I has been over 4 months with not a hint of predatory behavior. My husband said the next step was to get a shock collar for her if she didn't get the verbal lesson I gave.

A friend of mine had the same problem, got a shock collar and very quickly trained his dog to keep away from the chickens!

You can have both... mine free range. I have had to accept that if I allow them to roam free on the farm there may be the occasional loss. That was hard to accept at first but they prefer to roam and not be locked in. They don't have to speak to me to make it obvious... they rush the door when I open it in the mornings!

Good luck... don't give in. Be firm!

 

[wowmanacat]

I don't think you are crazy. You just have to work at it. I have two dogs and they like to sneak out behind my back when I let my chickens out for pest control. I have seen my rooster let my younger dog know that he is on guard for his girls. My dog can go out while the chickens are out but they are on a chain and only stay out for a few minutes to do there biz. Just keep the dog locked up or chained away from where the chickens are is the best idea that I can offer.

I also have a baby chick( that did not make it) that my dogs would try to mother it.

 

[Hopeful Peacock]

In addition to the above, I think you can train many (not all, maybe) dogs not to eat the chicks. I am training mine right now, and they routinely hunt voles and moles, etc. You want them to *ignore* the chicks. When they are too interested in the chicks, they get to feel your disapproval. When they turn away or otherwise ignore the chicks, they get affection or another form of praise. There are some great Cesar Milan (Dog Whisperer) videos where he worked with dogs to not attack rabbits and other small animals. I think there may have even been one about chickens (full-grown). They are available from Netflix. Good luck!

 

[Mak]

Even Labs can be taught to ignore chickens. I can let my chocolate out in the yard when the chickens are out, and he just ignores them. Walks right thru the groups of them and doesn't pay any attention. Of course, I am always out there, as well. I would not leave him alone with them for any length of time.

Then again, he may have learned his lesson when one of the hens pecked him a good one on the nose! He wasn't doing anything, just sitting there, but even then, he didn't try to go after her, just jumped back and hid behind me! LOL

Start now, with dog on short leash. Bring him near, but not in reach of chickens. If he tries to go after them or shows too keen an interest, tell him "NO!" or "Leave it!" or whatever your command will be. As soon as he turns away, praise and give him a treat, if food rewards work for him. Repeat. Endlessly. He will get the idea. Aim for longer times you can let him near without interest, and looser leash. You may not be able to let him run among them, but you should be able to get him to leave them alone.