are your dogs and chicken friends

[jennerb]

I realize this feed is sort of old but as I can't find a way to post a new one, I will give my recent first experience with dogs and cats. We have 4 cats, a golden retriever and an austrailian sheppard/border collie mix. My 6 pullets have been in the run-coop since they were 7 weeks old.( 20 weeks now) Last week one if the "hunter" cats was staring at the chickens watching the fantasy meal. I decided that I was going to let the chickens out anyway and see how it all went. Our cat immediately went into crouch attack mode and I started screaming. She backed off but only to continue to look hungry. About 5 minutes into her watching the chickens a chicken out of no where and no warning ran after the cat with a couple others in tow. Scared the cat half to death and they have been fine ever since. So onto my dogs....they smelled them when they were 1 day old and watched them through the wiring-Ran around the chicken yard area, etc. I wasn't really ready to have my chickens meet my dogs as my gr will pick up anything resembling a bird or squirrel and it never ends well. The dogs were in the yard that is fenced off from the chickens and the chickens were free ranging. I walked outside only to find 3 of the chickens had flown into the dog area and all were acting like they had known each other forever. I realize I was very lucky but I do think dogs, cats, and chickens can be good together. If only my kids could figure this out!

 

[MoototheCluck88]

Yep, Dakota takes his chicken-keeping very seriously. Sadly, he may not be here for this year's hatch (if I even decide to have chicks this year) as he has cancer in his mouth and the tumors are spreading. I'm hoping my next dog will be as easily trained as this one was....

 

[MoototheCluck88]

I have a Husky/Border Collie mix and she doesn't seem to want to eat the chickens, all 7 weeks ,but the chickens are afraid of the dog. What should I do?

 

[MoototheCluck88]

Sorry to hear about your puppy's and his cancer that sucks, I am kind of right there with you my yellow lab is 14 and has cancer in her hips along with dysphia and arthritis in the front legs her kidneys are slowly going so we too are doing quality of life check list. it sucks :{

I'm sorry to hear that . Dogs rule

 

[MoototheCluck88]

My dog will turn 3 on Oct. 15, if that's any help.

 

[MoototheCluck88]

We used to have gerbils when she was a puppy but she didn't go crazy trying to get them.

 

[JenifferHartman]

Our 2 1/2yo male Weimaraner (bird dog), Dennis, with our first batch of chicks. They follow him around in the yard. He will lay there and let them climb on him and he tries to hurd them.. probably the cutest thing ever. We have 20 chickens now. A few of them just started laying. He is EXCELLENT with them!

Obviously the breed of your dog doesn't matter much. If you have an obedient, well trained dog that follows commands, you shouldn't have a problem. The only problem I have had with my dog in regards to my chickens is accidentaly stepping on them when they are "under paw".

 

[ll]

Our 2 1/2yo male Weimaraner (bird dog), Dennis, with our first batch of chicks. They follow him around in the yard. He will lay there and let them climb on him and he tries to hurd them..

probably the cutest thing ever. We have 20 chickens now. A few of them just started laying. He is EXCELLENT with them!

Obviously the breed of your dog doesn't matter much. If you have an obedient, well trained dog that follows commands, you shouldn't have a problem. The only problem I have had with my dog in regards to my chickens is accidentaly stepping on them when they are "under paw".

 

[bdjh]

We introduced 7 8-week-old chickens to our dogs, and after getting over the initial sniffing-fest, they really don't care to much about them. They appear to be fun to scare, as all three dogs seem to enjoy running towards them and watching them scatter. The chickens don't seem to care much either....they'll walk right up to a dog layng in the yard as they make their rounds in search of bugs and such.

It worked out pretty well....except for the poop-eating......ick.....apparantly chicken poop tastes like slow-smoked brisket.

 

[fowlmouthgirls]

My 5 month old LGD has killed two chickens, she doesn't understand that they aren't toys, she has stomped them to death trying to get them to play with her. So, I have to keep them all separated, it makes me sad, since I thought she would eventually be able to be broken of the "chase". Maybe when she's older she will tire of it. I hope anyway.