Can my pets be a danger to chickens?

[LilBizzy]

My cat was not a killer, but I did my best to keep him away from the chickens. I had nothing to worry about - the chickens, even at a fairly young age showed him who was boss. Our neighbors have outside cats that are semi-wild. Our chickens showed them who is boss also.
Now dogs, on the other hand, are a different story. Our neighbors young retriever got and killed one. My dog would like to kill one. And our other neighbors have a lab mix dog. It's old, moves slow. But it killed my rooster. My BIG rooster. So don't let age fool ya.



edited because I type horribly, and had a letter "S" in front of the word "not" which looked bad

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

Quote:
Yup...what chirpy said. I have three dogs...one I can let in the fence and two I cannot. If the birds fly over the fence...all bets are off and three dogs are on them. My cats aren't really a bother to the chickens except when they are small. When they are REALLY small, they're not outside where they can be caught by the cats anyway. But when there able to go outside, the cats are a bit of a nussance to them. But haven't hurt, caught or damaged any as of yet.
I would just watch your dog. Go ahead and get some chickens

 

[SandraChick]

You can train your dog not to bother the chickens...it can be a lot of work.

I have found that it's not about the breed...it's about how well trained the dog is to begin with and how much work the owners are willing to put into it and there are a FEW INDIVIDUAL dogs that just require more than any human can give to train that way.

Some choose to just have the chickens fenced in, so their dog can't get in.

I have a hunting dog...a black lab that has still goes pheasant/quail hunting and would go duck hunting again, if I went. He knows wild ducks and pheasants are to be gotten, and leaves our chickens and ducks alone.

I had another lab who died last year of cancer...same story.

good luck
-Sandra

 

[nzpouter]

Teach your dog.. the cats you'll just have to take your chances...

We have 3 dogs running with our chickens and other animals, you just need to teach them what they can/ can not eat.

 

[farmer macdonald123]

get a nice rooster that will protect the hens

 

[ruth]

I have six dogs of different breeds and 2 cats (used to be 4) that all live happily amongst my hundreds of free ranging chickens, ducks and peacocks here on our farm and no one bothers anyone else. Actually the dogs keep the predators away and one dog even chases off every hawk (or buzzard) he sees. As someone said, it takes a little work to teach them to leave them alone and I do so by taking the dog amongst the chickens and giving it a firm "no" if it makes any move towards the chicken or even looks at it wrong. But actually there isn't much teaching involved. The mere act of the dogs being with me while I feed and water the flock and livestock lets them know that they are part of the family. Most people who visit get a kick out of being in my coop with several dogs amongst the chickens - sometimes both eating out of the same bowl (my dogs love chicken feed). A couple that was visiting recently said Ceasar Milan (Dog Whisperer) had nothing on me. Here I was with my pack of 6 dogs and I would just tell them "Let's go feed the goats...or chickens...or ducks" and off we'd all go.

 

[swampducks]

I've got a 3 year old lab and an 11 year old lab. These are bird dogs, the older one loves to chase the chickadees at the feeder. When I got my ducklings my older lab drooled foot long strings while I had him on a leash to introduce him to the ducklings, repeatedly telling him "NO". He caught on fairly quick. Did the same with the younger dog. She chased the ducklings twice (they were 2 months old then) as I yelled "NO".

Then I got chickens and by then the 11 year old knew they weren't chew toys. The younger one I had on a leash for the first few days till I knew she wouldn't harm them.

I can free range the chickens with both dogs loose now and no problems. The younger lab has chased neighbor dogs away in fact.

You've got to really know your dogs though. You have to be able to make them come when called, drop things on command, etc. You've got to know they will OBEY you. That takes time.

 

[cheapcheap_jeepjeep]

I would not worry about the cats either. Like everyone has said the chickens will let the cat know how the bosses. Unless you are one of my cats who sleeps in a nest box with the hens and cuddles. My one indoor cat does nt even bother the chicks and duckling in the house but it sure is a good tv program for her.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Chirpy is correct. My former feral 2 1/2 lb. cat has proven time and time again that she can't be trusted around the chickens. My smallest hen weighs 6 lbs. It doesn't matter to this cat. That's why she now lives inside during the time the chickens are out.
I have two dogs. My irish wolfhound is now very protective of the chickens. The other would kill them. Still, it was my irish wolfhound that picked up a chick. She didn't mean to harm it and didn't, but the chick was still in shock.