chickens eating dog food......

[kissingrk]

Hello, I have some chickens who have been naughty. They have been sneaking up to the house and eating my dogs food.

I would think my dog would run them off but he just sits there and lets them eat away!

Will the dog food hurt them???? I have only had the chickens a few months they are all a year old and older, So they are a little wild (cant catch them very easy) they are starting to warm up to me and enjoy my company. I used to walk outside and they would run for the coop now they dont mind me. I like to let them out in the yard for the day but if the dog food is going to hurt them we may need to come up with a new plan. they have 6 acres to roam around on all day why do they need to come to the house?...thank for any help!!

 

[gritsar]

While it shouldn't become a staple of their diet, a little is not going to hurt them.
Mine have stolen cat food, dog food and goat food. They would take food directly out of my dog's mouth and she'd let them!
To avoid them making a habit of it, you might want to consider feeding the dog before and/or after the chickens are out.

 

[Imp]

Yes. What Gritsar said. I have to feed the cats before opening the run and after dark. But I let them have whatever the cats don't eat. Can you move the dogfood? or pick it up after the dog is done?

Imp- They'll learn to recognise the bowl so it won't do much good to try putting it up out of reach. Good luck.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
How very true. I first tried putting the cat food bowl on the outside kitchen window ledge. You'd be surprised how high a fat ol' brahma can jump when they want to bad enough.

 

[92caddy]

Dog food or cat food will NOT hurt your birds, I give it to my birds when I need to up their protein and/or as treats.........

 

[kissingrk]

thank you everyone!

I guess it sounds like I cant retrain the chickens so the dog will have to learn he cant have food in his dish at all times. He will have to eat before the chickens are out and after they are locked up... the only other problem is when they come to the house they also like to up root my flowers and plants!

not to mention use the patio as a restroom. I will let them slide on that its cement so its easy to clean

I wish I could train my dog to run them away from the house but Iam afraid to try to in case he gets aggressive with them...He is very gentle and I dont want to start something.. I love these smilies! this one looks like me chasing the chickens away from the house

Thanks again everyone!!!!!

 

[Shannonwbl]

I thought you would appreciate this picture. Kate (NHR), caught in the act! Doesn't she look proud?

 

[Imp]

... the only other problem is when they come to the house they also like to up root my flowers and plants!

not to mention use the patio as a restroom. I will let them slide on that its cement so its easy to clean

kissingrk,
I find that the inexpensive wire fencing about 2 feet tall keeps the chicken out of the flower beds- mostly. It's the kind that comes in white or green and folds. I get it at Big Lots or on sale at the box stores.

Imp​

 

[Akane]

Most dog food is better for chickens than it is dogs....

 

[Chickenz1]

Just a warning..Dry cat food can suffocate a chicken if he eats too much..I used to give a little bit of dry cat food to my chickens as a treat, and all was well until one day I gave a *little more* to one of my cluckin' gluttons, and when he drank water, the food swelled up in his craw and he could barely breathe..Scared me really bad..Thankfully, after a few hours, it had gone on through enough so he could breathe right again..I never gave any of them any dry cat food again..