Chicks and Dogs

[Spruce Point]

Our chicks are still in a brooder in the house, but our coop is being delivered next week. For the most part, I had planned to keep them in a penned in area attached to the coop, but the more I read about the benefits of having them in the yard, the more intrigued I am. My trouble is that I have no idea how to determine if my dogs will be well behaved with them. I have two Golden Retrievers and a Saint Bernard. I'm not really concerned about the Saint, she likes to lay near the brooder and is very motherly. I have let her sniff the chicks while I held them and she makes no aggressive gestures. I just have no idea about the Goldens. Does anyone have suggestions for mingling dogs and chickens?

 

[schellie69]

It is a slow process. I would let the chickens free range while the dogs are locked up. Then lock the chickens up and let the dogs out. Watch how the dogs react to the chickens in the pen. If your dogs get excited and want to jump or chase chickens then it would be better to keep the 2 apart.

 

[crawfordmama]

I had really good luck integrating my furry friends with my feathered ones (knock on wood!). My dogs are very playful, and sometimes one of them needs to be reminded to take it easy around the flock, but they've been great. In the beginning I introduced the chicks to them and tried to teach them that they are part of the family (as I've done with hamsters and ferrets before). If they got too roudy around the chicks they would be sent in another room or made to sit as discipline. My dogs are incredibly spiteful, so I found the best way to get them to behave the way I want them to is to not have things that are off-limits. They are free to mingle with the chickens instead of being kept from them, and therefore don't feel the need to bother them. I too have a large dog (great dane) and he has what seems to be a paternal instict and is sort of protective of my flock now. When I leave him outside while the chickens free range he stays with them and watches over them like they're sheep. Of course, everyone's dogs are different; this is how my situation panned out. Good luck!

 

[NinjaKaren]

My dogs (2 pugs and a pit bull) are totally cool with my brood. They hang out together (though the chickens are still very wary of those pesky pooches). However, I know my dogs pretty well and know they are pretty responsive to my commands, so I did not take these steps, but I would recommend doing so if you're not sure.

Start out slow!

1) Don't just introduce them right away: hold the chicks in your hands and let the dogs smell YOU so they can smell that smell without any temptation.

2) Put the chicks away (where the dogs can't see/hear them) and let the dogs out so they can smell around that area and get familiar with the smell.

3) Tire out your dog (fetch/walk/etc) and then put them in the same area where you have your chicks confined (Make sure the dogs can't get to them!). Let them go up to the cage--any signs of excitement means it's time to distract them (treats, toys, etc) or the exercise is over.

Make sure you don't let them fixate on the chickens--smelling is fine, walking around is fine, but if they start to fixate (hard stare, whining, not willing to look away or respond to you calling them) it's time over. If you can get their attention and distract them, it's good for them to hang out in each other's company without the dogs looking/smelling. Again, do this a few times over the course of a couple days. When they are ok with this step, move on.

4) Again, tire your dog out and then hold the chick in your hand--probably best to have someone else with you who has the dog on a leash in case they lunge. You tell the dog to sit, and do NOT let them move their rump. If they move their rump off the ground, you move back. Eventually, when the dog gets the message, you put your hands up (with the chick) to the dog's face. Smelling = good. Licking...be very careful. Snapping = go back to step 3 (or maybe abandon, depending on how serious they were!). Again, fixating = stop and try again some other time. Rinse, repeat.

Chicks in particular can be difficult because they squeak/chirp. It's a lot easier if you go with birds that are a little older.

Really, at this point, you've done everything you can. If your dog is going to be ok with them, you'll know by this point.

GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes.

 

[HoP]

Oh I am so glad I found this thread!
I too have (2 Pugs, 1 Pitbull, 1 Mastiff Mix and 1 American Bulldog)
My other Pug just wants to sniff and lick the chick. My Pit just looks (so far), my Mastiff is the best dog and doesn't really care..My AB the breed itself has a high prey drive and I am worried about this one. I don't really like the look that comes into her eyes when they start chirping. However, my female Pug is the worse one. I really can not calm her down, she just wants at them.
Here is my female..this is what I "Know" she was thinking.

I appreciate your advice Ninja, I will keep working with them, because I would like my feathered girls to be able to roam..

 

[Tool]

Thanks for posting this. i have 2 labs. we have been trying to introduce them to the chicks, and have had NO luck in the friendly introductions. My choco lab (female) is pure bird dog, and that instinct kicks in and I think she just wants to eat them. My yellow (male) is pretty darn layed back, but today he was biting the chain link trying to get at one of the chicks we took out as part of the "introductions". The dogs resorted to doing tricks as if we had a "feathered treat" for them. I hope they get it soon. I dont plan on raising ANY chicks for dog treats.