Chihuahua's and Chicks...Will It Work?

[noitulover]

i wouldn't put the chicks in that room if the dogs have to come in through there.

eliminating all contact is what will be best for both animals.

 

[Akane]

I have shibas. You can't really do worse than shibas for dogs that will not leave small critters alone. Shibas kill things. That's what they were bred for and that's what they are good at. They don't have any motivation to protect or get food they just kill and then consider what to do with the body after the fact. They do not bother my chicks much. They jog past them without a thought and only occasionally after I've been doing something with the chicks and stirred them up do they stop to watch and maybe set paws on the brooder. However our dogs do have training. I would absolutely never trust a shiba around a loose chicken unless I didn't want a chicken. No amount of training will impact that. I can though call them off the brooder instantly. They understand the word "no" and "leave it". After a few times of being consistent about them not being allowed to harass the chicks they gave it up. At worst they'll stop to look and the chicks will run to the other side until the dogs leave. This went on all summer and I didn't have overly stressed chicks.

The biggest danger isn't so much stressing the chicks as the dog getting into the brooder. We do not have a wire brooder. I use large aquariums (I have up to a 90g or 4x2') with tops made of thick bars covered in mesh and bricks to hold them down. Basic mesh wire will be torn easily by any dog and in the 5mins you turn your back to get something in the other room your dog will be in a wire mesh brooder.

 

[SC_Hugh]

Meet our little Cesar Millan! Cesar is a long-coat Chihuahua. Baby picture of him in the photo below, he will be 3 years old next month.

As sweet and good as our Cesar has been, we would not ever allow him to be unsupervised with our chickens. Cesar is big enough (7.5 lbs) to kill a chicken and also small enough to be injured by our rooster or pullet with a purpose.

I do let him "mingle" with our chickens when they are free-ranging and I am watching with a 4 foot PVC pipe. No problems so far...

--Hugh

 

[idahodebra]

I have 2 chi's and have raised and brooded numerous in the house. They pretty much took it all in stride. The cheeping didn't cause them to go on alert and bark all the time. They were initially curious with the first batch I got, but once I let them see them and sniff around them, they were pretty much over it. Handle them around the dogs, and the dogs will learn that they aren't play toys. I don't think you'll need to do much else to help them transition. Keep the new babies somewhere safe and draft-free, where you won't mind the noise and the dust. I, personally, like to brood in rubbermaid-type containers. Also realize that those chicks can start to fly pretty early and will be good at getting out of wherever they are.