Dog eating my chicks

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First, keep them physically separate, with 2 barriers between them. Next, figure out how to train your dog to leave them alone. Depending on your dog's breed an prey drive, this could be doable, or super difficult. Not letting your dog practice behaviors you don't want him to do is part of this. Don't let him fixate on them.

What breed of dog do you have?
 
You need to employ consistent training following whichever philosophy you have chosen, and keep them physically separate anytime you are not immediately available to provide direct supervision and correction as needed
From there it is up to you to assess your dog's progress and whether you feel comfortable trusting them or not. I have had dogs who are able to be left with the chickens completely unsupervised, and I have had dogs that are simply never able to be trusted around the chickens at all.
 
:welcome
Separate!!!!! Supervise, train. He’s a puppy and needs to learn but in the meantime you need to protect the chicks. All brooders need a screened cover in my opinion. Keep cats, dogs, little kids hands out and chicks in. They grow fast and will get out of the brooder and in trouble. Let your puppy see the chicks but not give him a chance to grab them, he is only following his instincts - you need to gently redirect him and teach him not to mess with chicks or chickens.
 
We keep our baby chicks in a bedroom that we do not allow the dogs or cats into. Simple. When the chicks are old enough to go outside, they go in a pen the dogs cannot get into. The cats can, but by this time they no longer look like baby birds and the cats leave them alone. Finally the chicks get big enough to hang out with the big chickens and the dogs are trained to respect them. But tiny baby chicks? No way. Just keep them separate.
 
BigBlueHen53 said:
We keep our baby chicks in a bedroom that we do not allow the dogs or cats into. Simple. When the chicks are old enough to go outside, they go in a pen the dogs cannot get into. The cats can, but by this time they no longer look like baby birds and the cats leave them alone. Finally the chicks get big enough to hang out with the big chickens and the dogs are trained to respect them. But
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Mcdougall said:
What can I do to keep my dog (he's a puppy) from eating my baby chickens?
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FunClucks said:
First, keep them physically separate, with 2 barriers between them. Next, figure out how to train your dog to leave them alone. Depending on your dog's breed an prey drive, this could be doable, or super difficult. Not letting your dog practice behaviors you don't want him to do is part of this. Don't let him fixate on them.

What breed of dog do you have?
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German Shepherd border collie. We will put them together when we are home and he is good with them but when we leave that is when he gets them.
 
He needs to be kennel trained. If he gets a taste of blood and eating chicks you will have big problems. Separation is the only solution. You won't just train a puppy not to eat chicks when you aren't watching. They just aren't bred to be that way. Keep the chicks in a safe contained area, and then when they are bigger put them in a coop/run that is secure from predators which include dogs.
 
Mcdougall said:
German Shepherd border collie. We will put them together when we are home and he is good with them but when we leave that is when he gets them.
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You have answered your own question. Do not leave him alone with the chicks!
 

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