Dog hygiene tips

[Bmm244]

Hey!

I have two backyard chickens and a dog who used to be an inside/outside dog.

They get along great - not an issue there.

But - I am nervous about letting the dog inside now as I have a young baby and the dog loves getting in the coop and rolling in their poop and walks in it so has it on her paws.

Does anyone have any suggestions to easily manage this? Preferably in a way that doesn't permanently segregate the animals? I have an entertaining area I can keep the dog in, but she loves the chickens so don't really want to keep them apart.

She is a medium sized long haired dog, so it also isn't as easy as a simple once over with a wipe as she often has clumps off the poop in her hair where she has rolled in it.

Any ideas?

 

[Sara S]

Hey!

I have two backyard chickens and a dog who used to be an inside/outside dog.

They get along great - not an issue there.

But - I am nervous about letting the dog inside now as I have a young baby and the dog loves getting in the coop and rolling in their poop and walks in it so has it on her paws.

Does anyone have any suggestions to easily manage this? Preferably in a way that doesn't permanently segregate the animals? I have an entertaining area I can keep the dog in, but she loves the chickens so don't really want to keep them apart.

She is a medium sized long haired dog, so it also isn't as easy as a simple once over with a wipe as she often has clumps off the poop in her hair where she has rolled in it.

Any ideas?

If you would be ok, maybe give her a haircut… my mom did that for her long haired dog and Maybe keeping her out of the coop, but let her free range with them. Good luck!

 

[Weeg]

If you would be ok, maybe give her a haircut… my mom did that for her long haired dog and Maybe keeping her out of the coop, but let her free range with them. Good luck!

I agree. I don't think its good hygiene for you, or her to let her run around with chunks of poop in her hair. Even if you do give her a hair cut, maybe keep her out of the coop, and just let her interact through the fence/free range with them? I bet she'd do a great job at alerting you of predators, or trying to chase them off since she loves the hens so much. She might even make free range more doable if you use her love for chickens wisely.

 

[Crazy Chicken Helen]

I have a 10 month old border collie who likes to eat chicken poop.

 

[Folly's place]

Generally dogs love to eat poo, anyone's poo. Some dogs eat their own! It's disgusting and unsanitary, but it's a dog thing.
No critter gets to my face!
It's certainly not fine to have chicken poo, or any, with your infant. Apparently your dog needs to stay out of the coop, and get washed more often, and that hair cut.
Mary

 

[JustAChickenLoverOverHere]

I have a 10 month old border collie who likes to eat chicken poop.

I think it’s cause it has nutritional properties .

 

[Tonyroo]

Definitely a haircut is in order. Or don't let her get inside the coop.

 

[aart]

Preferably in a way that doesn't permanently segregate the animals?

Unfortunately with your situation, segregation is the best solution.

 

[Folly's place]

Dogs also love dirty diapers. Ask me how I know this...
Mary

 

[NatJ]

Does anyone have any suggestions to easily manage this? Preferably in a way that doesn't permanently segregate the animals?

So you don't want the dog bringing chicken poop into the house?

From what you've said, I only see three options at the present time:
--keep dog away from chickens
--keep dog out of house
--bathe/brush dog and then let it into the house, while keeping it out the rest of the time.

None of them is ideal, but none of them needs to be permanent either-- you could switch back and forth depending on the weather and what else is going on in your life. It might be indoors for bad weather, back-and-forth when you have time to do more dog-cleaning, and so on. Cleaning the dog will be more bother in wet weather, less bother in dry or cold weather, just because of how sticky the chicken droppings are in what conditions.