Dog obsessed with chicks

[sred98]

Also, since they are terriers, they have high prey drives for small animals. Once they learn what is prey and what is not, it should be ok. Ruby now chases the squirrels and birds away from the chickens' food and completely ignores them.

Shelly

 

[Ladysonja]

Prior to getting my chicks... I was so worried about this same subject.

I have 4 dogs... 3 have been with us for many years and the 4th is only 4 months old.

Like everyone has said thus far is what I have done to introduce my dogs to the new family members.

So far so good. For now, my lab wants to mother them, my oldest doesn't care at all. The 3rd and 4 month old are the most curious. I have my 11 wk olds in two converted dog kennels where all the dogs can see what is going on... It helps a lot. The birds can see the dogs and the dogs can see the birds.

Now that I have a brooder box of 9 where they cannot see the babies, the dogs were excited about the new arrivals like us. It's taken about 3 hours, but everyone has settle down for the evenig.

Although I still do not allow the dogs around the birds without a close eye on everyone.

Good Luck with yours!

 

[whitecra]

I have 2 boston terriers. The oldest wasn't around chickens when she was little and she would kill them if she can get to them. When we put ours out in the coop it took awhile but once the chickens figured out she couldn't get to them they stopped running and flying around the pen and now she is bored with them. But if they were loose and she could chase them they would run and fly and she would chase them. Now her soon was just a pup when we got the chickens and he hasn't bothered them but I won't leave him outside with them when they are turned loose just un case.
Chris