I am in the city, and I'm trying to plan just how to keep my chickens in the back yard. I am only planning on about 4 hens. I want them to be able to free range our large-for-city back yard as much as possible. I have a Golden Retriever that will lay down and let a rabbit snuggle in next to her...but she is never left alone with the rabbit. How do you country living people (whom I envy) train your dogs not to hurt the chickens?
I am not worried about predators around here. My grandpa a few blocks away kept chickens roaming in his back yard for years with just a little place for nesting and wind block. And I would be less worried about the neighbors cat if it was ok for my dog to be out with the hens.
I have read about chicken runs, but I don't want a single area of my yard turned to mud (it is very green, we even have sprinklers). I have thought about putting their coop in the smaller fence with my raised garden beds and putting netting around my plants, but the ground in that area is covered in mulch and I don't think cleaning poop from there would be an easy task. I have also thought about those "tractors" where I can move them around the yard which doesn't sound too bad. But I really wish to let them roam if possible.
Any thoughts or experiences with dogs and chickens would be appreciated.
-Tarah
I am not worried about predators around here. My grandpa a few blocks away kept chickens roaming in his back yard for years with just a little place for nesting and wind block. And I would be less worried about the neighbors cat if it was ok for my dog to be out with the hens.
I have read about chicken runs, but I don't want a single area of my yard turned to mud (it is very green, we even have sprinklers). I have thought about putting their coop in the smaller fence with my raised garden beds and putting netting around my plants, but the ground in that area is covered in mulch and I don't think cleaning poop from there would be an easy task. I have also thought about those "tractors" where I can move them around the yard which doesn't sound too bad. But I really wish to let them roam if possible.
Any thoughts or experiences with dogs and chickens would be appreciated.
-Tarah