dogs and chickens

[Gutzy Hen]

How do you introduce your dog to your chicks? We are new to chicken B.Y. chicken chicken ranching (had our chicks 3 days now. ) The fact that we have bird dog- (an English setter who my husband and boys do hunt) didn't enter our minds until we got the chicks home. Our girls will not free range outside a fenced in area but I am concerned that there will be no peace. Suggestions please!

 

[chickenman98]

It is much easier when the dog is a puppy. Either way, we hold our chickens and let the dog see them (don't hold the chick up to a dog, that can be dangerous). We let the dog see that we care for them and that they don't do harm to us. Once the birds are old enough, we put them in a small pen so the dogs can see them but there's wire between the dog and the chicks for protection. This is what we did with our dogs. However, I don't know how well this will work with a bird dog. Ours are English Shepards which are known to be livestock protectors.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help
Ryan

 

[chickenman98]

Also, welcome to BYC!

 

[nab58]

I'm having the same issue with my four dogs. I had hoped I'd be able to free range my six hens but I'm not sure that's in their future. The dogs (3 Boston terriers and a toy poodle) bark and lunge at the chickens through the wire. They seem to be getting used to them but I don't know how I'd introduce them face to face without finding out the hard way that the dogs are killers.
I'm thinking eventually, i'll Try six chickens against one dog at a time. I think if I had all 4 dogs loose with the chickens their pack instinct would be too strong. At least with one dog vs six chickens they may protect themselves and I could control the dog myself.

 

[Mrs.SB]

We have one dog that is ok with our chickens, he really don't pay them any mind. We also have a 4 month old lab puppy that likes to run up to the fence when they are in the run. We've been keeping the dogs in their fence while the girls are out but today I took the puppy out on her leash around the girls. I left the other dog in the fence. The puppy actually did really good! She ran at them a few times but I got on her and she quit. She's not trying to eat them or anything just play but she would still hurt them by jumping on them. I will probably do this for a while till I feel comfortable letting her off the leash

 

[cary 1973]

there is some good stuff in this tread that may help

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/757151/are-your-dogs-and-chicken-friends

 

[Gutzy Hen]

Thanks for the link!