dogs and chickies?

[ki4got]

Ok, Not sure if this should be posted under raising chicks (i am) or pests (my dogs are being...) LOL

wondering if anyone else has had similar issues and how it resolved... I have 2 standard poodles, 10 years old and 1 year old.

I'm calling them my obsessive/compulsive dogs. shadow's (the 10 year old) obsessing over the chicks, staring at them for hours on end. Sunny (the 1 year old still very puppyish) is the compulsive one. if a chick "flies" (flapping and running) across the tub, he's up and wiggling like a maniac pawing at the chickie tub.

the chicks are assorted breeds of bantams - 13 but I will be removing the roos from the flock. They will have a run/coop in the yard (tractor-style) but I'd like to let them free-range if possible, and would like to get some dual purpose birds down the road with intentions of free-ranging them as well.

I'm wondering if either of them will ever settle down and accept the chicks as part of the "pack". thoughts? suggestions? and no, getting rid of the dogs is not an option.
thanks

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

A lot of times, it depends on the dog. You may just have to live with supervising them when the chickens are around. Surely, it is better then you're dogs getting a hold of a chicken and killing one.

 

[exbiologist]

My lab does a little of both. He will stare into the brooder forever. He can also be tempted to try to "catch" a chick if it moves too quickly. I little iron fist covered by a velvet glove cured him of that. He still likes to watch them though. He basically ignores the adult chickens, but I hunt with him and he still gets birdy. I didn't ruin him, just needed to explain to him that these girls are off limits. And I free range the chickens. He will compete for treats with them, but won't touch the chickens.

On the other hand, my friend's Samoyed has at least twice caught chicks and cared them around unharmed. That worries me, but so far it's been harmless.

 

[fshinggrl]

We have a 10 year old golden retriever. SHe's been out with the chickens but only accidently. I certainly do not trust her.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I have a black lab who's great with just about everthing. But at 13, and currently having to deal with human siblings who are 4 and 7, he's been there-done that-and got the t-shirt. With proper training I'm sure you could get them to settle down. At 13 years old I trust Mick fully unsupervised with all of the animals I own. However, when he was 2 he couldn't be left alone with a pair of slippers, our expensive stereo system, or anything else that wasn't nailed down and metal plated. The "leave it" command is a great place to start- if they listen to this command it shouldn't be too hard to teach them the chicks are off limits. Good luck!