Evaluate for predators, please

[townchicks]

It's great that you have a secure run, I did not notice that in the pics. 12x12 is too small for 12 full grown chickens for full time, however, if they get a lot of time out in the yard, you can probably get away with it. It can take some time to figure out if your dogs will be ok with the chickens. My dog has a strong prey drive, he will kill and eat squirrels but he is ok with the chickens after 2 years exposure and some training. If your dogs have a strong obedience background, it would help a lot. I started my dog by letting him go up to the pen and look at them, called him to me and REWARD WELL for coming away from them, repeat. Let the dog learn that leaving the chickens is way better than staring at them. The chickens also become boring after lots of time. I would never leave the dogs loose with the chickens until you are positive you can call them away, and start with them on leash. Be aware pack behavior can change the dynamic greatly, one dog that might be fine with the chickens by himself, will join in the chase if another dog starts it. If you invest in a game camera, it will help you figure out what comes around, and you can better evaluate the risks of leaving them out in the yard w/o you there. My only daytime predators are an occasional hawk, I do let my girls roam a fenced backyard in the burbs, without watching them. I accept that I may lose one or more to hawks, but I've balanced the low risk with the benefit to the hens. That's what you'll have to do too, or greatly increase your run size, or both. 10 sq. ft per hen is generally considered minimum.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

It can take some time to figure out if your dogs will be ok with the chickens. My dog has a strong prey drive, he will kill and eat squirrels but he is ok with the chickens after 2 years exposure and some training. If your dogs have a strong obedience background, it would help a lot. I started my dog by letting him go up to the pen and look at them, called him to me and REWARD WELL for coming away from them, repeat. Let the dog learn that leaving the chickens is way better than staring at them. The chickens also become boring after lots of time. I would never leave the dogs loose with the chickens until you are positive you can call them away, and start with them on leash. Be aware pack behavior can change the dynamic greatly, one dog that might be fine with the chickens by himself, will join in the chase if another dog starts it. If you invest in a game camera, it will help you figure out what comes around, and you can better evaluate the risks of leaving them out in the yard w/o you there. My only daytime predators are an occasional hawk, I do let my girls roam a fenced backyard in the burbs, without watching them. .

Thanks for the reply, sorry for taking so long to get back to you. I have been doing pretty much what you have said in regards to the dog training. When we first put the chicks outside, the dogs found them irresistible. That, fortunately, wore off pretty quickly. Three out of the four dogs have a strong prey drive. Two of them actually kill animals that they catch. My Golden Retriever couldn't care less about chasing squirrels or rabbits, etc., but the chickens are so much like little squeak toys that I am going to wait until the chicks are full grown and willing to give him a peck. Then he will probably have no interest at all in them. My cattle dog mix is pretty obedient. I have gone outside with him on a leash and the chickens running loose. He was pretty good. I had some canned cat food to keep his interest on me and not the chickens that at times were only about a foot away. Cat food definitely beat out chickens! He is my best prospect for being my chicken guardian. I also don't know if I would let the dogs loose together with the chickens even if singly they seem to be okay with the chickens. I have a terrier mix and an Aussie mix. Those two with the cattle dog get racing around the yard and act like they are going to rip each other apart with how wild they get. Dog pack mentality definitely changes the "Mom said not to touch the chickens!" Also, we have some plans to enlarge the run that would more than double it. But, we homeschool, so even if we can't enlarge the run anytime soon, there is always someone to sit outside and watch the chickens for awhile. I told the kids they will probably all get some time sitting outside doing schoolwork with the chickens.