Finished our coop

[ange92040]

Finished converting the bunny hutch our friend gave us and added a run
My son had a good time building it as a Spring Break project
We finished Thurs. and got 4 hens on Friday

 

[hispoptart]

Very neat. I might just have to take some ideas from you.

 

[3ChickensinNC]

This is great. I really like it.

 

[ange92040]

Thanks my son is very attentive to them. We are having a problem with one of our dogs trying trying to get to them I don't want to stress them out so when she is out back we tr\ie her where she can't reach the coop or run, anyone have any ideas on how to stop a dog from trying to get to them?

 

[OCpeep]

Looks great! I don't have any advice for the dog issue. Sorry.

 

[bj taylor]

looks really good.
we are dealing with the issue of our dogs as well. we have 2 german shepherds (male 2 yr/old & female 1 yr/old - neutered/spayed). the male has been really aggressive toward my chicks from the beginning. the female quietly and intently watches them. we have spent quite a lot of time w/the dogs being with us & watching the birds. i speak to the birds in the same voice i use when i'm babying the dogs. in my mind, the dog may get the impression the chickens matter to me & therefore should not be harmed - that may be laughable - i don't know yet. we also play w/the dogs near the chickens so the dogs choose their ball over the chickens & get rewarded by the ball being thrown (they're ball crazy).
i doubt my chickens will ever be really safe from the dogs, but i'm hoping to create a bit of a buffer in the dog's mind that may inhibit killing the chickens.
the other thing i'm hoping is that as the dogs mature & the longer the chickens are in our lives, the dogs will begin to take them for granted.

good luck with yours

 

[ange92040]

Thanks for your advise and you don't sound laughable, I believe they get jealous. We are telling her that she is a good girl when she ignores the chickens and she seemed to do so well that we let her be tied closer to the coop and run and when she was she jumped and barked at the chickens so now we have to try over again and good luck with your dog issue.

 

[KDK1]

Feed treats to both, dogs and chickens, at the same time. Maybe feed the chickens something through the fence when the dogs are right there. They will get the message that the chickens are supposed to be there. German Shepherds are VERY intelligent dogs, they'll get it.

 

[ange92040]

Feed treats to both, dogs and chickens, at the same time. Maybe feed the chickens something through the fence when the dogs are right there. They will get the message that the chickens are supposed to be there. German Shepherds are VERY intelligent dogs, they'll get it.

Our dog is a catahoula and very stubborn she knows the chickens are supposed to be there and we untie her she seems to be fine then we turn our back for one second and attacks our old 3 legged Choc lab if he gets to close to the coop or goes for the coop and run. We are at our wits ends but we may make a fence around them so that she can see them and not get to the chickens and when she finally gets use to them then maybe we can take down the fence and move them around again. wish us luck