For those who free range

[centrarchid]

How intelligent will the chickens be? Our dog run has a 6' fence but there are small gaps at the gates. My chickens won't be stupid enough to wander over to the dogs will they? If they are they're dead.

Work on getting those dogs chicken friendly. It will be an asset in long term.

 

[furbabymum]

Work on getting those dogs chicken friendly. It will be an asset in long term.

Won't be possible. We use our dogs to hunt and they are hunting breeds. Chickens were given to my hubby for his birthday but the oldest hunting dog has been with us for 12 years. My only option is to make sure they can't get to eachother.

 

[centrarchid]

Won't be possible. We use our dogs to hunt and they are hunting breeds. Chickens were given to my hubby for his birthday but the oldest hunting dog has been with us for 12 years. My only option is to make sure they can't get to eachother.

Never say never or only.

From experience, lots, I say you can get dogs to be chicken friendly without corrupting value for hunting. We had black and tan hounds used for hunting either racoons or foxes. Many were tied interspersed in cockyard where free-ranging hens with chicks could walk up to feed bowls. Confrontations where over food, not who was to be food. Dogs were used to hunt coons at night or foxes during day. We had other dogs used for quail and rabbits and most of those were allowed to free-range so foxes could not work chicken flock just out of reach of chained dogs. Many of the dogs also killed a chicken or two before broke of habit.

You can teach old dog new tricks with a little time invested.

 

[CorinneP]

I do just about the exact same thing .. I keep them cooped for a while so they know home means good food and learn my voice.. And I call Chick chick chick but now most are already in for bed or close by a few I do pick up and transport if they are stubborn and a few simply wont go back in at night .. They have found their own hiding spots or like to roost in one of the goat pens. but seem to lay their Eggs in the coop or a few familiar spots .. I Add more and more all the time, so the younger ones seem to follow the older Girls lead .. But allowing them to Free Range is so fun for me, I know I run the risk of losing an occasional Chicken to a predator but thankfully have not had many problems .. And I so Love watching them run all over .. For the most part the very sight of me brings most of them running as I mean Food . though I would like to think its because they Love me lol . I Do not allow my Very young Birds to Free Range , and or Special Breeds that I intend to breed .. I have a few coops now. One For my Free rangers whish has no run at all just a door I open and say have fun ..

 

[1muttsfan]

I also find that training them to come to a shaking grain can works great. Give them these treats ONLY in their run. Shake the can and call them, then give them a little treat each time. They will come flying to you at any time.

Patch up your dog run if you want to keep the chickens alive. It has nothing to do with intellegence, they don't know that the dogs will hurt or kill them. I suppose your husband was like my dad - "why use outlet protectors for kids? After they stick their fingers in once they won't do it again"

 

[centrarchid]

I also find that training them to come to a shaking grain can works great. Give them these treats ONLY in their run. Shake the can and call them, then give them a little treat each time. They will come flying to you at any time.

Patch up your dog run if you want to keep the chickens alive. It has nothing to do with intellegence, they don't know that the dogs will hurt or kill them. I suppose your husband was like my dad - "why use outlet protectors for kids? After they stick their fingers in once they won't do it again"

That is same as saying keep cartridge in chamber although with safety on. Take cartridges out by removing risk potential when gun (dog confinement system) as a whole is mishandled, which mishandled is almost guaranteed over long haul.

 

[RedDrgn]

As others have said, if you make sure they know where the coop/run is and that that is their home, they'll come back each night. If you need to get them back in earlier than that for some reason, then start training them with treats. Ours will run each other down when we break out the mealworm container and give it a few shakes. They follow us right back into the run then.