Free range with Huskies

Date sort Score sort
Kara2

Kara2

Hatching
Apr 28, 2015
1
0
7
Hello all! I have 2 Huskies that are on chain leads to avoid them running away like their breed is known for. I just got 15 1 year old chickens. If I let them free range are they smart enough not to go near the dogs'reach? Also, if they never free ranged before, will they know to come back in the coop to lay or at night?
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! If you keep them locked in the coop/run for a week or so when you get them, and they are laying eggs in there, they should know it is home and will go back there... but if there are other really attractive spots to lay eggs or roost where they can free range, you may have ongoing problems with them laying or roosting other places (trees especially). There are some nice threads on free ranging you might like to check out, the big problem with free ranging is loss to predators ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/897953/keeping-chickens-free-range/0_20 With the dogs, a lot depends on how they behave, if they are aggressive to the chickens on sight, the birds will usually be scared and stay away from them, but if the dogs are more sneaky and know to wait until the birds are within reach to attack, you may lose birds.. even if the birds learn to stay away you may have the occasional bird get careless or get spooked into range.
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
frow.gif


Kelsie has definitely led you on a good path here. Be ever so careful with your dogs around your chickens. Most dogs see chickens as dinner and rarely to dogs and chickens mix.

Feel free to ask other questions you may have around the forums and welcome to our flock!
 
My mother in law has lost a couple of her chicks and hens to her daughter's husky. I'd be extremely cautious with that. They're a smart breed with a high prey drive...
 
I would be very worried about huskies and chickens. and NO chickens would not be smart enough to stay out of reach. They do not think like humans. And huskies are strong and determined, I would not be surprised if they slipped their collars or broke chains to chase chickens. Generally dogs + chickens = dead chickens. You NEVER hear of chickens killing a dog.

Once someone put up a photo of chickens eating a dead fox. They claimed the chickens killed it. Baloney. The fox had long since been dead and the chickens were exploring the carcass. Chickens are cannibalistic but, not strong enough to kill dogs or cats. They also have a big disadvantage in weight, defensive abilities.

I am a dog lover but, I respect their limits and would not put them in a position to run amuck .
 
Welcome! :)

I feel like there's not really a right answer to this question except just be cautious. It all depends on the dogs' personalities and the environment. We had free range chickens who roamed the yard all day and several family dogs that also had free run of the yard all the time, including a larger mixed dog and a Pit Bull and they never bothered or showed any aggression towards the chickens. Sometimes they would even lay quietly near the flock as if protecting them, especially closer to night fall while the flock made its way back to the coop.

I think all you can do is cautiously experiment. You know your dogs better than anyone and can probably make the best guess as to how they'll be with the chickens. I wouldn't deny the chickens free range on the off chance that your huskies will slip their leashes to get to them.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom