G'day from Aus

[Westy27]

Hi All

I've been hanging around this forum for a while as a guest so I figured now that I have a few chickens I would join and try to start contributing considering I have poached (pardon the pun) so much information from here.

As of Tuesday this week I have two Black Australorps and two Rhode Island Reds hanging out in my chicken run. They are about 16ish weeks old. Not too sure of the DOB... They seem to be getting along fine. They are eating from the automatic feeder and drinking from the chicken nipples.

My major concern initially was our fur child, Dakota! A Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She does pay attention to them when I am in the pen with the chooks but otherwise she doesn't pay any attention. She may be lulling me into a false sense of security though... Hoping to be able to free range them through the backyard with the dog in the future.

Anyway, hopefully I can contribute to this vast wealth of information. In the meantime I will keep poaching...

Cheers

Westy

 

[Fierlin1182]

G'day and from Australia as well.
There are plenty of success stories involving dogs and chickens. Sometimes they can get along very well. Good luck!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your new flock! There are a number of threads on training dogs around chickens, you might find some tips that would help you with yours, ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/829562/training-teaching-a-dog-about-chickens

 

[crazyfeathers]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Westy27]

Thanks for the welcome.

I have read a lot of posts on here about bringing chickens home to a yard with a dog. I have used a number of the techniques and believe they are working right now.

Funny story... I don't have a roof on my chicken run. There is no real need for it to prevent predators where I am from. Anyway, I left the chickens out of their coup a little late in the day. They don't really know where to roost at the moment. I eventually found them all. Yes they had flown over a 6 foot fence to my surprise. One was roosting behind an air conditioning unit. One was on the neighbours fence. the other two were roosting on the top wire of the chicken run. I have now clipped their wings and make sure I put them away before dark. Lesson learnt... haha.

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[drumstick diva]

As a new member greeter I have to say a large percentage start with " my dog massacred my flock." Breeds have ranged from Chihuahuas, doxies, yorkies, to substantial sized breeds. Some dogs are cunning enough to get along with chickens just fine UNTIL the owner is not in sight.

You never hear of a chicken killing a dog, so I have to feel all dogs are threats to their life. I think dogs/cats should be kept far away from chicks and chickens. I am a dog lover BUT, even the most gentle dog can end up killing them by accident.

 

[Westy27]

Thankfully, Drumstick Diva, I have not had to start my Backyard Chickens account with a heading like that... Our bathroom window has a clear view of the chicken pen. A while after the first introductions between the dog and chickens we set the dog free to roam the backyard as she usually does. We put her out the back door and run through the house to the bathroom window where the spying/waiting began. It took her a while to meander around to the chicken pen but when she did get there she maybe spent 30 seconds having a sniff around and a quick look than ran off to find her rope. I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting her to be fixated on the chooks. I think it helps that I have made the mesh on the run bullet proof

Our dog is definitely not gentle, don't get me wrong she is loving, caring, friendly dog. She is just a bit of a brute. We bought our first born child home a few months ago and Dakota has been nothing but loving. Of course, we would never leave here alone with him though...

All in all, being a first time chicken owner has been quite pleasant so far... touch wood.

Cheers

Westy

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello Westy and welcome to BYC!

Yes, chickens do fly! LOL I am glad you are enjoying them. Good luck training the dog. Most dogs do see chickens as dinner, so just be careful.

Great to have you aboard and welcome to our flock!

 

[sourland]

Cheers, Westy, welcome to BYC - continue with the poaching.