Horses - anyone had one that chased their chickens?

[gritsar]

Horses, no. Cows, yes! Just yesterday I had a bunch of heifers think it was fun to chase my roo and a few of his hens all the way down the road. You could tell that the cows considered it a game. The chickens were not amused.
I do my best to keep the cows away from my chickens and the chicken yard, but every time they swap out one herd of heifers for another I have to teach the newbies a lesson about messing with my birds. Two words - german shepherds.

 

[theoldchick]

My one gelding a QH will share his food with chickens, pigs and so forth. He's very tolerant. On the other hand my KMSH does not tolerate much of anything in his pasture (he has to stay in a dry lot) especially if he thinks I'm bringing food. He kills cats dogs, pigs chickens if they don't respect his space. However, I've seen wild birds follow him with no problem.

 

[bock]

I have had my neighbor's mule chase down and stomp on my dog.

 

[wsdareme]

As a rule, horses get along just fine with chickens (there are exceptions to every rule). It's not uncommon for a chicken to be a companion for nervous race horses at the track (along with goats and ponies). There's nothing funnier than a big thoroughbred with a hen perched on its back!

 

[Orchid]

Quote:
Oh yeah, mules and donkeys are notorious dog chasers. And I know my TWH mare would chase down any stray dog she thought was a threat.

Gritsar, I'm sure your chickens were not amused! I had to giggle just a little, though.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

I've never had chickens with horses, I did however have an old mare stomp a goat into oblivion once...

 

[sred98]

Quote:
OMG that is HORRIBLE!!!

Shelly

 

[michickenwrangler]

My horse has never chased a chicken, she has killed at least 2 wild turkeys though

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Quote:
OMG that is HORRIBLE!!!

Shelly

Yeah, it was BAD. But at least she didn't get my bottle baby! The breeder was able to take him back so nothing happened to him, and his new owners were already there waiting to pick him up when we got there.

 

[Chicken Hobbyist]

I have 3 horses, and was worried about them with the chickens. Particuliary mu quarter horse gelding. He chases out other animals, including once a wild turkey. He even purposely struck my jack russel (she had a concussion, but is fine and healthy now). He was fine with the chickens though. Our Appy sometimes pins his ears when the chickens pecked through his hay but that was it. Chickens are pretty quick anyway. I have seen the horses come barreling down and closed my eyes because of the chickens in there way but the chickens always seem to get missed.