How do I introduce a puppy to my chickens?

[Whitney0h]

We just picked up an 8 week old mini Aussie. I tried to show him my silkies briefly this evening when I was putting them up for the night & he latched on to one of my hen’s legs & wouldn’t let go! It didn’t hurt her but It was so alarming!!! Any advice is appreciated.

 

[MarkJr]

Leave hen in cage. Show great displeasure when pup pays any sort of attention to it.

Does the pup know what’No’ means yet???

 

[Oncoming Storm]

We just picked up an 8 week old mini Aussie. I tried to show him my silkies briefly this evening when I was putting them up for the night & he latched on to one of my hen’s legs & wouldn’t let go! It didn’t hurt her but It was so alarming!!! Any advice is appreciated.

I say start with the see but don’t touch method. Let them sniff around the coop and get used to their scent. Once they get used to them, slowly start introducing them. With my rescue, I had to hold him by the collar while he sniffed because he could lunge faster than the speed of light. At any sign of aggression, I said “No, these are MY chickens” and repeated this for a little bit. This method actually worked well enough that despite this dog being an inside dog, I could let him out at the barn and not worry about him. He even saved me from a rooster that was about to attack me!

 

[black_cat]

I'd assume that you'd want to separate them by something, as that way the chickens are safe. You'd also probably want the dog on a leash so that you have control and he can't scare the wits out of the hens by chasing them. I think that this will be easier once the pup understands 'no'

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My dog knows better because my male went after her when she chased a hen. Now when she goes to chase, he'll shop her away

 

[MarkJr]

This is my bird hunting dog Maggie. See how she’s pointedly looking at my wife’s feet? She’s telling me two things. She does not mean to be there, and she’s definitely not looking at my chickens.
So happened that the wife tossed down an apple core for the chickens. The dog happens to LOVE apple cores, and picked it up before they did. The resulting picture is what you get when dog snagged prize that wasn’t hers, and a situation she new that I wouldn’t appreciate.

 

[tripletfeb]

My pup is a 6 month old weimaraner. I made sure he knew the "leave it" command before I even introduced him to my chickens. Then I took it slow, they stayed in their run while pup could sniff and investigate. Any time he tried to play or chase them through the wire, I would tell him to "leave it" Worked good for me, chickens can now run around my yard and he leaves them alone. He has been trained around them for a few months now. This is one of the first times they were out with him.

 

[Flockincrazy]

Keep exposing the puppy to your flock keep them separated but make sure the puppy sees you love on them pet them talk to them puppy will figure out that they are family and not to be eaten or chewed on i have 2beagles(rescues) that were super crazy with my bunnies and chickens at first now they go into the coop with us lay down at the beginning of the summer my daughter put them in the run so they didn't take off to the woods and forgot about them so they stayed with the flock and bunnies over night and when we went to feed and water them in the morning both dogs were in the nestboxes sleeping with chicks and one bunny Zeezee sleeping on them cutest thing ever im telling you just keep exposing the puppy to them

 

[MrFluffyandGirls]

I kept mine on a short leash at all times and when she showed interest I would check her back to look at me then praise her. she learned to ignore the chickens and focus on me. She's about 8 months and I still would not trust her alone even though she can go off leash now, not because she's gone after one yet but because she is still young and might get the puppy crazies and decide to have a party without me there to intervene.
Your breed esp. has a drive instinct so start early and consistent and don't trust her alone with your chickens until she is fully obedience trained and knows her place in your pack.

 

[centrarchid]

I know how to do it.

Short-haired German Pointer pup.

Short-haired x Wire-haired German Pointer pup.

English Shepherd pup with Short-haired x Wire-haired German Pointer adult in background.

Ben as adult

Pups with Honey playing with kids. Chickens staying away. English Shepherds.

Honey after she pulled rooster's tail off.

Working pups away from chickens with help of adults/

Flow (daughter of Ben and Honey)

Pup Pup (daughter of Ben and Honey)

Ben and Honey doing good. They defend those chickens all night long. Their daughters Flo and Pup Pup do same with chickens in the barn.