How do you introduce new chickens to a home with a dog?

[Canarygirl]

How do I get my dog used to our new chickens? Any suggestions?

 

[hinkjc]

On a leash and strict enforcement of the word 'no'. If he already knows basic commands, it should go fairly smoothe. If he is young or a stubborn dog and enjoys a good chase, you'll have your work cut out for you. Good luck. We have a hunting dog that does great with the birds...just takes patience and time to get adjusted.

Jody

 

[speckledhen]

What kind of dog? Some dogs have a strong prey drive and can never be "introduced", like mine, a boxer/retriever mix. I'm sorry, but I have no help here since my dog has to be kept away from the chickens. He has killed a brooder full of guinea keets before by busting through two propped closed doors when he knew we were otherwise occupied. I have no illusions that my dogs will ever be allowed contact with my chickens. Mine is used to them, sees them off the deck almost every day and has for the last year, but if he could go down those steps, I'd lose every one and I know it.

 

[justusnak]

I have a pomeranian.....she is almost 4 yrs old...and she goes into the coop with me almost every day. She LOVES the chickens.....more for thier droppings than anything else...YUK! The girls dont seem to mind her coming in....most of the time. They just watch her...every once in a while, they peck at her tail...she jumps, the hens jum, I jump...LOL What a circus. When I wnt to clean the coop, and the hens wont go out, I just tell her.....get em out Alero..and she jumps at them, and out they go. Who would have ever thought a Pomeranian would be a good "farm dog"?? LOL

 

[Jillylam]

I have 2 labs. They will never have the chance to be with my chickens. I know this just from how they love to chase other birds, rabbits and squirrels in our yard. The dogs and chickens do share a common fence on two sides of their yards so the day I brought home the chickens I started working with the dogs. One was fine - she just watches them. But the other one - we had discussions for about a week. Her problem was that she would bark her head off and try to get through the fence. All I had to do was tell her no and throw her in the house the very second she let out one bark and in a few days she got it - bark and go in, quiet and stay out. They do have stare-downs through the fence now and then but the chickens keep their distance and my dog knows if she tries anything she's in big trouble. It is also a very secure fence. I knew even before bringing the chickens home that I would never try to put everyone together. Just harmony and peace along the fencelines of each area are all I ask. So far it's going fine. Good luck if you do put them together.