How To Introduce a New Dog to a New Flock of Pullets

[cluckrogers]

Hi - Cluck Rogers here.

We have a French Bulldog (which as a breed were originally bred as a ratter, but later became more popular as a companion and lap dog). Because of his genetic predisposition to become excited/aggressive to anything smaller than him, I'm worried how he will acclimate to the new flock. Conversely, I'm wondering how to socialize the flock to minimize stressors and insure they will produce once they are ready.

Any dog/chicken diplomacy hacks you can share with me are appreciated.

 

[nzpouter]

On leash and plenty of corrections until he ignores them and the chickens are comfortable with his presence (may take weeks).... no free range without supervision ( will take months)..... soooo... patience and consistency.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! x2 on the above, and secure fencing to protect the birds. Puppies that I've raised with the flock get early lessons in deportment; adult dogs I've adopted have been more difficult. On leash training and lots of time spent, and general obedience training. If he doesn't listen to you when he's relaxed, he certainly won't over the new yummy treats you've brought home! Mary

 

[duluthralphie]

When I did let my dogs (hunting dogs, labs) out while the chickens were out, I used one of those wireless fence things and just laid the wire on top of the ground in the area the birds were in. I was fairly sure they would not bother the chickens, but the fence reinforced to them to stay away from the chickens.

Look at them now:

 

[cluckrogers]

That is awesome @duluthralphie - tnx for sharing.

 

[HanksDogTreats]

We have Great Pyrenees bred for livestock guardian work. They are instinctually in tune with protecting, but they still have to be pointed in the right direction when they are young, or when they arrive at a new place. When ours were pups we gave them constant access to the hens THROUGH a fence. Really close contact, but only through the wire. Every time we were in the pasture, the dogs were on leash with us among the hens, getting corrections every time they showed incorrect interest in the hens. We did this for months. Then they were watched closely and corrected as they interacted off-leash. Eventually, they were with the hens full-time. The goats took just simple introductions and the dogs only had a couple of incidents where they tried to play too roughly. Quick verbal corrections fixed that. These dogs are amazing now.
One thing we still always do with new hens/chicks/goats? We introduce them to the dogs. That means we hold the newcomer bottom out and let the dogs sniff (like a handshake for us), and tell them "MINE." Once the dogs get it, those are now part of the farm family and no predator will be allowed to mess with them. It is awesome.
Don't know if intros are equally important with dogs who have to overcome a prey drive and are not bred for guarding, but it likely couldn't hurt to hold the new animal (with caution!) and let the dog sniff it while emphasizing it is "mine." We have another dog that is definitely not a guardian breed, and he cannot be trusted at all with the hens. He has other roles to fill on our farm. Sometimes that is just the case, as we can't expect a dog to overcome its breeding and instincts entirely. Good luck to you and your pup and chickens!

 

[centrarchid]

We have Great Pyrenees bred for livestock guardian work. They are instinctually in tune with protecting, but they still have to be pointed in the right direction when they are young, or when they arrive at a new place. When ours were pups we gave them constant access to the hens THROUGH a fence. Really close contact, but only through the wire. Every time we were in the pasture, the dogs were on leash with us among the hens, getting corrections every time they showed incorrect interest in the hens. We did this for months. Then they were watched closely and corrected as they interacted off-leash. Eventually, they were with the hens full-time. The goats took just simple introductions and the dogs only had a couple of incidents where they tried to play too roughly. Quick verbal corrections fixed that. These dogs are amazing now. 
One thing we still always do with new hens/chicks/goats? We introduce them to the dogs. That means we hold the newcomer bottom out and let the dogs sniff (like a handshake for us), and tell them "MINE." Once the dogs get it, those are now part of the farm family and no predator will be allowed to mess with them. It is awesome.
Don't know if intros are equally important with dogs who have to overcome a prey drive and are not bred for guarding, but it likely couldn't hurt to hold the new animal (with caution!) and let the dog sniff it while emphasizing it is "mine." We have another dog that is definitely not a guardian breed, and he cannot be trusted at all with the hens. He has other roles to fill on our farm. Sometimes that is just the case, as we can't expect a dog to overcome its breeding and instincts entirely. Good luck to you and your pup and chickens!

I suggest modifications to above with high prey drive breeds (I use German Pointers among others in past). Use a very calm adult chicken and do not hold it. Rather have is perch in your lab or walk over to you for eats. Keep yourself positioned between dog and bird but avoid looking directly at bird during the interaction. I also use birds that are expendable as have done this for a while and now their can be complications. Even when things go wrong at first, all is not lost, just more control in respect to dog control needed.

 

[beginnergirl]

[quote name="HanksDogTreats" url="/t/1017253/how-to-introduce-a-new-dog-to-a-new-flock-of-pullets#post_15772934
When ours were pups we gave them constant access to the hens THROUGH a fence. Really close contact, but only through the wire. Every time we were in the pasture, the dogs were on leash with us among the hens, getting corrections every time they showed incorrect interest in the hens. We did this for months. Then they were watched closely and corrected as they interacted off-leash. Eventually, they were with the hens full-time.
One thing we still always do with new hens/chicks/goats? We introduce them to the dogs. That means we hold the newcomer bottom out and let the dogs sniff (like a handshake for us), and tell them "MINE." Once the dogs get it, those are now part of the farm family and no predator will be allowed to mess with them. It is awesome.
Don't know if intros are equally important with dogs who have to overcome a prey drive and are not bred for guarding, but it likely couldn't hurt to hold the new animal (with caution!) and let the dog sniff it while emphasizing it is "mine." We have another dog that is definitely not a guardian breed, and he cannot be trusted at all with the hens. He has other roles to fill on our farm. Sometimes that is just the case, as we can't expect a dog to overcome its breeding and instincts entirely. Good luck to you and your pup and chickens!
[/quote]
I also let my dog sniff each chick while I was holding the bird. It was easy as it took forever to get the coop finished and had the birds inside for months. Eventually, my dog just smiled and I knew he understood they were part of the family. My dog (LGD) Tibetan Mastiff does not have a high prey drive. He does not chase balls, sticks, squirrels or cats unless the cat comes into the yard. So for us, having him accept that the hens belonged was key.

Not sure how to handle it with a dog with a high prey drive except lots of on leash obedience and socialization through a fence, as others have said.

Fortunately my dog does not bother the chickens, though I was worried because the first time he sniffed them he licked his lips! Pullets have flown off my shoulder inches from his face and he did not even get up. One pullet pecked him on the nose without provocation- she also pecked me!) and he did not respond.
Take it slowly and reward your dog with an amazing treat he never gets EXCEPT when he is near the chickens and ignoring them. Clicker training might be worth trying. If your dog is lunging then increase the distance between the chickens and dog until you get the response you want. Then slowly decrease the distance. This might take months or might not work depending on your dog. Also giving your dog lots of exercise will be important.

 

[duluthralphie]

One of my CX's (one I will keep for breeding in the spring) introduced herself to my Lab tonight. The lab is resigned to her staying. The chick is way more excited to meet the dog than the dog the chick.

 

[Violetsfeathers]

When we first got chicks we held them close to our dog and let him smell them and if he showed the wrong signs we would tell him NO. Now he doesn't want to sniff the chicks he turns his head and won't look at them.
But one time I brought a new chicken home and she was afraid of Toby (our dog) and wanted to get her but I kept telling him no. Then I gave her a bath and he didn't bather her anymore and she isn't afraid of him. I think she smelled different, like the place I got her from and then when she smelled like mine he was okay with it.