How to introduce chicks to the family dog

[uber_franz]

So we have a 7-year-old Great Pyrenees and we're getting some chicks in the next few weeks. I've heard that GP are a great dog breed for protecting flocks, but we want to make sure the introduction goes well. Does anybody have any tips? Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Jeremy

 

[Shared Acres]

Do you have any adult chickens? Can you bring her around some to get her used to them? Maybe hamsters or something?

My labrador never really need introducing. If I show her a baby chick she wants to lick and mother them for a second but after that, not interested. I guess it's a taste test.

 

[tomlinson]

We have a German Shepherd. I have a friend that has a GP and a yard full of ducks & chickens. I don't think she has any trouble from her dog. I just put them next to her and encourage her with praise ~ we have never had any problems ~ she keeps other dogs away from our yard & chickens and the chickens nap with her and eat her dog food, sometimes she gets a little ticked about them eating her food & sends them away from her bowl, but she has never tried to really taste a chicken.

 

[imthedude]

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my labrador has snapped at our chicks twice now. she got a good scolding and a swat last night after the second attempt. i've tried a few different socialization attempts but it looks like i may have failed. i'm hoping that her curiosity about the taste of chicken goes away as the birds get a little bigger (4wks now).

 

[uber_franz]

Thanks for the thoughts everybody... She's a pretty gentle dog, so hopefully it goes well!

Cheers,

Jeremy

 

[TC_BokBok]

We introduced our Corgi to our new girls we got yesterday twice. Once very briefly then again later on for about 10 minutes last night under HIGH supervision. Our Corgi is more interested in what all these new moving and peeping "toys" are are from what I can tell. She was very anxious to see them and as we held a few she'd get a lick or two in. The chicks didn't seem bothered by her at all and there was no barking involved.

But, we plan on re-introducing them every single day so that when the chicks grow up they aren't afraid of our Corgi and the hopes are that our well mannered princess Corgi will be their little protector or even a fellow playmate.

We have high aspirations.

 

[Morgan7782]

One thing to keep in mind: You cannot completely train instinct out of a dog. Ever.

That being said, GP are livestock gaurders by breed right? I think that should be an easier introduction then say with a hunting breed or, in my case, a Pit Bull. I had two hens a few years ago and was fostering dogs constantly at that time. Puppies were fine, the hens were grown and would peck the daylights out of any cat or puppy bothering them. However.. I had a German Shorthair Pointer foster dog, and she was fine with the chickens as long as somebody was outside. She NEVER looked twice at them. Well, I went inside to grab a cigarette and for that 15 seconds of stepping inside, the dog had broken one of my hens necks. It was not a bloody mess thank gosh, but still traumatic nonetheless. I was ready to kill the dog, but after calming down, I realized no matter how harmonic things seem, they can turn quickly. Dogs are predetors and chickens are prey.

Funnily enough, the one dog I had been worried about was my female Pit Bull Terrier, and she never, once, made a move to harm the chickens. Left alone or otherwise. I was quite proud of her, but after the German Pointer experience, I decided to only let dogs around the hens when people were surpervising. Now I know chickens and dogs live peacefully on ranches and farms, but better safe then sorry.

I am in the position of introducing my current pit bull to the new chicks I will be getting tomorrow, along with a new cat. My older cat knows, and doesn't bother chickens. He is more scared of the bigger hens then anything. It will be a challenge, but I hope to break the "prey stare" and that's about it. Other then that, it's up to me to keep my chickens safe. Secure fencing is thumbs up

P.S. Not trying to sound like a lecture heh, I am just speaking my own personal experience

Good luck with your dog and chickens, I think they will mesh well, and be glad you don't own a German Pointer or Pit Bull LOL

 

[Happy Chooks]

I have a german shepherd and I would take her with me when I went to handle the chicks. (we don't brood in the house, DH won't let me

) Anyway, I would make her lay down and then I'd let her smell the chick like in the pic above. Do not hold the chick in a way that the dog thinks you are giving it to them. If my dog tried to mouth the chick she got a very firm NO!

Now that my chickens are adults, my dog still gets very excited to be around them. She tries to herd them through the fence. Now I use her shock collar, but I don't ever have to shock her, she responds instantly to the vibrate warning. I let them free range and she is a great guardian of them. Every once in a while, she gets over eager and the herd starts to turn more into chase. One word from me and she backs off.

I will not trust her alone with the chickens though. She's 2 and still has a lot of energy and a strong prey drive. So she gets supervised visitation. It's just not worth it to me to lose my chickens.

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

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SO SO SO True I wish more people would understand this.

 

[kritterkeep]

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we have 2 corgi and they have never had any problems with them except maybe the youngest one who is 1 1/2 now last year was a little jealous... and wanted to be the one on your lap.. we just got more today from TSC and our lab has been looking in the box- I think she is waiting to meet them- she is the one in the my picture with the chick on her head....

Donna B