How to introduce other animals to chicks?!?

[Allcoopedupwith6]

Hello all!!!

So my little ones are almost 6 weeks old and will be moving into their coop soon, however we have two dogs and a cat so I’m curious as to how y’all introduced your other pets to your flock. Our cat is our main concern as she was a street cat before she adopted us so she found ways to feed herself for months. Many times (more than I’d like to admit to) she left us little treats at our door step, typically birds and a few mice before she started staying indoors when we moved to our new house. Our dogs are more curious than anything I think. One could care less about them but our other one seems to get a little to excited when he sees the chicks. Are there tricks to getting them used to one another without putting the flock in harm? Or maybe a way that worked for others? Any advice is gratefully needed as right now they don’t come out of their brooder often unless the doors are shut and the animals are put away. Here’s a picture of our cat “scoping“ out the chicks.

 

[Folly's place]

Many, but not all cats will not attack larger chickens, so I do hope your kitty will decide that as they grow they are just too much to tackle. Chicks without protection, as a broody hen, will be fair game for most cats, especially individuals who like to hunt and eat small songbirds already.
Dogs need to be taught that the chickens are YOURS, and not dinner, or play toys. This takes time, on leash training, and more time. Assuming that your dogs are already well trained, and listen to you, and know 'leave it!', get going on each dog, on leash, individually, praising calm and ignoring the birds, not focusing on them.
When the dogs are good individually, then work them together, realizing that pack behavior is not the same thing at all.
Meanwhile, SEPARATION!
The puppies that I raised with chickens present did fine, while adult rescue dogs brought in later weren't so good...
Mary

 

[electrycmonk]

Yeppers, our dogs are just enough of a wildcard that I'm not sure if we'll have them all in the "not food/play toy" camp towards the chickens. Saydie-Brin & Sandy are very bit 11+ y/o ladies that we rescued when they were around 4-5 y/o. They & Curry (he's the Shiz-zhu 'princess') are likely the most chicken friendly of our pack.