Introduced my lab to my chickens today

[daniel-delarosa]

He did awesome! I took him in with a collar and leash, but after we were in I realized I didn't even need it. I have been told that labs and chickens dont mix on account of labs being bred to retrieve birds. He was as calm as can be, even when one of the hens pecked at his single black toe nail on his back leg.

 

[klmclain1]

I have two large yellow labs! I was very worried about the bird-dog/chicken thing when I got our first 8 chicks in January. Now they're all free-ranging in our good-sized backyard and peacefully co-existing with the dogs! What a shock. The only thing we can figure is that the dogs don't really see them as birds! Secretly I think the dogs are afraid of them!

 

[hcppam]

That is great! I can trust my Aussie and Chihuahua around the girls but I have my 2 other dogs, that I would not.

 

[ChicKat]

Lovely chickens + dog picture!

Had the same type experience....was so worried about the dogs and chickens being together, and now they are totally cool together, my worries were unfounded.

Did you do any prep-work for your dog to get the calm reaction?

Great outcome. Thanks for the pictures.

 

[bertman]

Our chocolate lab girl who's almost five was introduced to our six new pullets about six weeks ago when they were first allowed to free range. Boy was she curious! She would track them as they walked around and occasionally try to sniff one--but, of course, the little pullets would take off when she got too close. She never has tried to 'retrieve' one but when they fly around the yard in a flock of six right in front of her face she REALLY gets intent and strikes her beautiful bird dog alert pose.

Our biggest problem with her is that she is so JEALOUS of the chickens that whenever the girls come around my DW and me when we are sitting in the yard, she will immediately come trotting over to 'see us'. The birds scatter but come back in a minute or two as if nothing has happened.

Now one of our dominant hens has decided to do the stare-down with our lab. They will be a foot apart and Harriet the Hen will just give Semi the Lab the best hen stink eye she can muster. Semi's totally enthralled with Harriet and just watches to see what Harriet will do.

We're hoping that Semi will become their protector while they are free ranging in our yard. Time will tell.

Thanks for the great pics, Daniel-Delarosa.

 

[daniel-delarosa]

No prep work ChicKat. He just walked in the coop and layed down,lol.

 

[ChooksChick]

My lab Henry has a modified hip from an accident and at 105# he's far from agile, but he'll leap with all 4 feet off the ground to try to take a hwk out of the sky if it dares to swoop in after one of Henry's chickens!

He's fabulous with the birds, and I trust him explicitly. My Chihuahua/Chinese Crested/Terrier Mess (I mean 'mix!') is just as wonderful, and she'll let anyone, anything, any size know all about it...and don't you dare go near one of the chicks!! Those are HER PUPPIES! She tolerates the broodies watching them for her...

 

[gregnuttle]

Looks like a very nice dog. I'm still skeptical about trusting my Labradoodle with the chickens. He never shows any aggression toward them, but definitely an acute interest. They're more annoyed with him then scared.

 

[sharol]

I have 4 dogs (3 when we got the chicks last year). I took them out individually on leashes at first when the girls started getting out of the run for free-ranging when they were about 8 weeks old. The Golden Retriever was fine with them from the start. I was worried about our elderly SH pointer/Britany mix, but he just ignores them. The Dachshund was a challenge, but after several weeks on the leash, he sneaked out one morning and I found him a half hour later laying in the middle of the flock. Our new little min doxy doesn't get free time with the chickens. She slipped out early on and chased and grabbed my EE. If I hadn't gotten to her in a hurry, Lily would be dead. She lost feathers on her butt and wings, but when I caught up with them, Kaydee had her by the neck (so it's a good thing I got there when I did). She can go out now off leash (she obeys "no" very well), but not without supervision.

My take on it is that for some dogs, chickens are simply too much temptation, and for others, they are just dogs with feathers.

Chooks, love the little "mess" -- she is adorable.

 

[BoltonChicken]

My Havanese considers my five BO's to be "his". No doubt about it. I have read that the breed was used both in Spain and Cuba as chicken herders and his acute interest in hanging around and watching them seem to indicate that would be the case. If only his stupid owner could train him to herd!