Introducing Chicks and a Dog

[3littlechickies]

Hi!
I just got three baby chicks (Sunny, Shelly & Saige) a week ago and also have a Beagle (Molly). I also have a guinea pig (Floofy) and Molly is totally fine with her. When I have the chicks out she stares at like them like she just wants to steal them! When I put the chick closer to her to introduce her, a little at a time, she licks them usually on their head. Sunny and Saige have both pecked her twice. Molly (softly) bit at Saige's but and a little bite at her head. Molly also softly bit at Shelly's head too. I am worried that they might never get along!

I don't want to have to build their coop larger, so they just stay in the coop most of the time, because Molly is not nice!

I wanted them to be able to free range all day then go in their coop at night. Do you have any tips on how to introduce them a different way or just something so they can get along better?

Thank you for any suggestions!

 

[thebitty]

I was hoping the same for my chickens but o let 4 of them out to roam and I came out about an hour later and she had killed all of them so I chained her up and got a rooster and the rooster popped my lab a couple times in the face from trying to play with it and she hasn't bothered any chickens since

 

[3littlechickies]

thebitty, I am so sorry!!

Good luck with the rest of your flock!

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

The way I trained my dogs was, I put my dog on a leash, kept her close and let the chickens out in the yard. Whenever my dog growled or showed signs of aggression towards the chicks I made a short, sharp sound. Whenever my dog looked away from the birds, or showed any sign of being calm I told her "good girl" or passed her a treat.

I am not by any means a dog trainer, but this worked for me. With that said, my dogs never did try to bite my chicks, they just showed too much interest at first for me to feel comfortable, so I had to train them a bit.

Good luck!

Edited to Add: I have a Sunny and a Shelly too!

 

[3littlechickies]

Thank you sunny & the 5 egg layers!!

I think I will try that when they are bigger and in the yard!

That's so exciting that you have a Sunny and a Shelly too!