Introducing chicks to dogs

[deedee1]

please make no mistake I do take full responsibility for my dog getting into my babies and I do realize how they are breed. I thought we had the fence secured well enough for him not to be able to get into them. Now as I stated there is an electric fence around the complete area now. at the loss of one of my cuckoo marans chicks I have learned a valuable lesson. my little yorkie has been zapped twice by the fence and we now have to pick him up and put him outside.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

please make no mistake I do take full responsibility for my dog getting into my babies and I do realize how they are breed. I thought we had the fence secured well enough for him not to be able to get into them. Now as I stated there is an electric fence around the complete area now. at the loss of one of my cuckoo marans chicks I have learned a valuable lesson. my little yorkie has been zapped twice by the fence and we now have to pick him up and put him outside.

sounds like the fence is causing more problems if the dog is scared to go outside. I wont let my dogs out unless I'm with them because dogs will dig out or go over fences and get animals or run at large. Either way not good.
If you are out there you can teach the dog to ignore the chickens.

 

[dainerra]

yes, if he is afraid to go out into the yard, that means he isn't connecting the shock with going after the chickens. That means that, given a seconds chance, he will attack them again. You have to be with him and keep him on a leash. If you are going to let the fence do the correction, that is fine. Watch him, tell him "Leave it" or "ahhhh" or something when he runs toward the pen. Then the correction will come after he disobeyed the command.

 

[GreyhoundGrrrl]

Poor little dog!!! Somedogs have issues. You have to work past that. I'm sorry your poor sweet chicken died as a result of it. Animals are special and worth it! DO NOT give up on your Yorkie. That little dog is lucky to have found a safe haven where they are cared for genuinely. Don't give up! He is blessed to have found a true soul who loves without judgement!

 

[deedee1]

Thanks, for all the advice. I am working with him to get him back outside. He is my little baby boy and is spoiled rotten. I have broke him from wanting to go after my youngest daughters rabbit, I know in time this will all work out. He is such a loving and good dog.

 

[NewbieLewis]

I have a German Sheapard she is wonderful around the chickens and the chickens are not scared of her but on the other hand my two snouzers do not like them and the chickens know to stay away from the snouzers the snouzers do not run loose like the german sheapard does and when a fox or coyote is around im hoping she does her job and protects the flock like she was breed to do im pretty sure she will thou !!

 

[deedee1]

yes, if he is afraid to go out into the yard, that means he isn't connecting the shock with going after the chickens. That means that, given a seconds chance, he will attack them again. You have to be with him and keep him on a leash. If you are going to let the fence do the correction, that is fine. Watch him, tell him "Leave it" or "ahhhh" or something when he runs toward the pen. Then the correction will come after he disobeyed the command.

Thank you for your advice. That is working GREAT he is going back outside and not going anywhere near the area where we have the chicken run at now. I was thinking about starting to free range my chickens however, I am not sure if that will work with Sammy, he has never paid attention to the big girls just the chics. The chics I would not free range until they are full grown. It is just such a lot to think about and I am new to all the chicken stuff.

 

[dainerra]

if you want to get an idea of how it would work, put him on a long line and let him roam around outside with you. Let the birds out and watch his reaction. If he misbehaves, just reel him in with the long line and start your training again. Or just keep him confined inside or on a leash with you when you let the birds roam.

 

[GordM]

I introduced my German Shepherd to my Rhode Island Reds the day they came home. The other day we were sitting out watching the chickens run around the yard and a couple came up and pecked her face. Now every time a chicken comes near, she moves her head to avoid getting pecked.

She is a very protective dog, but tolerates the chickens well.

We have a few barn cats that come around and the RIR's chase them off pretty quickly.

 

[thumper4269]

when I got my chickens, I set them up in a 8 X 10 X 6 ft dog kennel with a nice coop in it. I have 3 dogs and the standard poodle was the worst for bothering the chickens, barking and chasing them, I ran electric wire around the bottom and after he got zapped, he left them alone. Next day, came out to find him with a dead chicken which he brought to me all proud of himself. Looked over to see 2 other chickens trying to get back under the fence.. The 3 other dogs were just watching them., grabbed the dogs,and dead chicken, threw the dogs in the house and rounded up the 2 chickens.. they appeared a little traumaitized and let me pick them up easily... I had to go around the pen and close up any low space. I mean not even 1/4 " deep hole they came out of and lowered the electric fence so the chcikens got shocked if they tried to get out.. I felt bad cause i tried so hard to keep the animals out of the pen and the dumb chickens came out...Lesson leaned,,,And I would never let my poodle near the chickens, his prey drive is way too high...