Introducing chicks to dogs

[dainerra]

I just want to warn you that unless you are 1,000% certain that your dogs can be trusted with the birds, I would NOT leave them alone. That playpen would be like fish in a barrel if the dog decided to play with the chicks.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I just want to warn you that unless you are 1,000% certain that your dogs can be trusted with the birds, I would NOT leave them alone. That playpen would be like fish in a barrel if the dog decided to play with the chicks.

it's in the living room. The stuff on the top isn't to keep the dogs out, it's to keep the chicks in. My dogs are NEVER left alone loose in the house. It's just not allowed. If they stay home they go in their crates. Typically they go with me everywhere I go.

the playpen keeps the carpet safe. It also makes it so small children that come over cannot reach the chicks but can see them.

 

[GreyhoundGrrrl]

I have been told that "trust is the most dangerous thing you can give a dog." That's why dogs should be let off leash in unfenced areas for example. I would NEVER leave my dogs alone with my birds. When we are around the dogs are allowed near the chickens but I keep a close watch. All of our dogs are well trained so they listen to us but still...

I introduced the dogs and chickies the day we got the chicks. Monster kept licking them and I wasn't sure if he was kissing them or tasting them

I don't think he would ever deliberately harm them, he is just about the happiest and most friendly dog ever. He and Jasmine seem to have a harmless curiosity in them while Ophelia (who is afraid of everything) is afraid of them. Salinger on the other hand isn't safe around ANY other animal, I don't even let him out with our other dogs. He is loving towards people but he has a high prey drive and a long sad story, he's a rescue. Someone really did NOT take care of him.

ANYWAY, point is all of my dogs react (or would react if given the chance) differently to my chickens.

In an attempt to get Monster used to the 7 chickens from my first batch (I have 3 different age groups) and not bother them I made Monster lay down and I put the chickens on him. I wouldn't let him turn his head or look at them, I asked him to keep looking at me. He tolerated it but the look on his face says,
"Mom, I HATE you."
Hahaha! He's a good boy

Still wouldn't trust him alone with them though...

 

[GreyhoundGrrrl]

Now that I go back through This thread I see a lot of serious stories too so I'll add mine.

I once saved one of my cats from a dog that had his head in a death grip. I literally pried that dog's mouth open. This was a medium sized dog too, under 50 lbs, NOT big at all. My cat survived with several teeth that were broken from being CRUSHED and a broken jaw. My hands were so wounded from being bitten (my hands vs. a dog's jaw that is clamping down, that was brutal) that I could barely even turn a doorknob for over a week. Driving, writing, opening, or picking up ANYTHING was painful. I had holes in the center of my fingernails from where the dog's teeth were clamping down that took 4 months to fully grow out. I have prominent scars all over my left hand from this.

I love my animals, as their caretaker it is my job to protect them, I would do it again in a heartbeat if any of my animals were under attack. I just want to express the power behind a dog's jaws. I mention it because I was able to intervene immediately in this situation and with a $1,200 trip to the vet my cat luckily survived.

However, if it was a chick it would all be over instantaneously. Even if it was a chicken and you could intervene (maybe with a very small dog?) the injuries would be severe if not fatal, then you have a suffering chicken and a painful choice to make. Once you witness or experience your animal being severely injured or killed by another animal you never leave it up to chance again. I have to live with the guilt of my cat's injury and I blame myself for thinking that a dog would never do anything like that. I have dogs and I love my dogs deeply but I am much more cautious now. I am very protective of my chickens. When your animal is injured or killed because you "trusted" you have no one but yourself to blame.

Just be cautious, be careful, and never leave your birds in the company of a larger animal unless you are closely supervising.

 

[WRVgirl]

it's in the living room. The stuff on the top isn't to keep the dogs out, it's to keep the chicks in. My dogs are NEVER left alone loose in the house. It's just not allowed. If they stay home they go in their crates. Typically they go with me everywhere I go.

the playpen keeps the carpet safe. It also makes it so small children that come over cannot reach the chicks but can see them.

I am the same way with my dogs. They go in their crate when I'm not home, and when I am home, they usually just follow me around the house.

I will tell you, that I trusted my dogs unconditionally with my chicks in the beginning....they are good dogs, and they know that the chicks are part of the family, but after my Aunt's dog crushed and killed one of the babies, I have found that I am trusting my own dogs less and less around the chicks.

If I'm not in the room and I hear the chicks chirp, my heart immediately leaps into my throat and I find myself running through the house and calling the dogs in a panic [both of which are usually sleeping on their pillow in their crate, or they have been under my feet the whole time but in my panic I didn't realize that they had been with me the whole time]

Or I double, triple, quadruple check that I closed the bedroom door when I left the room [something I have NEVER done before] I'll obsessively check that it's closed and that I didn't forget to close it.

It feels really bad to doubt yourself and your beloved pets, but the guilt for not protecting your flock when something awful attacks it, will stick with you for a long time.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

I have been told that "trust is the most dangerous thing you can give a dog."

I trust one of my dogs with my life. He is my Service dog. However, I also know he is a dog. While I can trust him with my life, I'd never trust him with my chicks lives. Dogs are animals and have a prey drive. Even the friendliest dog that has never chased any animals before in it's life can suddenly chase/kill a small animal. While it bothers me to compare children and dogs I find it true that they are the same in one way. If "Mom" can't see them they will act up (both dogs and children).

Trust is a strange thing. While I do completely trust my dog, I also know my dogs. I've had vets tell me that my dogs act one way with me but once I leave the dogs become unpredictable. maybe it's because the vets office is a high stress situation.

Also just a few days ago one of my dogs got into rat poison when left alone for a few minutes. I didn't know the landlord had put rat poison behind the dryer He's fine, but it just shows even left in a room with no known dangers there is always a danger. Now even when I step outside either dogs go with or they go in their crates.

 

[OurLittlebitRanch]

Is it a good idea or bad idea to introduce them early to my dogs? One of my dogs is a service dog and will stay in a lay position around the chicks, The other is a pet (Australian cattle dog mix). He is curious about chicks but will not hurt them.

Is there a down side to introducing them?
Will it cause the chicks to lose fear of dogs? If there is a chance of that I'd rather wait til they are older to introduce them as some of the pullets will be moved to my moms.

Just be careful if they are puppies, diseases can spread very easily between poultry and puppies. I only know this because we raise TONS of pullets and also puppies!! I think it is better if you introduce them, that way you know what to expect if a chicken gets out or a dog gets in!

Most of my dogs are great with our poultry, and the birds don't seem to mind them at all. I have one Aussie that I rescued, she is a "special" dog!! BUT she LOVES the chickens. Quick, funny story.......... some of my week old pullets got loose and Star (my Aussie) started stalking one of them, I yelled at her thinking that she was going to kill it. She came back to me just a few minutes later and sat down in front of me very excited, I bent down to pet her and she opened her mouth and gave me a chick!! She didn't hurt it at all, now if a chicken (of any age) gets out she will catch it for me. It seems to be her job around here!!

 

[deedee1]

ok. . . I have never posted on here before and I am new to the chicken world! I simply love it and, am quickly becoming an addict!!! I have 9 babies (chicks) I was keeping them in my laundry room I brought the box out to change my babies over to a new one. I of course always hold and love them for a bit as I pick them up and move them over. I have 2 dogs and a cat in the house. I was holding one of my polish babies turned my head for a second, My Sammy boy (Yorkie) jumped up and tried to grap the babies head in his mouth. I am so glad I have a quick reaction because if not I would have been holding a headless chick. I then thought I would not be doing that again unless my Sammy boy is shut up in the bedroom. My little meow meow (rat terrier) never minds the chicks and neither does the cat.

 

[deedee1]

This is so priceless!!!

 

[aggiemae]

We have three dogs of the same herding breed, one thinks that chickens are toys, one is very protective of them and the third is pretty much oblivious. Oblivious to the point that the chick tried to hid under him too avoid being herded (by the four dog) and he didn't even pick his head up to see whats going on.

Every dog is different but no matter what their temperament they are predators and weaker animals should to be monitored and protected from them.