Introducing Puppy to Flock

[BaaKaaawk]

I think you have it made if your pup is growing up with them, just be consistent and if he ever makes a go at the chickens (or worse gets one) make sure however you discipline he knows that is BAD. Because he got two positives in the chase and the taste... so the BAD DOG needs to be clear.

People who let their dogs run all over them are the same ones on here complaining about how their dog killed all their chickens and wondering how that could happen. The best dog is one who knows it is part of your pack (family) but not the leader of the pack (that is you).

My Doberman defends the flock like they are his own. He does perimeter sweeps and if he hears the clear "trouble" call from the coop he is there in seconds. Your dog will likely grow into one of your chickens biggest allies! Good luck!

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, it's about training, and easiest when started with puppies.
As I mentioned before, adult dogs can be a much bigger challenge.
Mary

 

[AllenK RGV]

If you have a broody hen or a hen on her nest, introduce them(dog off leash). She will get your puppy trained in no time.

 

[maddog7]

View attachment 1921021

Luv your coop, it looks so moonshiner-y

 

[BaaKaaawk]

Luv your coop, it looks so moonshiner-y

Ha, it kind of is... the front part was the original coop I built from nothing but pallets! But then my chicken math got the best of me and I added on the back part as a nesting area. I've been selling chickens left and right on craigslist lately, these things just keep making more chickens!

 

[PioneerChicks]

I don't have dogs but I do have cats. As kittens, we introduced them to each other by holding them face to face for a few minutes a day. The kittens were terrified of the chickens! When the kittens grew up, we let them have a couple of litters, and the mom taught her kittens not to mess with the chickens.
Yesterday I saw my Polish pullet raise her hackles when our cats got to close, and the cats gave her space.
I am a little worried about my OEG pullet, who is barely bigger than my hand. She escapes from the coop a lot, and when she does the cats do eye her like a mouse

 

[BReeder!]

Our dog doesn't get around the chickens, turkeys or quail. However, our ducks get to run around the yard because they can get through the picket fence I put around their pond. Therefore, they interact with our dogs, which are a shi tzu/poodle mix and a hound/lab mix.
The shi tzu/poodle is not a worry. She's more afraid of the ducks than the ducks are of her.
The hound/lab mix was definitely a worry though. She is full of energy and has hound instincts (but in a dumb way ).
At first I would make sure the decks were inside the fenced in pond area before I let the dogs out. However, I found that they would wonder out anyway once the dogs were on the other side of the yard. When the dogs came back they'd stay near the fence and go right through back into the pond if they felt bothered or threatened by the dogs. After a week or so of that behavior I just decided to let the dogs out without corralling the ducks first. They are just fine together now.
Essentially, it's much like the method some people use for introducing chicks to a flock. See but don't touch followed by interaction when they want it thanks to a door way or opening of some sort that only the ducks can fit through.
BTW, my ducks are 4 Rouens (3 ducks and 1 drake). I have 1 Pekin drake right now, but he's too big to get through the fence into the yard and he's got a one way ticket to freezer camp this weekend. The opening between my fence pickets is about 6" and the ducks squeeze through. If your dog is bigger, I'd suggest making the opening/s bigger for the ducks (8" maybe), but still a tight fit to keep the dog out. Mine just happened to work out this way.

 

[Dream Gold Farm]

Hello everyone, I'm wondering about how to go about introducing a puppy to my flock. The pup in question will be an Australian Shepherd. The flock has run of the entirety of the yard- about 1/2 an acre that's fenced. I'm assuming that keeping the puppy leashed initially is best but beyond that I'm not so certain. I've heard both to introduce them directly and to keep them apart for awhile. If it helps our breeder has young pullets in a run so the pup will grow up seeing chickens but won't be exposed to free-ranging ones until he gets home.

 

[Dream Gold Farm]

Hello everyone, I'm wondering about how to go about introducing a puppy to my flock. The pup in question will be an Australian Shepherd. The flock has run of the entirety of the yard- about 1/2 an acre that's fenced. I'm assuming that keeping the puppy leashed initially is best but beyond that I'm not so certain. I've heard both to introduce them directly and to keep them apart for awhile. If it helps our breeder has young pullets in a run so the pup will grow up seeing chickens but won't be exposed to free-ranging ones until he gets home.

My Aussies do great with all my livestock. Horses, goats and chickens.

 

[micstrachan]

If you have a broody hen or a hen on her nest, introduce them(dog off leash). She will get your puppy trained in no time.

Haha! Probably true!