Is it safe to say...

[mudd32]

Well today I decide to let my 10 five week old chicks out to spend the day with the family dog...unsupervised.
He have slowly be introducing them to him and today the weather was fantastic so we left for the day and rolled the dice.
Arrived home 7 hours later and 10 chicks all safe and sound.
So, is it safe to say that Bocephus is one less thing I'll need to worry about?

 

[HEChicken]

Well today I decide to let my 10 five week old chicks out to spend the day with the family dog...unsupervised.
He have slowly be introducing them to him and today the weather was fantastic so we left for the day and rolled the dice.
Arrived home 7 hours later and 10 chicks all safe and sound.
So, is it safe to say that Bocephus is one less thing I'll need to worry about?

Its a great start! I'm not sure I would have left chicks of that age for that long, with any dog unsupervised, but I'm glad it worked out for you. There are lots of chicken safe dogs out there - sounds like you might have one of them.

 

[aart]

What kind/age of dog? Were they all just loose in the world.....or is yard fenced....or?

 

[bobbi-j]

You're the only one who can answer that question. You know the dog's personality and behavior toward your chickens better than anyone else. It seems that you are off to a good start, though.

 

[dainerra]

I wouldn't say that at all. Baby chicks are very different than adult chickens. Plus, dogs are animals, pure and simple. Many kills by dogs are actually just the dog playing with the chicken, who happens to be very fragile. That is why dogs tend to wipe out an entire flock and just leave bodies scattered. They chase one, CRUNCH - not fun anymore, move on to the next one.

Plus, if something else was to startle the birds and they start racing around and making a ruckus, that could trigger your dogs instinct to chase. It only takes one second to end up with a dead bird

 

[shmccarthy]

It depends on your dog I guess. My lab is extremely sweet to our baby chickens because he knows they're babies but he thinks its a lot of fun to chase the adults. He hasn't hurt one as he doesn't have a mean bone in his body but I still don't leave him unsupervised with the adults or babies.

 

[mudd32]

I'm not sure what to think now...
I have an acre yard fenced in and plan to free range the chickens and my dog is and outside dog too.
Shocking collar just in case I guess...

 

[aart]

I'm not sure what to think now...
I have an acre yard fenced in and plan to free range the chickens and my dog is and outside dog too.
Shocking collar just in case I guess...

Well, you can take the time to observe and train the dog while leashed...or you can just let happen what will happen.

What breed/age is the dog?

Do a search on 'dogs and chickens' there are several very good discussions on training dogs with chickens here.

 

[mudd32]

hound mix...very docile and minds pretty good.
problem might be...he can he very playful at times and I've watched him try to bait the chicks into play to no avail.
he's 50lbs so one wrong playful action would probably do them in.