Maddie the Lab

[Jazzimom]

So,I brought home chicks last night,after working on the coop for a couple weeks we were ready to bring the girls home.When I woke up @6 AM I went out to the coop opened the door tho the run, and still had 6 chicks. I laid back down after my daughter caught the school bus. At or around 8 ish I went out to the coop to check on the girls.Oh no, 2 are missing. I found one dead(,not eaten), and the other was MIA all day.She was at the neighbors in their Rose bush.A little dehydrated,but doing well tonight. I knew this would be an issue for me,not MAddie. She is doing what she and her forefathers have done since the breed began.If anyone has any input on this please feel free. I have a run for the chicks,I just wish we could all just get along..If not get along then hoping the novelty will wear off with my Lab,so the girls can send the days in the run and not have maddie,stalking them.

 

[bobbi-j]

You need to work with your dog to teach her to leave your chicks alone. Labs can be trained. This is a picture of Dakota checking out last year's new
arrivals. He is 10 years old, was trained as a pup (starting when we got him at 7 weeks) and I have never, ever had a problem with him and the chickens. He is a great hunter. They can do both.

 

[chfite]

Chicks are noisy and move about quickly. Dogs would be interested in them, if not just to sniff. But chicks are so small and fragile that is it easy to kill them. I keep the chicks away from the dogs until they are old enough to blend with the mature flock and are large enough that bumping into them won't kill them.

My dogs are good around chickens, but have stepped on chicks before to no good end.

Chris

 

[Jazzimom]

She is not as interested in them as she was the first few days. However she is a lab, and will not be given the chance to harm a chicken.She could care less about the cat that showed up a couple years ago.When she first arrived Maddie wanted to eat her too.Not anymore,she doesn't even recognize her presence.

 

[Jazzimom]

Thank you so much,Maddie is better. We will continue to work with her and watch her around the chickens.

 

[Jazzimom]

P.S. Lady Gaga came home later that day. A little dehydrated,but several days later now she is well.She is turning out to be the friendliest too.