My chicks + my hunting dog (coop placement?)

[WyncoteChicken]

We have an Irish Setter, which is technically a hunting dog, but she's not trained to hunt. She's really sweet, and even though she pretends to be fierce, she's totally a pushover (she finally caught a squirrel and didn't even know what to do, so she played with it for a minute and let it go unharmed). Still, I'm concerned about where to put our coop. The side yard is rather large and is fenced in for the dog to run around in, which is where my husband wants to build the coop. I'm not really worried about her getting into the chickens and killing them (especially since she's almost never out there unsupervised), I'm mostly worried about her barking. I've heard stories of people's chickens just dropping dead because a dog scared them so badly. Do you think that would be an issue if the chicks grow up with the dog around? I've also heard some people say that their dogs realize that the chickens are not to be messed with because they're part of the family (my cats did that with the rabbit. They'd kill all sorts of bunnies outside, but never even tried with our pet rabbit). I have no idea what to believe or think.

 

[wbruder17]

My chickens were raised around my 3 dogs, one of which is a Jack Russel/ chihuahua mix who LOVES to chase things. He is also a little wimp. However, he gets no greater joy than chasing my chickens around. They squalk and run away flapping like crazy and then go right back to pecking around. He especially likes to spar with my rooster. He will bum rush the rooster, who stands his ground until the last minute, then flies straight up in the air as my dog goes flying underneath. Then the roo comes back down and turns to face off again. Its absolutely hysterical to watch because my dog never actually does anything and neither does the roo. I really need to get a video of it. He's had millions of chances to catch a chicken, or duck or squirrel, he just likes to chase.

However, I do know this is a rare instance, but as for the chickens, they still lay every day like clockwork and really don't seem to mind being chased a bit.

 

[Nicole01]

We have a hunting dog that's been in training for the last year. Our golden retriever is very interested in the birds outside and will even chase them. However, the chicks in the house she knows they are part of the family. Our dog is right there when I take them out and will lay on her side with her head down everytime I take them out to run around. The chicks jump on the dog once in a while, and Bailey just lays there. Our hunting dog would never hurt the chickens. I keep a close eye on my 2 dogs as well. I have an Australian Shepherd also, that I'm training to guard the chickens when we are all outside.

 

[itsjustjen]

I'm in the same boat. Have an English Springer Spaniel who gets very excitied at the sight of the chicks. He puffs his cheeks by smelling them and starts to lick his chops. So far we have the run in the dog yard as it's the only fenced in and protected area besides the horse pasture. I worry Ollie will try to get to the birds out of excitment, he is only 1 yr old. We are training him to not do it but still very concerned about the future when the birds are in the coop or run and I can't watch Ollie every second he is outside. We are moving the run and coop to just beyond the dog yard to be safe.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

As far as the barking goes...NO worries, my poor chickens have been exposed to my barking dogs since day one and they are not at all phased by it, they totally ignore the barking

 

[wberry85]

I train bird dogs and have chickens and there is no reason why they cannot live in harmony. Bird dog trainers have to "trash break" their dogs anyways to keep them from chasing squirrels and rabbits, and the process is no different for chickens. Depending on how much prey drive the dog has naturally, he will most likely go after the chickens and will likely injure, if not kill them.

If you have an ecollar it makes things simple, otherwise it is more hands on, but there is no reason a dog (even a dog that is bred to hunt or a dog that is actively hunting) cant view the flock as a member of the family. Repetition is better than long training sessions. Expose them often in a controlled situation. Dont get nervous. Be HOT, not luke warm when making corrections.

 

[TheSitcomGirls]

My chickens are not afraid of my dogs barking. They grew up listening to it. They usually run over to investigate!