New chickens!

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! Your flock is beautiful!

 

[Erikalpowers]

You look so happy. I'm happy for you. Thanks for sharing. Our dog was very interested when the chicks were moved outside. She actually almost took off a head that stuck through the cage wire we had the chickens in. We kept our dog (English Shepherd-LOVES to chase off birds in our yard) on a leash at all times when we were in the yard. I had the leash attached to me while I was working outside. If she wanted to be outside when we couldn't be out there, she was tied out and the chicks were in their temp pen. We did introductions very slowly. My husband built what I call fort knox A frame chicken tractor (I can't move it) he used hardware cloth and screws with washers. Our dog has learned that the chickens are for protecting. I have seen her get pecked on the nose a few times. Our son's dog came over while the chickens were in fort knox, his dog was jumping onto the hardware cloth to get at those chickens and they were safe as can be. I still don't 100% trust our dog given her prey drive. She's been around our chickens for 4 years. It's funny to see her run crazy after any bird that lands in our yard and leave the chickens alone. I'm always amazed.

I'm so glad to read this. This is my first flock and I have 2 young Australian cattle dogs. They are curious and love watching the chicks in the brooder but I'm nervous once they go out to their coop. I do a lot of obedience work with them and they are HIGHLY intelligent so I'm hoping dont correctly they will protect the chicks!