Finally think we have everything completed for the coop and run. "We Think" is the operative, and very hopeful word here, haha. Anyway, we decided that we had better stop procrastinating about getting our black lab Lil Spanky up close and personal with these birds. I'm not sure why we kept her at a distance, just not quite trusting her I guess. So, we let the chickies out into the yard, and I had Spanky loosely on her leash. Chickies weren't bothered by her being there, and she wasn't acting aggressive or anything. So, as my husband hollered "NO, NO !! Don't do it, dead chickens, aaaacchchhhh!!" I unclipped her leash. It turns out that she doesn't know they are birds. She thinks they are puppies. (she's never had any) She follows them around nosing them in the butt like she's counting them, steers them in the directions she wants them to go, and every so often, she 'rounds' them up and herds them into the coop, where she lays down and won't let them back out. After a while the chirping gets to her, and she moves so they can come back out, but stays very close by, touching their butts whenever she thinks one is missing. It's fun to watch, and such a surprise. But I'm sure you have all seen this kind of behavior before.