Although I've been interested in having chickens, I worry about them with our frequent travel so it's not in the plan for now.
However, my next door neighbor does have chickens. One hen and the rooster hop over the fence somewhat regularly (there are other hens but they don't fence hop). This was fine with me, they eat the bugs and she was cute to see.
Until we got new puppies. Now when a chicken comes over the fence they give chase. The first time they had a run was the hen. I pulled the dogs away and get them inside. She was a bit frazzled but was ok. A few weeks later the rooster hopped over and lost a fistful of tail feathers. He was caught by one dog since the other was being neutered. I made the vet diagnose the rooster from a video after when I went to pick him up. They laughed at me. At the time they said a rooster that size would hurt the puppy before the puppy would have a chance to really hurt him. Of course they've grown and the puppies are twice the size they were. They caught the rooster again the next time he came visiting. We pulled them off, I caught the rooster and tossed him back over the fence like chicken dad did the the time before. Then the hen came back yesterday. The dogs really caught her before I could get them. They had her pinned rather than just getting mouthfuls of feathers. She ran off through a hole in the back of my dense that she could fit through but the dogs can't before I could get her and send her home.
The question is what can I do to keep the dogs from attacking? The chickens have given such good reaction, fun of the chase, fun squawking sounds, flapping etc. I guess how do I convince them it is not fun to chase the chickens that hop the fence? I'm afraid they are going to kill one one of these times. They are getting better and better at catching them.
I am open to suggestions. Sometimes I do take them out on a leash just to be sure and it's easier to get them back inside if I'm in a hurry but first thing in the morning they run out to potty and run back in for breakfast. Unless there is a visiting bird. Plus we do have a fenced in yard and I'd love to let the dogs just run in their own yard and be dogs.
Thanks for any suggestions!
However, my next door neighbor does have chickens. One hen and the rooster hop over the fence somewhat regularly (there are other hens but they don't fence hop). This was fine with me, they eat the bugs and she was cute to see.
Until we got new puppies. Now when a chicken comes over the fence they give chase. The first time they had a run was the hen. I pulled the dogs away and get them inside. She was a bit frazzled but was ok. A few weeks later the rooster hopped over and lost a fistful of tail feathers. He was caught by one dog since the other was being neutered. I made the vet diagnose the rooster from a video after when I went to pick him up. They laughed at me. At the time they said a rooster that size would hurt the puppy before the puppy would have a chance to really hurt him. Of course they've grown and the puppies are twice the size they were. They caught the rooster again the next time he came visiting. We pulled them off, I caught the rooster and tossed him back over the fence like chicken dad did the the time before. Then the hen came back yesterday. The dogs really caught her before I could get them. They had her pinned rather than just getting mouthfuls of feathers. She ran off through a hole in the back of my dense that she could fit through but the dogs can't before I could get her and send her home.
The question is what can I do to keep the dogs from attacking? The chickens have given such good reaction, fun of the chase, fun squawking sounds, flapping etc. I guess how do I convince them it is not fun to chase the chickens that hop the fence? I'm afraid they are going to kill one one of these times. They are getting better and better at catching them.
I am open to suggestions. Sometimes I do take them out on a leash just to be sure and it's easier to get them back inside if I'm in a hurry but first thing in the morning they run out to potty and run back in for breakfast. Unless there is a visiting bird. Plus we do have a fenced in yard and I'd love to let the dogs just run in their own yard and be dogs.
Thanks for any suggestions!
