Oh no. They got a pup!

[CorralitosSunflower]

I wouldn't worry to much about building a highly dog-proof area for them right away. I am not sure exactly how old the pup will be when you do move in but I imagine any puppy wouldn't be able to get through a simple chicken tractor given it is weighted down and made with a decent wire mesh and the puppy is not left alone with it long enough to dig underneath. If you can rig something like this up right when you get there it will give the puppy and chickens some time to safely and freely size each other up, as well as giving you and your bf's parents a chance to see how they interact. During this interaction you will probably be given several opportunities to size them (your soon to be in-laws) up (lol) and see what their thoughts and comments are. If they seem amiable to a good conversation about worries about the pup-chicken relations than take it! You could talk about training, supervision, ect. If they don't seem to care than that is an answer in itself and you will have to figure something out with that in mind. It is hard to get these things worked out through a person and not face-to-face.
I saw what looked like a super easy to make outdoor run/tractor that involved pvc pipes as the frame. You can find the elbows that fit the pieces together at the home depot so there is no hammering or screw guns involved and than zip-ties to attach the wire to the frame and viola. We are going to do this for our chickens since we have had bobcats kill our free-rangers.
Hope it all works out!

 

[okiemommy]

I'm sorry but Zip Ties will NOT keep out dogs, let alone bobcats. Using zip ties, no matter how strong the wire, is like making excellent quality bricks, and then scrimping on the quality of the mortar. Your wall will fail. You also have to take into consideration that these animals dig, especially when there is a meal at stake. They will dig through a chicken tractor if given enough time. If you want to keep them out, you should get electric fencing to put around the outside of the coop and put it down low to the ground, with a good charger to give enough of a jolt to deter the animal.

I have experience with dog attacks on my chickens. Dogs are lightning fast. And often while they are tossing chickens in the air as you are yelling at them to stop, throwing heavy things at them (and hitting them) they are in instinct mode, don't hear you, and are headed for the next one. So if this breed is even trainable to be around birds...which if memory serves me correctly they're not because they have a high prey drive, then you need to start it from day ONE, and be relentless, and as mentioned before, every one needs to be on the same page. Everyone needs to be relentlessly dedicated to training the dog. It requires extreme dedication. Some dogs are trainable to be around chickens, and some are not. And almost always, once a dog gets a taste of chicken, they will always go after them. It's even harder to rehab a chicken killing dog, so it's important to get it right the first time.

You should have a dog proof coop/tractor built before you have the dog anywhere near the birds period, because if it doesn't work out with that dog, you are leaving them essentially up for grabs.

Good luck. I hope that it works out well for all of you!

 

[ErieSpurs]

Rotties are very smart dogs. And very friendly and protective. I'm sure with some work, it should be fine around the chickens.

 

[CorralitosSunflower]

I'm sorry but Zip Ties will NOT keep out dogs, let alone bobcats. Using zip ties, no matter how strong the wire, is like making excellent quality bricks, and then scrimping on the quality of the mortar. Your wall will fail. You also have to take into consideration that these animals dig, especially when there is a meal at stake. They will dig through a chicken tractor if given enough time. If you want to keep them out, you should get electric fencing to put around the outside of the coop and put it down low to the ground, with a good charger to give enough of a jolt to deter the animal.

I have experience with dog attacks on my chickens. Dogs are lightning fast. And often while they are tossing chickens in the air as you are yelling at them to stop, throwing heavy things at them (and hitting them) they are in instinct mode, don't hear you, and are headed for the next one. So if this breed is even trainable to be around birds...which if memory serves me correctly they're not because they have a high prey drive, then you need to start it from day ONE, and be relentless, and as mentioned before, every one needs to be on the same page. Everyone needs to be relentlessly dedicated to training the dog. It requires extreme dedication. Some dogs are trainable to be around chickens, and some are not. And almost always, once a dog gets a taste of chicken, they will always go after them. It's even harder to rehab a chicken killing dog, so it's important to get it right the first time.

You should have a dog proof coop/tractor built before you have the dog anywhere near the birds period, because if it doesn't work out with that dog, you are leaving them essentially up for grabs.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that a PUPPY let alone a full grown dog would be able to rip through zip-ties. Have you ever tried to pull one apart with your hands, let alone fifty in a row? Dogs are strong, but they do not have hands nor do they have anything to cut through the zip ties. I never recommended this as a nighttime predator-proof living situation. Just a way to get the PUPPY introduced and exposed safely to the chickens. Af far as digging underneath I did mention to have it be supervised so this would not happen. Because my tractor will be a daytime alternative to my chickens coop, it will be wired in on the bottom.​

 

[Revelle]

The living arrangement doesn't have much in the situation, so pardon if I don't fully enclose it. The situation is a 6 week pup that is going to be introduced to chickens when it's 3 months old.

Thank you everyone who gave advice! Bf also thanks you, it gave him an idea for a training program he's suggesting to his parents next time they get to talk.

Mmmm. Zip ties are a fair idea for a make-shift coop, until we get one built.

PCP pipe is a good idea! It could be used as a brooder/broodyspot later on as well. Hopefully it wouldn't be in effect long enough for a dog (or pup!) to chew through it.

 

[DuckLady]

This going round and round is solving nothing.

I hope everything works out.