Predators and Dogs

[svh]

I was wondering ….. Does having dogs, acclimate the chickens to being around a predator, to the point they won't try to evade a real threat ? Put another way, do the chickens get so used to seeing, and being around dogs, that they don't try to escape from, say a coyote, or fox ?

Do the chickens somehow know the difference ? Size, and color maybe ? How quickly they approach ?

I live in heavy coyote and fox territory, and had these question posed to me today by a neighbor. I had no answer.

My new chickens let my 3 dogs, and the chicks previous owners dog, come right up and sniff their fluffy little butts ! They are also very curious as to what the dogs are chewin on, when the hounds have a bone, to the point they are nose to nose, smellin each others breath !

I'm assuming the birds can tell them apart from a real threat ?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Probably depends on the flock and their experience... like if they meet 10 dogs and all 10 are friendly, they may assume that a stray dog coming by is friendly too, until they learn that not all dogs are friends.

I have 3 dogs. One is interested in the chickens but super calm, and the chickens will follow him around the fence when he's out and about. Second dog doesn't even notice the chickens exist, and the chickens ignore her just as she ignores them. Third dog loves to run at the fence and harass them, so the chickens run as soon as they see her.

All 3 dogs are out at the same time. They know to follow the first dog and to run away from the fence if the third one even glances in their direction. So yes they can tell one dog from another.

We also had a coyote come by a couple weeks ago and I could hear their alarm call so I went over to the window, saw what was going on, and ran out and chased it off. They obviously did not see the coyote as one of the dogs as they don't alarm at the dogs.

 

[hayley3]

I just read an article about chickens and eagles and this farmer who raises pastured chickens says the chickens will let the eagles walk up and take them..they do not know to run.
My dog will run toward the fence at the chickens and I do believe that gives the chickens a false sense of security.
However chickens I think have more of an instinctual fear of things that fly overhead.
My goose was standing face to face with a rather large silver fox and I was shocked she didn't honk and sound the alarm, when she does it for most other things.

 

[centrarchid]

The chickens can distinguish dogs as individuals. They can within limits determine the dogs intent. A dog approaching while looking directly at chickens is generally regarded as a risk for the chickens. Chickens experienced with such give alarms and flee. Naive chickens either do not recognize threat or do not know to react to threat fast enough.

I like my chickens to get a scare when I am around so they get an idea how to respond. Bad response may as well be no response at all.

 

[cmom]

I think each dog is different and will react different. Our daughter several years ago moved to a place where she couldn't have any pets so she left her dog with us. It was a walker hound. It ignored the birds and the birds ignored the dog.

 

[Rushdoggie]

I am far from a chicken expert, but I have 4 chickens and (currently) 2 dogs. My dogs ignore the chickens unless I ask my Border Collie to help me gather them. As soon and he drops into work mode the react and 3 of the 4 start moving to get away from him.

The 4th is not amused and sometimes he literally has to poke her butt to get her to move.

But they can see if hes out just being in the yard and react one way, and then when I send him to gather them they act another way.

They seem to get context.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Chickens can definitely distinguish the difference between a fox and a dog.

 

[hayley3]

Chickens can definitely distinguish the difference between a fox and a dog.

Maybe your chickens are smarter, but mine for sure cannot. LOL

 

[Building Bridges]

I am far from a chicken expert, but I have 4 chickens and (currently) 2 dogs. My dogs ignore the chickens unless I ask my Border Collie to help me gather them. As soon and he drops into work mode the react and 3 of the 4 start moving to get away from him.

The 4th is not amused and sometimes he literally has to poke her butt to get her to move.

But they can see if hes out just being in the yard and react one way, and then when I send him to gather them they act another way.

They seem to get context.

That's all about the dog's body language and eye contact! When the BC is focused on them and moving in response to the chicken's movement.....it feels different to the chickens than a dog meandering around the yard ignoring them.

 

[Folly's place]

Chickens raised in a flock with older adults who have had bad experiences with predators, or young birds who have seen a predator attack, will learn to be much more careful. Youngsters with zero experiences are likely to have little or no idea how to behave, until they survive a flockmate's disaster.
Mary