Rhode Island Reds

[Chickymama2u]

We just got our first girls, almost a week now... Four of them, just beautiful! Almost 11 weeks old. They stay in the coop most of the time...the first night they stayed out until the sunset perched on some limbs..it was such a wonderful sight...however our German Shepard has terrorized them by running back and forth by their run ..the chicks were flying every where!! I felt terrible .. now they rarely come out. When I go to see them they won't come near me. But if they are in the coop when I come in, they stay on their perchch..talk a little..they seem nervous...I'm so worried we've scared them for life. Any suggestions?

 

[sourland]

Give them time and train your dog to stay away from the pen. They are terrified of the large 'predator' that has been trying to get them. Obedience training and the command 'Leave it' works wonders. German Shepherds are extremely intelligent and readily trained as they want to please their owners. I have had many dogs, but nothing compares to the one German Shepherd that owned me. Do both the dog and your birds a favor and enroll the dog in an obedience training course.

 

[Ribh]

Treats. Any time I get new girls I always come bearing gifts. Not a lot, just enough that they get to know good things come with me. I just sit or stand & talk quietly with them for a bit & toss the treat out a little @ a time. I have Campines ~ notoriously skittish & unfriendly~ & even they will come for a treat of mealworms. Patience & a supply of good things will work wonders.

 

[Chickymama2u]

Give them time and train your dog to stay away from the pen. They are terrified of the large 'predator' that has been trying to get them. Obedience training and the command 'Leave it' works wonders. German Shepherds are extremely intelligent and readily trained as they want to please their owners. I have had many dogs, but nothing compares to the one German Shepherd that owned me. Do both the dog and your birds a favor and enroll the dog in an obedience training course.

She is well trained, this was the first day we had them home. All I have to do is say "leave it" and she obeys. I was worried that the damage has already been done though...

 

[sourland]

They will regard her as a threat for quite a while. Fowl hate change of any sort, and to have this happen shortly after they arrived at their new home has them regarding it as a dangerous place. Try tempting them into the pen with treats when the dog is not present, and don't try to introduce them to the dog until they have become confident in their pen.

 

[Chickymama2u]

Treats. Any time I get new girls I always come bearing gifts. Not a lot, just enough that they get to know good things come with me. I just sit or stand & talk quietly with them for a bit & toss the treat out a little @ a time. I have Campines ~ notoriously skittish & unfriendly~ & even they will come for a treat of mealworms. Patience & a supply of good things will work wonders.

Thank you! I just started taking them some blueberries...they love them I will do as you have suggested!!

 

[Chickymama2u]

They will regard her as a threat for quite a while. Fowl hate change of any sort, and to have this happen shortly after they arrived at their new home has them regarding it as a dangerous place. Try tempting them into the pen with treats when the dog is not present, and don't try to introduce them to the dog until they have become confident in their pen.

The dogs are not allowed over there at all now. We just didn't know...I'll keep hanging out with them and trying to do that, thank you.

 

[aart]

Don't feed them too much fruit, or other treats.
I use scratch grains for 'training'.
Sit in the run quietly, and let them come to you.
Short but frequent visits can also really help them get used to you being there.
It takes time and patience.
Best of cLuck!

 

[rosemarythyme]

As far as the dog, you didn't do any long term damage. The chickens won't be happy if they see her around but as long as she can't get to them and doesn't continuously harass them, they'll get over it.

My chickens will actually follow one of my dogs as he passes by the fence but run away if our other dogs approach.

 

[Chickymama2u]

The dogs have learned to stay far back when I go to feed the chicks but will lay, out of sight, by the hen house for quite awhile ..seems everyone has adjusted