OK, now hes calming down, seems mostly ok, and is happily back to his girls and back to his normal activity, youve got a puppy issue to deal with.
When I had chicks and dogs, the older dog was a Cocker Spaniel who, when the chicks got able to get out of their first warm box, and started spilling out onto the back porch, he thought it was his job to pick them up in his soft mouth and put them back into their home. (he did this with the two litters of kittens we had too the mama cats knew he was helping and always gave him a thank-you bump when he brought their babies home to them) We lost only one chick after they got this big, so Id say it was not harmful, but I wouldnt advise such a thing normally, it just happened at the time and once we saw what he was doing and why, we got a bigger box for them asap.
Now, of course this was a losing proposition after a while since they just continued to get out and he very nearly wore himself out trying to keep them in their box. He was gentle with them later when they grew bigger and they always accepted him near the coop.
The young dog, did originally think that chickens looked like fun though. We taught him by putting him on a leash, walking him near the coop, and repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly correcting him if he lunged or got excited when the hens either dashed off or flapped, fluffed, squawked or any of the other things hens do.
We too had N.H. Reds and R.I. Reds too, and our roosters might tolerate the Cocker quite happily, but the young dog was always watched with suspicion and rushed him if he even looked too interested in their girls. I have to admit, that in the early stages, if a roo got aggressive with the year-ish old dog, I let them scare him but good. (this was years ago and dog died of old age long ago so dont report me for dog cruelty!)
When I had chicks and dogs, the older dog was a Cocker Spaniel who, when the chicks got able to get out of their first warm box, and started spilling out onto the back porch, he thought it was his job to pick them up in his soft mouth and put them back into their home. (he did this with the two litters of kittens we had too the mama cats knew he was helping and always gave him a thank-you bump when he brought their babies home to them) We lost only one chick after they got this big, so Id say it was not harmful, but I wouldnt advise such a thing normally, it just happened at the time and once we saw what he was doing and why, we got a bigger box for them asap.
Now, of course this was a losing proposition after a while since they just continued to get out and he very nearly wore himself out trying to keep them in their box. He was gentle with them later when they grew bigger and they always accepted him near the coop.
The young dog, did originally think that chickens looked like fun though. We taught him by putting him on a leash, walking him near the coop, and repeatedly, repeatedly, repeatedly correcting him if he lunged or got excited when the hens either dashed off or flapped, fluffed, squawked or any of the other things hens do.
We too had N.H. Reds and R.I. Reds too, and our roosters might tolerate the Cocker quite happily, but the young dog was always watched with suspicion and rushed him if he even looked too interested in their girls. I have to admit, that in the early stages, if a roo got aggressive with the year-ish old dog, I let them scare him but good. (this was years ago and dog died of old age long ago so dont report me for dog cruelty!)
