Scared chickens help

[Missunderstood1017]

So none of my hens used to react at all when my rooster would make his little "alert something scary" noise. Which he makes for any and every thing.
Then my niece and her dog moved in. We have a dog already and this dog is similar size but he will bark at the chickens while outside. So now that his alerts have a credible danger behind them. Everytime he alerts they go running and flying in every direction. Now i cant get anywhere near them not even with treats. All the time spent socializing them all down the drain. Is there anything i can do?

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

I would spend lots of time with them and just sit there so they know your presence is not a threat. I think they might eventually get used to the dog although it may take a while.

 

[nuthatched]

Make sure neicey isn't letting the dog harass the birds when you're not home, that's not usual behavior.

 

[Mrs. K]

Train the dog.

 

[Bawkbok]

It's your house - your rules. If she can't get the dog under control to stop the barking at the birds, then you need to take the action to do so. This is not acceptable behavior. Chickens will get used to barking dogs, we have one that gets annoying but doesn't bark at them, just happens to be near the run when barking at neighborhood noise. They ignore him completely as it's just part of their environment. It can work, but it's going to take effort.

 

[McChooky]

Train the dog.

When my son was asked to temporarily house a bully pit bull we said no because it wasn't trained not to kill chickens and also hates cats

 

[Missunderstood1017]

I've been spending the majority of each day working outside in the chicken run for about a month and a half with no change at all. Im just digging and moving dirt around by hand (well by shovel) ** a large part of the run is the 25° sloped side yard of my house, which im turning into a couple large stairstepped fodder plots for the chickens to forage on ** I started this project before my niece came and the chickens would always crowd around watching me work and going through the piles of dirt i created. The whole flock is in the the farthest corner of the yard from where ever i am and the rooster seems to hold them all there. Preventing any curious hen from leaving the group or going anywhere near me.

I know its a rooster's job to protect his girls at all costs but i just feel he goes overboard with this, much like a helicopter parent. He has always acted like this but before the hens wouldn't give his "chicken little" attitude a second thought. Now its like them finally listening to him has given him a confidence boost and he has just gotten so much worse. Person walks by .....alert! Loud car drives by .....alert! Cloud covers the sun....alert!! Bug flys by....alert! Breeze changes direction.....alert!!! Literally no exageration. Its just so frustrating and disappointing to see them run terrified from me everyday even with favorite treats in hand.

 

[McChooky]

I've been spending the majority of each day working outside in the chicken run for about a month and a half with no change at all. Im just digging and moving dirt around by hand (well by shovel) ** a large part of the run is the 25° sloped side yard of my house, which im turning into a couple large stairstepped fodder plots for the chickens to forage on ** I started this project before my niece came and the chickens would always crowd around watching me work and going through the piles of dirt i created. The whole flock is in the the farthest corner of the yard from where ever i am and the rooster seems to hold them all there. Preventing any curious hen from leaving the group or going anywhere near me.

I know its a rooster's job to protect his girls at all costs but i just feel he goes overboard with this, much like a helicopter parent. He has always acted like this but before the hens wouldn't give his "chicken little" attitude a second thought. Now its like them finally listening to him has given him a confidence boost and he has just gotten so much worse. Person walks by .....alert! Loud car drives by .....alert! Cloud covers the sun....alert!! Bug flys by....alert! Breeze changes direction.....alert!!! Literally no exageration. Its just so frustrating and disappointing to see them run terrified from me everyday even with favorite treats in hand.

Normal chicks have broody hens, roosters and flockmates but hatchery chicks don't have anyone to teach them anything.They have to learn everything the hard way so give him some time.

 

[McChooky]

I've been spending the majority of each day working outside in the chicken run for about a month and a half with no change at all. Im just digging and moving dirt around by hand (well by shovel) ** a large part of the run is the 25° sloped side yard of my house, which im turning into a couple large stairstepped fodder plots for the chickens to forage on ** I started this project before my niece came and the chickens would always crowd around watching me work and going through the piles of dirt i created. The whole flock is in the the farthest corner of the yard from where ever i am and the rooster seems to hold them all there. Preventing any curious hen from leaving the group or going anywhere near me.

I know its a rooster's job to protect his girls at all costs but i just feel he goes overboard with this, much like a helicopter parent. He has always acted like this but before the hens wouldn't give his "chicken little" attitude a second thought. Now its like them finally listening to him has given him a confidence boost and he has just gotten so much worse. Person walks by .....alert! Loud car drives by .....alert! Cloud covers the sun....alert!! Bug flys by....alert! Breeze changes direction.....alert!!! Literally no exageration. Its just so frustrating and disappointing to see them run terrified from me everyday even with favorite treats in hand.

The new dog barking at the chickens is a threat to the flock and until he feels its safe again he won't want them around you again

 

[Mrs. K]

Really fixing a rooster so you like him better, so that he works better in your flock, is mostly impossible. If you want to wait and see if he mellows, he might, but there is a strong probability he won't. If you don't like him in your flock, don't keep him. The flock is for your enjoyment. There is no need to keep a bird that for whatever reason came into your life. You will enjoy the chickens much more with him gone.

Just put him in a dog crate, removed from the area, for 2-3 days and see if you don't like your chickens much better.

Mrs K