Strange problem with the dog?

[Iwannachicken]

I know this is about feeding and watering the flock, but my dog has taken a liking to the chick grower that gets dumped out of the feeder. When we move their coop if I don't stop her, she will spend hours licking the dirt. YUCK. Now she's developing skin allergies and losing clumps of hair, not to mention it makes her..um, gassy.
Does anybody else have this problem?

 

[chicksalot]

My dog is always trying to sneak into the coop to get at the feed also. He has not had any adverse reactions tho (knock on wood) so far.

 

[terri9630]

My dogs prefer the chicken poop. Have you tried to water in what ever the dog is going after so it soakes down into the soil?

 

[fargosmom]

My girl dog loves the chicken feed too. Unfortunately dogs don't digest corn well, so I'm sure that's the problem with your pup. I just have to be really careful not to let any fall where she can get to it, since I can't keep her from performing cleanup duty. Since it is an allergen, you might want to see if your vet has any suggestions (maybe using Benedryl?) but I think prevention is the best remedy. Perhaps a thorough soaking of the area would knock down the attractive smell . . . or spritzing it with some odor-stop spray like you'd use on a pee stain? Good luck!

 

[Iwannachicken]

I didn't think about dogs not being able to digest corn very well. Duh! That must be what's causing her gastric distress (altho I think we're more distressed about it than she is, phew)

We watered the spot after we moved it yesterday and she didn't head straight to it and act like a canine vacuum cleaner, so maybe that'll work. She's still scratching and losing clumps of hair, tho so I guess I'll take her to the vet next week anyway and see if he can give her something to knock that out.

Thanks so much for all your help!

Karen