this newbie has a few more questions! :)

[earnhardtlvr]

I am a newbie mother to 20 baby chicks in a week or so. I have 3 dogs...but they aren't really dogs...well they are, but they are our children. I have a shih tzu who is 12 years old, a beagle/schnauzer who is 14 yrs old, and an english bulldog who is 3 yrs old. NONE of us have ever been around baby chickies...or chickens. They aren't aggressive, don't even chase cats, or squirrels or anything. Is there anything special I should know, or do, to introduce them to the babies so that we can all live together? They r indoor dogs all the time and only ever go out to use the bathroom and when we r outside doing something. Is it ok for them to go in the chicken run if the chickens aren't in there?

Also, there is a pine tree next to the chicken coop and run so of course there are pine needles in the run area. Will these hurt the chicks when they r big enough to go out in the run?

 

[CCourson05]

The pine needles won't hurt anything... In fact, it will help keep the run from being so muddy..

 

[gryeyes]

Quote:
I have two miniature dachshunds. One WAS a chicken killer, but I didn't know that. He's elderly, was 11 when I got the first chicks. He surprised me. (Unfortunately, three times!) It took about 3 months to train him not to bother the chickens, and I think part of it involved the rooster who kicked his butt one day when he got bigger, and the two ducks who billed the heck out of him. Now he can walk (he slinks, tail under his belly) through a bunch of chickens to get to his area of the yard. But don't think your dogs won't go after young chickens. Practice SUPER vigilance until the chickens are fully grown. And even then, never let them out with the chickens unsupervised.

It won't matter if they go into the run before the chickens are there.

Pine needles are fine, in fact some folks use 'em for bedding and nest box lining!

 

[earnhardtlvr]

thanks for all the great info!! My little shih tzu, Max, is only 10lbs and he is my shadow so I was/am especially concerned about him getting along with the peeps. Matter of fact, he is why we decided to use welded wire on the top of our chicken run. He was out with us the other day when we were measuring off where we wanted to put the run and a hawk swooped down closer to see what Max was and if he could be hawk food! Scared me, so we r really being protective new parents and making a heavy duty run! LOL

 

[shend]

I brought my chicks home last wednesday in a lidded box. I have 4 full grown cats and made sure I snuck into the house and down the hall with the fuzzy butts to get them installed in the brooder before the kitties knew they were there.

Now, I've seen my cats out hunting and they are all over wild birds, given the chance, but they range from no interest to being frightened of the new chicks!! One kitty hid under the bed the first day!

I was most surprised with their reaction to these little guys (gals!) but eternally grateful for it! The less stress on the babies the better and I thought the cats would pose a big problem, but its just not an issue.

Hope this holds true once they're living in the coop and run.

 

[zengrrl]

When it comes to dogs, I'd say to err on the side of caution. They are animals after all and don't understand consequences. Safety first!~

 

[earnhardtlvr]

I definately will be very cautious...cuz like u said, u just never know! I hope they all get along...it will make my life so much easier! LOL