I just got four 14 week old pullets. A week ago. My first ever. I'm already in love! But the run wasn't complete. It became clear right away that we had to finish the run so they could get out of their nice but small coop. We did it today and for immediately introduced the girls to their new play ground. Then we went inside to have dinner. I have always thought the chickens' major predators would be my own two labrador retrievers. But I saw one of my pups standing guard in the yard over a chicken that had flown the coop. The chicken was marching back and forth trying to find a way back in while the dog stood at attention waiting for me to come out and remedy the situation. I was amazed and so pleased I almost cried. Once we got the poor scared little bird back in with her friends. Tomorrow we put the roof on the run. And contemplate the possibility of limited, only when I'm home, free ranging.
Quote:YUP! Good dog! I had a Rhodesian Ridgeback years ago that would flush loose chickens or rabbits out of a narrow place where I'd thoughtlessly built the shed less than a foot from a fence (DUHHH!) She just pushed with her muzzle. But let anyone come around wearing a uniform or a hat and she'd go insane (safely inside 6' chainlink).
My RIR hen has trained our dogs, if she sees a cat or anything else threatening she lets out a weird shreik. The dogs will come running at that sound to see what she's found for them to chase!!! My dogs also share their bones with the hens, which is very cute
Especially for a lab, a bird dog..Even my pyr got one of mine till we trained her not to..Now she's great with them...but a lab...wow!
I heard a lot of squawking about 15 minutes ago, my golden retriever and catahula had surrounded one of the chickens who got out of the pen. Ran out and took care of situation but as I replay the scene, I think that the dogs were just trying to get the chicken back to where she was supposed to be. I hope that is the case. Other than dog drool, the chickens are all fine.
