When can I let mama and her chicks free range in a potentially dangerous environment?

[ZachyWachy]

We have Some mamma hens that want to take their chicks outside, however, we have a collie that is a little over a year old that loves to herd the chickens, but she snaps at them if they don't move. So I am worried that she will snap at the chicks and kill them. We also have tons of feral cats and hawks, but the hawks have barely even looked over the chickens. This will also make it easier for me to integrate the chicks with everyone else and for them to learn how to behave around the house.

Help me please.

 

[GuppyTJ]

Wow... I have some suggestions but the answer seems to be that you will not want to let them free range until they are nearly adults.

My situation is similar in that I have had mother hens hatch ~100 chicks over the last few years. Each time, I let the mom take them out when she's ready, which is usually just days after they're born. I free range too, secure coop at night but no fence during the day and on the edge of 3,000 acres of forest which is filled with your normal predators (fox, coyote, hawk, etc). But the moms take them out and very quickly, up into the woods and into the pastures. Usually, she sticks close to nearby cover but over time, they venture further and further. I have 5 dogs too but all have been taught to co-exist peacefully withing feet of the chickens.

So... for what it's worth and in case it helps, it might be time to teach the collie to not herd/snap at any chickens? Help her understand this is not appropriate behavior?

For the hawk danger, do you have any roosters with your girls? Between the dog and the rooster, they can do a pretty good job of just being a deterrent from hawks. I have had over the years, 4 juveniles taken by a hawk in one period. So, it's the 5 dogs and my roosters, I think combined that keep the babies safe from hawks.

For the feral cats... this is probably the most difficult to address. I don't have any experience with this as we don't have this issue....

In any case, hope this is of some value to you,
Guppy

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Your dog will likely keep your hens and chicks safe from hawks. Even scaring a hawk is a federal crime. It's called harassment. However if your collie dog was by some good fortune able to catch and dispatch a hawk it is only a side benefit of owning a live stock guardian dog.

Herding chickens only insures that they are all in one place where the dog can keep her eyes on your flock.

 

[Mattemma]

Havahart trap set at all times for predators. Fishing line with red Mylar for Hawks. You could build a little secure run for mama and babes close to the flock. I am making one out of the kids old swing set frame and another with a trampoline frame.

Hawks stink. Hope our rooster gets them. I would put the dog on a line till trained.We have 3 dogs and I would not trust them around chicks. I have seen the mini pin gobble up wee bunnies.

 

[Rob Tof]

Havahart trap set at all times for predators. Fishing line with red Mylar for Hawks. You could build a little secure run for mama and babes close to the flock. I am making one out of the kids old swing set frame and another with a trampoline frame.

Hawks stink. Hope our rooster gets them. I would put the dog on a line till trained.We have 3 dogs and I would not trust them around chicks. I have seen the mini pin gobble up wee bunnies.

Here is a pic of my coop and run made out of a trampoline.

 

[centrarchid]

Dog behavior as described not good, work on it.

 

[ZachyWachy]

Rob tof-That is a very cool coop, my coop is just a parallelogram tube with an A-frame run(hate those).
I am thinking that if I let them out only later in the day, and make sure that the dog is watched whenever she is outside, then we will be okay. I don't really know how to train her, but I can find out!

P.S. I do have a rooster, he is a handsome, if somewhat mean, black australorp. He used to attack me every now and then, until I was bending over and he jumped at my face and I hit him with a stake type fence post. I aimed for his body but aimed to low and hit his leg, but, haven't had anymore problems so it works!

 

[Rob Tof]

I trained both my boxers to leave the chickens alone. Short leash walk them near the chicken it they so much as look there way say no and turn them around say leave it.

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

We have Some mamma hens that want to take their chicks outside, however, we have a collie that is a little over a year old that loves to herd the chickens, but she snaps at them if they don't move. So I am worried that she will snap at the chicks and kill them. We also have tons of feral cats and hawks, but the hawks have barely even looked over the chickens. This will also make it easier for me to integrate the chicks with everyone else and for them to learn how to behave around the house.

Help me please.

Get a electric collar and when the dog starts to herd them give it a jolt after about 3 jolts he will start to have a new appreciation of your flock.