When/If to clip wings? And small dogs with chickens?

[NorthernWY]

I'm brand new to this chicken thing and have a couple questions about keeping them in my yard. We just picked up two Buff Orpingtons, two New Hampshire Reds, and two White Plymouth Rock chicks. All six chicks are 2 to 3 weeks old (I've had them one week but have no idea how old they were when I bought them at the feed store) I have a 6 foot cedar fence around my 50' by 50' back yard. The chicken run is 20' by 8' with the house on one side and the 6' fence on the other.

If I don't clip their wings do I have to worry about them flying over the fence in a few months?

My next question is: I have a garden with a 2 foot high mesh fence around it to keep my miniture dauchsunds out. How tall do I need that fence to keep the chickens out when we turn them loose in the back yard?

Anyone else have small dogs with chickens? My dauchsunds weigh 10 and 15 lbs. Both are pretty mellow. If I'm out there with them I can keep them away from the chickens with a loud uhh uhhh! If the chickens stick up for themselves my dogs will leave them alone but if they run I'm sure the dogs will chase. I plan on spending time out back with the dogs and chickens and trying to train the dogs to leave them alone so that we can all co-exist. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cobrien]

Congratulations on your new chickens!

On the fence - I believe all your chickens are "heavy breeds" like most of mine. Mine can't fly over a 6' fence. Lighter chickens can, though, and perhaps an especially determined heavier one. I would wait and observe but think you'll be okay. If your chickens did fly the 6' fence I suspect a wing clipping would resolve the problem. Do not get bantams or other small chickens if you don't want to cover the run! They are amazing fliers.

For the garden, my 5' fence is working fine. I believe a 4' fence would also work with mine but I haven't tried it. This partly depends on how determined they are to get to the other side. Right now my yard is more interesting to them than my garden.

I have 2 dogs that are very good with the chickens; one is a dachsund cross. Even though yours are mellow and sound well behaved, I would be very careful and strict with the dogs. You don't want to give them any opportunity to make a mistake as it is hard for them to unlearn and of course chickens can get hurt. I would keep them on leash at first and walk them around your chickens, do not let them muzzle them or try to play with them, distract them with commands like sit and offer treats if you have to. Do this a lot - do it more than you think it is needed to really make sure it is ingrained in the dog. Take them with you on leash when you do chicken chores and make sure they are well behaved and reward them. Then if you are confident I would let them interact while you are supervising and perhaps keep a long leash on the dogs at first (dragging on ground) so you can correct / interrupt any bad behavior. Even small dogs that don't want to kill the chickens can seriously hurt or kill them by trying to play with them. You can start the introductions now with your dog, let them see the chickens and reward them for not going near them.

Good luck with your new girls.

 

[NorthernWY]

Thanks Cobrien. I think you covered it all.

 

[Sesame]

My little dog seemed just fine with the chickens. He liked to heard them but never tried to bite or eat them. Last week he plucked one of my chickens down to the skin on one side before we caught him. Now he's not allowed off chain unless the chickens are all in the coop.