When to introduce dogs to new chicks

[HighStreetCoop]

We do it right away. The fear level is smaller that way. It is sad to see a bird dog that scared of a chick.
In his defense Maude one of our orpington is very intimidating. She is Godzilla stuck in a chicken body.
She is the first to assess and put whatever is in the yard in its proper place in the pecking order.

My Mastiff is terrified of the chicks. They peep! They peck! He hides.

 

[Curlyginger]

My Mastiff is terrified of the chicks. They peep! They peck! He hides.

LOL!!!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I will need to work with Nuck on his excitement. I know he'll be curious, tilt his head, and possibly hide behind me lol. I'm more concerned with deaths related to playing more than anything with him. But he does great with the cat and even sleeps side by side on most nights. He can be hyper though (aussie and coonhound mix) so maybe I'll make intros after a full day of excercise. Thanks everyone for your input.

The excitement is the only thing I have to watch our dog for. My first hatch only yeilded one chick so he was constantly out and around our dog (who we had just got at the time as well.) So from early on I had them together. Our second hatch we had 12 and he's so used to them and they him that people that see them are often amazed. It shouldn't be surprising though because he's a herding mutt...lol.

Spot our mutt and Peep my barnyard mutt.




I also have multiple videos of my little roo picking on the dog while he's sleeping pecking at his ears and stealing his pig ear treat when he gets one...lol They can be real cute together. Spot has calmed down a lot around them.

 

[William1hens]

You can put the chicks in a mesh cage and let the dog in the room so they can see and smell each other but can't touch.I wouldn't let the dog loose with the chicks until they are fully grown but it depends on the dog.

Good luck

 

[Wxguru]

Here is our interaction with our border collie last night. They tolerate each other very well....

 

[ImNotYogi]

Lol, thats cute.

 

[laceykins]

I'm a total newbie, but here is what I did. Our chicks were brooded in a large dog crate, with cardboard on four sides, on our three season porch. From the very beginning, we let the dog sniff them through the crate and peer in at them. There weren't any issues, and our vet told us that there are very few diseases that dogs and chickens can swap.

When they were big enough to be brought outside for field trips, we used a small animal playpen with a cloth cover. The dog was allowed to be out with them, but only under careful supervision. When they moved outside for good, the dog would watch them in the run and they would come check out the dog. When they were old enough for (supervised) free range in the yard, the dog came out ON LEASH. After a few weeks, we allowed the dog off leash, under very careful supervision. Now they are all fine together (and the dog loves the delicious buffet they leave in the grass for her), but I would never leave the dog alone with them, just for my own piece of mind.

Best of luck! Enjoy your lovely chicks!

Great plan. I like the idea of keeping the dogs on leash at first.

 

[laceykins]

Here is our interaction with our border collie last night. They tolerate each other very well....

This is my future goal! So cute

 

[laceykins]

The excitement is the only thing I have to watch our dog for. My first hatch only yeilded one chick so he was constantly out and around our dog (who we had just got at the time as well.) So from early on I had them together. Our second hatch we had 12 and he's so used to them and they him that people that see them are often amazed. It shouldn't be surprising though because he's a herding mutt...lol. Spot our mutt and Peep my barnyard mutt. I also have multiple videos of my little roo picking on the dog while he's sleeping pecking at his ears and stealing his pig ear treat when he gets one...lol They can be real cute together. Spot has calmed down a lot around them.

This melts my heart!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

This was them back when Peep was a lot younger. They've always made a cute duo.