Would like Dog and Chicken Advice

[Portia]

My dogs are both rescues that I acquired when they were adults. Unfortunately both were somewhat abused and came with plenty of baggage; thus their special needs status and the reason they came to live with us (no kids). Although they notice the chickens, both have been pecked at when they came to close. It only took one swift peck to the nose and neither one is interested in getting near the chickens anymore. In fact I just had to get rid of a roo because my little dog wouldn't even go out in the backyard!
Both dogs have also shown a keen interest in the new chicks that are now following mama hen around the yard; they seem to think they are little rodents vs birds. At one point they both came a little too close and mamma sussex let leash a nice round of whoop-ass on them. Now neither one shows any further interest. Full sized chickens can be formidable.

 

[jbowyer01]

Thanks for asking this questions because its been on my mind lately. We get our chickens on sunday and I have a lab/cocker mix and 2 doxies and I swear the doxies are the most hard headed pups I've ever had..(I think doxie owners are suppose to call it tenacious

) I'm going to try a little over everyones advise and be consistant with it.

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

I have only read a few replies. But my dogs are different in personality to one another. One is a terrier mix and she is a GREAT listener...however she is a serious predator. We are always finding dead turtles, lizards, frogs...she chases butterflies and their shadows, leaves and their shadows, birds and THEIR shadows. We cannot let her in w/ the chickens. When we were moving them over here one got out and didn't last 5 minutes.

on the other hand, my boxer BMC mix is great in with the chicks. He doesn't bother them, he is fine. However, he did kill one when it got stuck in a fence and was making distress sounds. But since he's been fine.

I have to admit that I kept a whip and popped their butt with it (sting) when they would act like they were taking too much interest. Alls well now. We just have one that can be around them and one that cannot without being right on top of her.

good luck

 

[vfem]

This has just been my biggest fear. I have my hands full with a toddler, cat (which acts like its straight out of per cemetary some days!), a husband who can build but can't clean or cook, and 5 lovely attention needing silkies. I went from taking care of a 2 bedroom apartment to a 3 bed house in 3 months. Its a lot!

Then hubby wanted the dog and I pleaded and begged NO. (I HATE house breaking) I just said "Whats wrong with nice cute little DUCKS?" Then there was the dog, so what could I do.

She's VERY obedient for a puppy and only one accident since yesterday because I was changing the babies diaper and she just couldn't wait anymore, and I knew she had to go!

I'm taking her out by the chickens coop each time we walk her.... she can see it but isn't allowed close to it. She barks at 'em and gets a 'wap' in the butt. So far, so good.

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

You could always get an invisible fence and fence off the areas that the chicks are in. The dog would learn not to get near them that way. And it would keep your kid from touching an electric fence. That wouldn't go over well with a tot any way!

 

[debilorrah]

We keep our dog seperate from the chickens, and he doesn't mind at all. He stays away from their coop, and he knows the chickens are ours, so he barks his fool head of at anything that comes in the yard. Good Boy!!!

 

[Appytaz]

We have a boxer mix and a cocker and they are fine with the chickens, and vice versa. The dogs run out into the yard and occasionally run thru the herd of chickens- It is kind of like this - dogs run - chickens scream - dogs giggle - and everyone goes about their business. It reminds me of a big brother picking on the little sister just to hear her scream

 

[vfem]

That is all I hope happens here. Some running and jumping and then just forgetting around it.

I let the chickens free range though, they get the whole yard... and its not a lot of yard, just a simple acre lot. Long as the chickens stay away from the pond, and the dog stays away from the chickens we're all HAPPY!

She's asleep on my feet right now. Can't be more then a foot away from me all day. Had to take her on a car ride to pick up my friend's daughter from school, and she just laid on the front seat with her head on my lap the whole time!

Calm puppy... I'm loving this!!!!