The Poultry Keeper

polarchick · Joined: 29 Mar 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Nr Southampton

Does anyone have any good ideas about dogs and chickens.

I have 2 scottish terriers that have their own area of the garden - they have now been joined by 3 new chickens (2 wyandottes and a black leghorn), in a coop and run (but eventually want them to be free ranging).

The dogs (understandably) just bound around the run, sniffing and growling at the chickens - who then run off into the coop - the dogs then push the coop with their noses - which frightens the chickens even more. Reprimanding the dogs doesn't seem to work and the dogs are getting very sly and finding ways to get outside to the coop!!

Does anyone have any good ideas about introducing chickens to dogs and vice versa - my plan is for them to live happily together!! Maybe that is just wishful thinking!!

Any help would be much appreciated.

Becki

Dixie Chicks · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 312 Location: South West Cumbria

Wish I could help you, but I will wish you loads and loads of luck Laughing

.

My old pack of terriers (3 JRT's and 1 Westie) thought the newly arrived chickens were just an interesting kind of dinner. The dogs were pretty old by then, so I didn't really attempt any training, just kept them all apart!

My two new terriers (JRT and Patterdale) were introduced after the chickens arrived and were gradually accustomed to them while still young - on long leads and lots of shouting NO! They weren't too bad when still young, but as they reached the teenage years they forgot all their manners - fortunately my Patterdale spat my Welsummer and OEG cockeral out without harming them. Needless to say, I have secure fencing (electrified around the base) to keep the dogs and chickens apart.

A couple of years earlier, my beloved Stanley (JRT now RIP) found a young pheasant hiding in a bush in the back garden. In the time it took me to scream STANLEY NOOOOOOO he had murdered it and started to tear it apart. "You've Been Framed" would definitely have shown me chasing Stanley round the garden as he tore his prize apart and ate it on the run. I didn't ever give him that same chance with my chickens!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

you might have a problem as they are older and terriers (although this doesn't apply to all terriers ) it would be a good idea to take them out on a lead have a little space between the dogs and hen in the pen take treats with you in your pocket and reward the dogs for leaving them alone ,if they show any interest you are in control with them being on a lead ,the word aahh works well ,if they have learnt hens are already good to chase then they will unfortunatly, even though my dogs don't chase ,i wouldn't leave them alone with the hens you never know when they feel like a bit of fun ,and they might think they cannot chase while your there ,but if your not chase anyway ,sorry only my ideas and might not suit you at all ,thats what i'd do ,
suz

debcat · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:00 pm Post subject:

My collie is fine with the hens, apart from barking when they go in the field.
the collie x lhasa Apso thinks hens are for chasing, although she's fine if I'm out with her so she does know that she's not meant to chase them.
we started with her on a lead near them and loads of saying no and treats, then progressed to off a lead, just wish she'd behave when I'm not there!
She has a good run now before the hens go out and another when they've gone in, the rest of the day I go out with her.

mojo · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:39 pm Post subject:

i think the breed has a lot to do with the problem our shih tzu got a peck on the nose and now studiously ignores the chickens but he is little gentleman anyway...my only advise is keep them seperate

Bhindi · Posted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject:

I know its not a cure all, but would a muzzle be worth considering, naughty feet aren't as bad as naughty teeth! Very Happy

(until the dogs understand etiquette)

fenwoman · Posted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:31 am Post subject:

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

We have two dogs - a cocker spaniel and a jack russel. Both will chase and kill pheasants if given the chance (I don't give them that opportunity). Neither of them will touch the chickens. Like Fenwoman says they both know we are the bosses and although the jack russel came to us with a history of chasing hens a sharp NO from us when she first went in there was enough to show her that it wasn't ok and she is fine with them now. She is never in there on her own but she is down there with me most days for a few hours. I think the more they get used to them the better it is as the novelty value wears off but I will never trust either of them entirely on their own with lambs or chickens - it only takes one lapse!!

Timbo · Joined: 03 Mar 2006 Posts: 206 Location: Cranfield, Beds.

IMHO:

Unless you can socialise puppies with chickens before 12 weeks of age, then they will be less likely to consider the chooks as 'family' and will probably consider them as lunch instead..

You can train and train but dogs understand safe and dangerous, not right and wrong. Training is great when you are there and in control but if you are not there..

Again IMHO as there are alot of 'views' about dog behaviour and I'm not going to get into any 'discussions' here! Wink

Bernie · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 13 Location: Lincolnshire

Again not a lot of help i am lucky that my two boxers would rather chase the cats (play) than the chickens. My female Elsie gets in the big pen when she can and will gently move the chicken so she can get to the egg. If the hen has not laid she will sit waiting patiently until she has. Yet my mums german pointers need to be kept well away from the chickens as they would just do what a fox does. IMHO i think you are either lucky when it comes to dogs and chickens or not!
good luck anyhow and let us know how you get on
bernie
Exclamation

shelly · Joined: 20 Nov 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Glastonbury

My labrador daft as he is is definitely triggered by the cuckoo an blue pekin I have. Had some hairy moments but got him under control with a well aimed bucket of cold water.
After that we got him used to being responsible by getting him to be more useful around them, he now does a lovely placid sheep dog rounding up duty. I think it helps to make them work especially if they are working breeds, hits all their happy useful buttons.
He has got even better with the intro of a lovely pullet who has adopted him as a mother defender substitute, she runs in and out of his legs and follows him around the garden. She also gives him a smart peck when he gets too frisky, on the nose. Looks funny seeing a chicken see off a dog.

We don't leave him with them unattended as we know that his basic instinct is to find and carry, it's just the way he would catch them that is worrying.

I myself would never trust a terrier, very pretty, great characters, but little dogs, I find them quite frightening.

from Shelly