Daisy's mum Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 (edited) Hello everyone(':D') It is my first time on the forum so HELLO!!!! my name is Julie, I am the proud owner of: One husband 4 sons 1 daughter 1 dog 1 cat 1 eglu 3 hens I am also the very proud owner of a beautiful lilac eglu with 3 hens, Isabelle, Fifi and ......erm .......Dave. I have had then now for 2 weeks, Dave gives me a lovely brown egg every day but the others have not started laying yet. I need some advice regarding my 2 year old lab, Poppy. She loves the hens and has been into the run to say hello with no problem. Trouble is I let them free range every day and she chases them when she goes outside. I am currently leading her round the garden with bits of cheese so she takes no notice of them but when the cheese is gone she runs at the hens. She does stop if I holler at her but I wonder if I should let them get on with it? I'm sure she would not hurt them but I just wish they would give her a peck so she learns. It is not too much of a problem at the moment as it is cold outside but as it gets warmer I will want to have the doors open all day and don't want to be having to constantly watch them. Does anyone have any tips on how we can all live in harmony together?[ Edited February 19, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tessa the Duchess Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 I have an elderly dog, not bouncy at all When I first got my chickens she was very interested and wouldn't leave them alone and even attempted a feeble chase once in while. The novelty wore off very quickly and now she is bored with them and they take no notice of her. I think it is just a matter of time and everybody settling down. Oh welcome to the forum:) Tessa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Thank you Tessa! All the info I read says that dogs and chickens get along fine so .....fingers crossed!!! I just don't want my girls to die of fright!!!! Best wishes Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ziggy Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Hi Julie, Welcome to the forum, I don't have a dog, but as you said from what everyone else usually says on here, chickens to tend to hold their own 'against' other pets... Just wanted to say I love that line : I am the proud owner of:One husband Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Hi Ziggy! Thanks for that, my hubby is gorgeous and most importantly after saying "I told you, you're not having any bloody chickens".....didn't bat an eyelid when the eglu turned up!!! Even drove me 30 miles to pick the girls up!!!! A husband that says "no" but really means "oh, go on then " is the best sort to have! Have a good day Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Hello and welcome. It is surprising how many chickens there are called Dave! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 LOL yes my boys chose it! They all work at a garage and say that every garage has a bloke called Dave! Our next door neighbour is also called Dave, I gave him Dave's first egg and he was thrilled! Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 We only got our 4 chickens on thursday and our dog is still very interested in them-even when one of them pecked her through the run. But she hates water so we have a mini watering can so when she gets annoying we just splash her with water and it works brilliantly. We have ours in a walk in run and i dont think they will ever be able to free range because of the dog but the chickens seem to have plently of space in their run. Emma Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Thank you Emma! Getting some chickens is one of the best thing I ever did!!! Hope you are enjoying yours too. I will try your watering can method but Poppy just loves water and leaps in the river even when it's -6 so don't think it will work! I am using the treats as a distraction at the moment but obviously I will end up with a very fat dog if I'm not careful! I really want to free range mine every day, which I am doing but of course when the summer is here I will be wanting to get on with the gardening and not have to worry about the dog all the time! Hopefully I will get them under control by then! Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 We gave up and have fenced off a part of the garden for our dog - but she's a quite a littly and is getting on a bit, so not likely to jump over. We have to make sure none of the girls have jumped over before we let the dog out though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Our dog is a poppy too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Welcome to the forum and PLEASE can we have some photo's of your LILAC eglu I have a huge german shepherd dog. BC (before chickens) she hated anything small and fluffy (ie cats ) since getting chooks she has been brilliant with them, I would do a gradual introduction (on lead) with your lab and lots of stern "no's" if she gets too boisterous with them. As your chickens get older and wiser they will soon get used to her (chickens learn quick) its not unusual for my chickens to peck my GSD on the nose - but she doesnt take a blind bit of notice. I can happily leave my dog and chickens in the garden together whilst free ranging - they even dustbathe together!! Take one step at a time and you should be fine, good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 19, 2008 Author Share Posted February 19, 2008 Thank you for that Chelsea! This forum is just great and I am loving chatting to you all, trouble is what with that, watching my girls and keeping Poppy under control I don't seem to get much else done!!! I really don't want to fence off the girls so Poppy will just have to learn! Lets hope it does not take too long!!!! My lilac eglu is absolutely beautiful and I have Barbara to thank for telling me about it! I will try and put a photo of it on here but not sure how! I can't even seem to be able add the cute little hens and eglu icons to my messages? Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 see this link for eglu/chicken signature pictures http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12648 scroll down towards the bottom of the link and the codes are there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clunky Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 Hi Julie welcome to the forum l've got a six month old jack russell pup and she was the same as poppy l bought some pet corrector from pets at home l think it was £4.99 its compressed air and it seems to work well she is not quite so bad although she would still like to play. It might be worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Thank you Clunky! I'll give it a try, Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chili pepper Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Hi Julie, I have 3 greyhounds and have found that if they are on the lead in the garden they will completely ignore the chickens but its a different story off lead. I fear this is purely due to their breed (high prey drive) and will probably never allow them all to be out together If the chickens are out then the dogs are kept in and vise versa, if anyone else has greyhounds I would love to hear if you've managed to get them all out together? The dogs are fine with our cat indoors but again if they meet in the garden Kit Kat knows not to hang about! I've got a Hubby like yours too! He's great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 Instead of a watering can try a Supersoaker watergun! If they are not looking the shock of the water from a distance is much more off-putting. Use the command water as you fire the gun and you may gradually find that just the 'water' command will correct the behaviour you want to stop. With two Springers who were a nightmare when they first met the chickens, they can now all roam the garden on a Sunday without supervision Dylan and Barney did try to 'herd' Tallulah but the noise she made was then more than enough to put them off - in fact Dylan shot back in the house and didn't venture out again for about 2 hours! Overall though the blissful scene on Sunday was something I couldn't imagine happening 1 week ino chicken keeping - my main problem is going to be keeping the chooks out of the house! Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 You will have to get the stair gate out or saw the back door in half, stable style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Thank so much to everybody for all your suggestions! Poppy is fine all the time I have some treats in my hand she is focused on the treat and ignores the hens, also she has sneaked into the pen with them and has been no trouble, It is just when they run that she gets excited! I keep reading that they will peck her on the nose but they just run away at the moment! Hopefully all with calm down before the warmer weather arrives! Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Hi everyone! I have just spent the last 2 hours trying to put a photo of my lilac eglu and the little symbols of eglu and hens on my profile. I have come to the conclusion that I must be totally thick in the pc department! So sorry Chelsea, If you want to see the colour just keep clicking the home button on the Omlet site and a photo comes up of a lilac cube eventually! I have the eglu though. I've not checked lately but maybe there is one now...... I will keep trying to load my photo for a while longer......these hens are taking up ALL my time!!!!!!!!!! Unless someone out there has any tips for the totally computer illiterate? Julie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 hmmmmm! I see that I have got a little brown hen now but the others have not come out right! WHAT AM I DOING WRONG????????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 You have used capital letters If you type in !*eggbrown! (*Bluebelle) (*white chicken) without the * you should get the pictures. Hope it works for you. C x will pm you about the lilac eglu pictures if you need a hand? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy's mum Posted February 20, 2008 Author Share Posted February 20, 2008 Thanks Christian!!! Will redo those now Help with photo will be greatly appreciated thank you! Julie x edit - here are the pictures!!! the first lilac eglu! The new girls Dave's First egg! (I have emailed you back Julie) Christian x x x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 20, 2008 Share Posted February 20, 2008 have pm'd you! C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
