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v2002brown

having to say goodbye...

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What is the exact problem? Is it them free ranging that impacts on the dog - is it scared if they are in the run?

 

It seems such a shame so early on to have to call it a day - could the hens not stay in the run?

 

Tracy

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Sorry to hear of your dilemma. I agree that maybe if you could "hold fire" for a moment before getting rid of your girls. What is it that is stressing your dog out? We dog sit for a rather naughty terrier and find it hard but after a while they all get used to each other. Do you think with more time your dog will adjust? :)

 

Maybe keeping them in the run when the dog is out is an idea or "screening" off the chooks so the dog cant see them/access them in anyway.

 

just giving you some ideas, such a shame they all cant get along.

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another suggestion - is there anyway you can seperate your garden so the chooks free range in one area and the dog has the other so that they get the best of both worlds? :) So that the dog cant actually see the hens when he goes in the garden.

 

I would second this suggestion and add: make a special fuss of your dog when he is outside in sight or sound of the chickens - cuddles, "good dog" and a few treats (a few cornflakes, say) - so that he makes good associations with your hens.

 

Dogs are very canny about getting us to do what they want. After the initial excitement at the arrival of the chickens, my dog has made it clear that he profoundly disapproves of my giving them the sort of attention that he is used to have devoted entirely to himself. ':)' When I go out to feed them, every line of his body says, "I don't know what you see in those things"! He does appear to see them as rivals for my love, and if he could work out how to persuade me to get rid of them, he would, I am sure.

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We separated our garden to account for our dog - she was trained to fight originally (we didn't know this when we rescued her) so we have to keep dog and chooks separate. Father in law knocked up a little fence about 2 foot high so it doesn't look imposing or silly, but it does the trick.

 

I hope you find a way to make it work for you, and if not, that you don't have any problems rehoming your chooks.

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maybe you could get hold of some old pallets? DH got some, took them apart and built a fence with them and then stained it, to keep the girls off our veg plot. It wasn't difficult to do and might work for you?

 

here it is, to give you an idea

 

http://www.liverpoolpoet.talktalk.net/180.JPG

 

http://www.liverpoolpoet.talktalk.net/181.JPG

 

hope you can work something out.

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The other thing you can do is not give in to the chickens :)

 

They are just as manipulative as dogs, and will quickly learn how to get their own way. They really don't need to free-range all the time, and it's best for them to learn to be OK in the run, otherwise they will get stressed if, e.g., you go on holiday and your chicken-sitter isn't able to let them out much.

 

If you've only had them a month, there is a good chance you can re-train them. Mine started getting noisy over the winter when they had less free-ranging time, so I stopped feeding treats outside the run, and only gave them when I put the girls back inside after a free-ranging session. It seems to have greatly reduced their demands to be let out, as they associate staying in the run with getting something nice.

 

So, how about you let the girls free-range for a short while, then tempt them back into the run with treats. Do not under any circumstances feed treats outside the run. Do this for a few days, then when they are accustomed to it, try taking your dog into the garden for a few minutes immediately after you have put the chickens in the run. To make sure the chickens are occupied with something other than squawking to be let out, use mixed corn or a similar treat that can be scattered and scratched around for, but nothing too tasty (eg tinned sweetcorn) or the chickens will be noisy! Carry the dog at first and be very reassuring, and keep initial sessions down to a couple of minutes, gradually extending them so he gets used to the habit. Once he's stopped panicking at the very sight of chickens, put him on the ground and again praise and fuss him, very gradually increasing contact. It's basically how they treat human phobias, but I'm sure it would work for animals as well.

 

You will have to be patient and take it in baby-steps - your hens are a lot bigger than your little Yorkie, and it's perfectly understandable for him to be scared of them. It may well be that he never feels bold enough to be out in the garden whilst the hens are free-ranging - but that's no reason to get rid of the chickens!

 

Hope this helps!

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Thanks for all the advice i will quickly put it into action, i love the pallet ideas thats brilliant :lol:

 

try asking for some on freecycle. DH works for a big warehouse so we got them for nothing. Know any big warehouses near you, you could try asking there as well?

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