4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Seagazer]

We let the girls out this morning and somehow the dog got out. She came charging up the garden and then stopped just in front of the girls. I told my husband to grab her but no - he who knows everything said, no lets just see what she does - so of course when Butch moved Cookie went for her and chased her around the run.

 

I managed to grab Cookie and give her to my husband and then I turned round and couldn't find Butch. Eventually found her hiding under a shrub. Such a relief. She went back into the run. Trouble is when Cookie came back out into the garden Butch started squawking and got upset and took herself to bed

 

My worry now is that Cookie will automatically get excited now whenever she goes near the chickens. I'm obviously never going to let them out at the same time unless Cookie is on the lead. I am so upset. Not how I'd expected their first time out to be.

 

Any ideas anyone?

[Egluntyne]

I would keep the dog on a lead for the first few intros, and then see how things go with her off the lead and you in attendance.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Oh dear, that sounds like it was quite traumatic .

 

I've heard others use water pistols or supersoakers to give their dogs the message.

 

I started my dogg off on a lead but he's a bit of a wuss anyway and is really scared of the girls .

[Seagazer]

Cookie is normally quite a calm girl but just over a week ago she was spayed and since then her energy levels seem to have doubled

 

I will try and take it slower with them - the girls have been so brilliant.

 

On the plus side we asked the neighbours if they had seen Butch (we were worried that she'd got over the fence). I hadn't said anything to them because I was a bit worried they would object but theysaid they love chickens. They said that their daughter wants chickens and their friends round the corner have 5 chickens. They have even offered to look after them when we go away

[Ain't Nobody Here]

they said they love chickens. They said that their daughter wants chickens and their friends round the corner have 5 chickens. They have even offered to look after them when we go away

 

Result .

[TAJ]

Our evil cat jumped on the outside edge of the run within the first 24hrs - for a week after that they made a lot of noise if he just appeared in the garden, but it did get back to 'normal' after that.

 

I would get them full use to free ranging before introducing any pets.

 

Hopefully they will recover given a bit of time.

 

Tracy

[Seagazer]

Thanks to all - think I just needed to let off steam - not sure who I am more annoyed with - husband or Cookie!!!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Thanks to all - think I just needed to let off steam - not sure who I am more annoyed with - husband or Cookie!!!

 

Supersoakers will work on husbands too .

[Seagazer]

I'm off to the shops to get one!

[WitchHazel]

Once, after I had shut the Cube pop hole for the night, I went round to the nest box to have a quick egg check. I found my ginger cat asleep on the Aubiose in there, so it was a good job I checked!

[Seagazer]

Oops - that could have been an interesting night for your hens!

 

Everytime Cookie has gone out into the garden Butch has gone back into the nesting area. Jack has just been talking to her through the "sun roof" and a big bumble bee was in there so we had a bee rescue session

[Stevie]

They will get used to having a dog around and vice versa.Try keeping her on lead and activly encouraging her to have a sniff of the chooks through the wire.Once the initial fascination has gone-you should have harmony.

[Battys]

My kids are desperate for a dog. I'm just thinking post Fox Fright that it might not be such a bad idea after all - or does it make no difference to foxes if you have a dog? On the other hand is it generally better not to have a dog and chickens?

I'm confused

[Stevie]

My kids are desperate for a dog. I'm just thinking post Fox Fright that it might not be such a bad idea after all - or does it make no difference to foxes if you have a dog? On the other hand is it generally better not to have a dog and chickens?

I'm confused

 

Dogs are a good deterent-foxes are terrified of them and males tend to scent mark everywhere which helps further.Do remember though that dogs are a long term commitment and please consider a rescue one!

[moomin]

I think a dog will deter foxes. But you would have to introduce him to the chickens gradually - a puppy would be curious and the chooks would probably see him off!!

 

We have a cat whom our chickens totally ignore and have done from day 1. Mind you he is a fat, old, lazy burmese moggy, he saunters past the Elgu run and the chooks don't cast him a glance!!

[Sunshine]

Our dog still takes lots of interest towards our chickens and we have had them for 3 months now. She goes expecially mad when someone picks one of the chickens up, not sure why though. I don't think we will ever be able to let them out together but once she has gone and woofed at them once she leaves them alone when she is in the garden.

 

Im sure if you had the paitence and willingness you could easily train your dog to leave them alone. Whereas our dog as different rules from each member of the family including going out and chasing rabbits at the weekend so unless we all send the same message of leave small animals alone she wouldn't get it. We did use water at the start though when she was even worse becasue she had never seen chickens before.

 

Its funny now though because if Poppy goes and woofs at Bossy she does this thing where she lifts her legs up to Poppys face to try and get her to leave them alone(and she does very quickly) and many time Poppy has been pecked on the nose!