New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[sparkysmum]

Hi Miss Marple, I also am very sorry about what happened, I can only imagine how you must be feeling. We're having doggie difficulties too. Our collie cross Sparky is completely obsessed and we can't leave him for a second. It is a shame as he's 11yrs old and has always had the garden to himself without restricions. Now he's not in the garden at all unless he's on a lead. Very sad for Sparx . I would also appreciate any training tips but I fear I'm going to have to timetable the garden

[WitchHazel]

So sorry to hear about Bonnie.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

We have 3 labs (full set, see below). Our black one Jess has developed distinct OCD tendencies towards the chooks. Whenever she goes outside, she bombs straight over to the eglu & either sits quivering at the eglu if a chook is inside, or stands with her nose fairly close to the run - not too close as Snowdrop has pecked her on several occasions!! She also yaps at them sometimes, not a protective bark, more a play with me yap. The other day I was changing water/food etc at stupid o'clock in the morning & looked up to see Jess with Snowdrops tail in her mouth through the run! Needless to say she got a very loud "no!" from me rapidly followed by a tirade of don't you dare/that is not acceptable etc etc! (Snowdrop sauntered off as if she's not noticed, so I assume Jess hadn't held on too tight!!)

Having spoken to a chap who trains his dogs to the gun, he has suggested that a firm "no" EVERYTIME she goes near the run will give her the idea that it's not a good thing to persecute the chooks & she'll lose interest. Day 1 seems to be a success! She was laying up by the run this evening when I got home from scouts watching the house not the chooks! Just hope DH doesn't spoil the plan, as he doesn't think we need to be so firm with her......!

 

I hope this advice might work with your boys, they are very young & should respond quite quickly to a tight regime of training, especially as they have lab in the mix.

 

Good luck, & RIP Bonnie

 

Sha x

[Taylor]

Im so sorry to hear about your ordeal. I have only kept chickens for about a year now but i know of a guy who keeps dogs, cats, chickens, rabbits, squirrels, hares and lots of other animals together. He is a vet who now runs a sanctuary for unwanted animals. He somehow manages to get all these animals to live in harmony with each other so i am sure, with time, you will manage your dogs with your chickens. He tells me that it takes hours of training though and i would imagine a lot of patience! Perhaps the dogs will have to be on leads for a while until they become accustomed to the chooks? I dont think a dog can digest a full chicken, feathers in all in such a short space on time, i wonder if she has ran off somewhere. Can you keep the dogs indoors for a while to see if she comes back? Good luck with it all!

[beach chick]

poor all of you... dont know if the following helps, but its our experience:

 

our rescue Lab was obsessed with the girls, wanted to play and ideally lick their bottoms and/or carry them round by the neck. he didnt want to hurt, but understandably, I used to worry that instinct would take over - and of course, the chooks werent that keen.

 

5 months later, our rescue coordinator came to visit with her rescue lab - who killed one of my girls. 6 days later, we lost another to the fox, while I was walking the dog.

 

so, we got some new babies. my dog was obsessed, and used to 'bulldoze' the netting down. 9 times out of 10, it was to eat the chicken food and then sleep in the run while they pecked around him. however, the other 1 time out of 10, he'd go into chase mode - fortunately never hurt any of them, but freaked them out completely.

 

our solution was electric fencing. chooks are fine. dog has had 2 nasty shocks, which is horrible and he was really traumatised - to the extent that he wouldnt walk on the grass unless I went with him. 1 week on, he's got more confident, but he will NOT go anywhere near the run...

 

I hated letting him go through that, but on the other hand it wasnt fair on the girls, and instinct is a very powerful thing.

 

good luck!

[Gamebird]

So sorry to hear about Bonnie.

 

It can work out OK. I have a labrador who does not go near the chickens but allows them to come near him. He knows he must not touch them. When we first got the chickens, every time he went near them I told him firmly NO. When he ignored them (i.e. looked at me and not them) I immediately gave him a treat. He soon came to associate the chickens with treats from me, ignored the chickens and stood by me waiting for his reward. Now it just isn't an issue.

 

It takes time and patience but worth the harmony.