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

[debbier]

I'm currently at the planning stage before making the final leap to get the chooks, although my OH has agreed to the idea (though thinks I'm mad!).

 

Anyway, I have a border terrier who often barks at things in our garden (like pigeons!). She occasionaly runs down our garden at night, barking at something, maybe a cat or fox, I can't tell in the dark. Might this upset sleeping chickens in an eglu?

 

Also, I can imagine her going mental barking at them through the wire when she's in the garden. I may have to consider fencing off the bottom of my garden, I think, though wasn't wanting to do this unless absolutely necessary.

 

The last thing I want is to have permanently worried chooks.

[quickcluck]

Strangely enough the noise wont worry them at all!!!

 

Initially they will have to get used to each other which can take time. There's been many a thread on here about dogs....

 

I put mine on a lead to start with and the girls did fly about and sqwark very loudly. Then I started the 'water pistol' therapy and shot him every time he bark with a stern 'NO'

 

Now they are absolutely fine. He did know when I'd snuk 2 newbie in tho a few weeks ago and we had a minor relapse, but only for a day or so.

 

So Don't worry!!!!!

[Budgies]

It's amazing what the chickens can get used to. I'd make the introductions early on, as they have so many new things to adapt to when they first come to you that you may as well include it then!

 

I'm sure it won't bother them

 

My neighbour once set off some fireworks, on their side of the fence but no further than about 6 feet from the chickens' run. I was fuming that they hadn't warned us (I'd have brought the girls inside in a cardboard box) but the girls were absolutely fine and didn't even squawk!

[AnnieP]

My two dogs bark, jump and generally try to annoy the chooks. However, the girls do not seem bothered in the slightest. Its as if they know they are safe in their run.

[Sky]

My two Jack Russells do a mad dash down the garden every night barking loudly but it doesn't seem to bother my girls at all and the dogs go closely past the chicken house on their way Once the hens are used to the dogs they don't seem to worry at all.

[Jennyhenny]

My terrier runs to the bottom of the garden every night when I let her out for a wee barking like mad but the girls have took no notice . I was very worried about this at first and walked around the garden like their was a baby in the house just in case I disturbed them but its now approx. 5 weeks and I'm quite relaxed now, mind you they have that many blankets on to keep them nice and quiet in a morning they probably don't even know Im there

 

Jennyhenny

[Sunshine]

Your dog sounds like mine regarding woofing at animals. My dog woofs at the chickens frequently for short bursts(until she is told to be quiet!) Anyway the chickens used to flap about when she did it but now 2 of them sqaure up to her and have a go at her back! Its very funny to watch. So no they don't seem bothered. Our chickens seem more bothered by the wind that the dog barking at them.

 

When we first got chickens we used a water pistol to squirt the dog when she barked at the chickens and she did improve massively. So now she goes out has a bark once at them and then leaves them alone. We have let them out once together in the garden and it was ok but its not a regular occurance like other forum members have managed to achieve(with a dog that regulary kills rabbits, squirrels and rats its not really possible or fair on her to flaunt the chickens in front of her nose!)

 

I definately don't think barking in the evening when the chickens are sleeping will be a problem. Chickens go very calm/dozy(best time to handle them when you first get them) when they are roosting and ours don't seem bothered by it-not sure how you would tell though.

 

Getting chickens is definately worth it and they won't be constantly worried!

[debbier]

Many thanks for all the replies: it's been very reassuring, especially from the terrier owners: sounds like it's a common trait! I'll let you know how she gets on.

[Abbey Road Girl]

I got my hens in April last year, debbier without thinking what they might suffer on Guy Fawkes Night (adjacent to the common where it would all be set off) and the fireworks leading up to and following after it, in both cases for months.

 

And I certainly didn't know that there would be a collapse of sewers behind my house which has meant that for most of the year there has been horrendous banging and clanging and roaring of equipment.

 

Chickens are not unflappable--right? But mine flapped when I brought a wee small egg collecting basket with me (oooh! it could kill us all!) but don't seem to bat an eye over huge noisy machine monsters just over the fence.

 

Of course I would rather that my lovely girlies would be able to live their lives in a state of tranquility--that is more or less what I had planned for them. But they are indeed pretty sturdy. I hope that helps you, debbier.

[Guest]

Hi

I have a killer cocker spaniel....my new chickens only had a few weeks with my 5 chickens total all about 19 weeks old when i got them.

 

What I did was let him have a LOOK only for a few minutes..he couldnt get them and they did jump and hop but on the whole took it all in their stride. He didnt stress them at all

 

I decided it was best to introduce dog so THEY got use to mad dog early on.

 

I only use to put him back indoors straight away as he would whine at them through the mesh & I couldnt stand the whinning.( I did put him on his lead a couple of times as he drove me mad not the chickens)

 

Well as the days went on he was allowed out for longer periods with them and my bluebelle actually fronts him up at the mesh..she has pecked him once.

 

In the evening midnight when he gets let out for his final business..he tears off down the garden in full howling screaming mode and I dont hear a peep from the ...if you didnt know better you would think i had sedated the birds!

 

He does whizz round and would love to eat them all up...I would nt trust him at all ..probably if i had introduced him as a puppy to them I would be ok(my sisters puppy jack russell gets on really well with chickens and loves going in their nest but that is I guess unusual as her other terriers are killers too)

 

So dont worry short bursts for both sides...the chickens will just think its normal for mad dog

 

good luck indie