Cube Mark One Run

[jeshen]

I'm getting 3 lavender pekins at the end of April (never kept chickens before). We have a 10-year-old very large golden retriever, Harry, who is v soft and good with grandchildren, but I'm just a bit concerned about how he'll react to the chickens - he's obviously never been used to having them around. Does anyone have any experience of dog/chicken relationships - especially golden retrievers?

[beach chick]

well we've got a 4 year old Lab and he would love to love the chickens. he was 1 when he came to us and we already had chickens. he is also a very gentle soul, but the combination of fluffy feathers and running around makes him think he should bring them back to mummy - hence we have an electric fence and he will not go near it.

 

I would think a 10 year old GR would be pretty good tho - lovely breed.

[coco]

I have a GSD and she is fine with the chickens, although my Huskamute thinks they are there to play with. My SIL has a flat coated retreiver and he goes in the run with her hens.

[Donna C]

I think it's down to how much work you put into it. GR are really soft and well natured but take it slow. I have choc lab who has a sniff then walks away, however his brother who visits, so isn't so used to them goes nuts.

[JS1]

I won't let my greyhounds (or any dog) near my hens but the folk down the road have mixed chickens (and ducks) and Ridgebacks with no problem. At least, there was no problem until they got a puppy....

I've had so many people say to me that their dog wouldn't chase chickens, but those fluffy little bottoms are terribly tempting.

[eve]

my golden lab is 13 this year she dosent bother with my hens.she lies in garden and they come up to her sit and free range round her.only had hens for 2yrs

[jeshen]

Thanks for this - useful! I think I'll take it slowly and see how Harry reacts when they're safely in their run. I can always let them free range when he's having a snooze indoors! Can't wait to get started!

[goodinparts]

My 3 year old golden retriever is a complete star with the chickens...warns me if they have escaped from their bit of the garden, follows them round trying to work out what delights they are finding in the grass and when it is wet sits pathetically beside their run as if to reproach me for not bringing her friends indoors. The hybrids will perch on her if she's lying on the patio in the sun, and though the bantams were a bit wary at first they've learned that she thinks of herself as an honorary chicken and are happy to allow her to be part of the flock.

 

I did spend quite a bit of time walking her round the on the lead, then petting chickens and petting her at the same time when they first arrived last summer - and it seems to have paid of handsomely. She was a bit depressed following the death of our other dog and clearly sees teh chooks as her substitute sisters.

[JS1]

The hybrids will perch on her if she's lying on the patio in the sun, and though the bantams were a bit wary at first they've learned that she thinks of herself as an honorary chicken and are happy to allow her to be part of the flock.

 

 

Aw, that's so sweet. just want to clarify what I said above. I'm not saying I don't think that dogs and chickens can mix; I just wouldn't trust, for example, my neighbour's lovely, but boisterous dog who has never met a chicken before, although my neighbour is sure he'd be just fine...

[tjandcpj]

I have a 16month old Golden Retreiver who wouldlove to chase my chickens. (He was 10 months when they arrived) When my ladies are free ranging i have to tie his lead to the washing post!! I do not think he would deliberately hurt them but he is so bouncy still that i think an accidentwiuld be likely.

 

Does your dog tend to chase things anyway? Mine is always after our cats, the pigeons on the field and squirells, i am hoping he will calm down as he gets older. As your dog is 10 years i expect he is much calmer than my nutty mut

 

Doris Mabel Nellie

[Purplemaniacs]

Hi

 

I have two labs, Poppy the black one was 4 when we first got chooks and intitially I kept her on a lead when they were FRing but now she is fine with them, takes no notice. The younger silver one Millie who is now two is just as silly and bouncy as a little pup, I would not trust her when the chooks are out I think the temptation to catch them would be too great!!

 

I would say try but on a lead and see what your dogs reaction is. I would not leave Poppy out with the chooks on her own although I am sure they would be ok, it is always a slight risk as you can never really be sure

 

Chrissie

[lolimac]

Hi,

Our wonderful old goldie (Duggleby) was 13 years old when we got our first chooks and there was nothing he loved more than basking in the sun with the girls walking all over him and scratching his back.Sadly we lost him 2 years ago We now have 2 goldie pups who have been great with the chooks from the start.Dogs and girls follow each other around the house and garden,it's lovely whatching them together.We got 4 more chickens 2 wks ago who haven't yet been FR but this weekend it's wing clipping time a nd they can join the gang.Obviously we will keep a close whatch over all of them but i'm sure they will all be fine.As far as i'm concerned you can't go far wrong with a golden but ofcourse i'm just a bit biased .

[Blackrocksrock]

Our rescue lab aged 10 has been here for 4 weeks - the first week she dived at the girls and consequently they are now called LEAVE IT she is fine now but wants to sniff them! - they have had dogs before and are not worried at all!