Chicken bald back

[mrsatroy]

Just wondering what peoples feelings/thoughts are on having a dog and keeping hens (not all together). I have 7 girls that live in a cube in an area of the garden fenced off with omlet netting and posts with wire. We would love to get a dog and have been considering it for a long time. We would adopt a rescue dog as I think they deserve a loving home. I would prefer to rehome a dog around a year or 2 old and not a puppy. I recently spoke to a lady in a rescue centre and she seemed to think we could offer a great home but her biggest concern would be my hens. She said that any dog is going to perceive them as something to chase and that I could end up in trouble. As such the dog would never be in the area of the garden unsupervised but also the omlet netting would easily be breached very quickly by a determined dog. Is it possible with some training and positive reinforcement to have everyone living in relative harmony?? Anyones experience or thoughts would be much appreciated! My biggest concern was previously my 2 old cats as I know they'll have hissy fits with a canine in the house!

[Patricia W]

We have a dog and chickens (and a cat). The dog is never left unsupervised with the chickens but can be off lead when they are out. In actual fact, I've had to protect both dog and cat from being chased by the chickens!

 

If I had a new dog, I'd slowly introduce them keeping the dog on the lead all the time. As I say, I never leave them together unless I'm around to intervene.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

It all depends on the temperament of the dog, really. I have a rescue dog but we had him before we got the hens. He's a soppy boy and is actually scared of them after getting a well aimed peck on the nose . I can leave him unsupervised with them now (he is very elderly now so isn't really interested anyway!)

 

I would say it shouldn't be a problem if you introduce the dog slowly to the hens. You should keep him/her on a lead at the beginning till you see how he/she reacts to them.

[Princess Leia]

Echo the above. Our greyhound is fine with the chicken and also with the rabbit (which you wouldn't expect). He's a rescue and was "cat tested" at the home before he came to us.

[Grandmashazzie]

As said I think it very much depends on dog.I have 2 labs who are not in the slightest bit interested in chickens and a miniature schnauzer who is.The schnauzer came about 2 months before chickens and was never fussed about them until she became fully grown.Now I dare not leave her out as she chases them and tries to grab their feet,she has succeeded in jumping on top of one when being supervised,chicken was none the worse.I think it is their nature to chase small things.Were they ratters in Germany???

[gavclojak]

As per everyone else:) I think it is dependant on the dog, slow introductions are a must, the fact you get the dog after the girls will probably help as they will be part of the new home from the get go. I have two little griffons who potter around the garden with the girls and they take no notice at all, in fact my dogs usually lay on the patio and watch the girls and I think are quite protective!

My dogs are very neurotic and me and all my friends thought they would be a nightmare when I got the girls but they have accepted them wonderfully,

[Chortle Chook]

I have four rescue dogs who all now walk very easily through my garden where my chooks and wee ducks are free ranging. Two are greyhounds, one a saluki and one a terrier x spaniel.

 

I have a lot of friends with greyhounds and they all happily lead their dogs through the midst of my chooks with no problem. In fact it seems that greyhounds are just not interested in birds at all (I also have 2 doves) so long as they don't flap under their noses.

 

The saluki was a different matter and had to have more concerted training. He likes to please and now just looks straight ahead when they are around his feet but I'd never trust him on his own with them.

 

The terrier x spaniel can be left totally unsupervised and loves to get right in the hen house and eat out of the Grub However this seems to be rare as most dogs that have presented Omleteers with problems seem to have been terriers

[The Dogmother]

I have two hunting lurchers, because I work them, they have very high prey drives, so I wouldn't leave them with the chickens fro one moment as their instinct is to chase down and kill anything that flaps or runs. I could stock train them, but there's not really any need as they only go out in the garden when the chickens are in the run.

 

I would be very careful, and if in any doubt, I wouldn't let the dog be alone with the chickens, or keep it on the lead.

[kentuckyfried]

We now have a beautiful cavapoo puppy. This morning I took him on his lead to go and visit the chickens for the first time, and he got a bit curious and stuck his nose into the run.

Green Chicken then came over and gave him a peck on the nose. He yelped and stepped back.

So, he is now scared of his shadow, my drum kit and the chickens

 

lets hope he doesn't get curious like that with the bees

[mrsatroy]

Thanks So much everyone for all your replies. I thinnk you have all reinforced what I have previously thought - with supervision, slow introductions and postive reinforcment hen and dogs can co-exisist. We are hoping to meet a lab x rescue dog this weekend to see if she would suit our needs - she is in a foster home with a dog and a cat so at least she'll accept my 2 cats. If only I could say the same about my cats they are going to have meltdowns when the dog possibly arrives but hopefully it'll settle!

[Chortle Chook]

I'm sure all will be fine if you give your new dog some time and patience and congratulations for taking a rescue dog when so many need homes

[daxigirl]

I've got a whippet and 2 sausages dogs and they're totally fine with my chooks. They're all scared of the big girls and won't be in the garden at the same time if they're having a free range but they will come out to bimble about with the littluns.

 

It just depends on the chook/dog mix and how you react. Best of luck. (Woody sausage is a rescue)

[Lavenders_Blue]

Agree with all of the above - it very much depends on the dog. My dog sadly killed two of our hens and we had to completely rebuild the run to make it dog proof. The dog does not go out in the garden if we are working in the run, as she is crafty and will wait until we open the run door and rush in. She can go in the garden unsupervised, but she knows she can't get to the hens now, so largely ignores them.

However, as you can see, plenty of Omleteers have dogs who are completely trustworthy with the hens.

I think you just need to be prepared for it to go either way.

[sevenoceans]

I have a jack Russell who would chase anything that flaps or runs away (he had caught a pheasant on a farm and pigeons in my garden) he was 4 when I got first group of chickens, they invaded his personal space aka the garden which he was very territorial about! After months of introduction, positive reinforcement, and strong leash! He's now 7 and I completely trust him in the garden, he treats them as one of his friends...

[kajlbw]

Ive got a Border Terrier and a Lab. We've got electric poultry netting and after one zap on the fence each neither of the dogs will even look at the hens now!

[jeshen]

I was very wary when we first got our girls. Harry (golden retriever) was then 10 and had a liking for chasing squirrels or cats. At first I kept him on a lead in the garden, which he was quite miffed about. Gradually he accepted that they were part of the garden furniture. Now, three years later, I completely trust him. He sunbathes on the decking or the lawn while Mr Darcy and his girls free range round him, completely unafraid. In fact, they appear to be good friends! I'm convinced that Harry would protect them if another dog frightened them. I remember my father saying that animals seem to sense that they're in the same family as the humans they're with. However, I realise that Harry's now an elderly gentleman. A young Jack Russell might be a very different kettle of fish!

[Chortle Chook]

That's a lovely picture you conjure up jeshen Sun bathing hmm - can I remember such a time?