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[Timmy]

Hi, i have just got 2 chickens , i already have one massive friendly giant dog (he woudnt hurt a fly) but today he wanted to play with my 15 week old girls and started circling the eglo (in a nice way) poor marmite and marmalade were shocked and ran back inside my dog - storm was puzzled and then walked off.

 

Could this scared them from Storm forever or will they ever learn to live in harmony.

 

Any additional comments on other animals and pets would be welcomed happily.

[The Bantam of the Opera]

My story is completely the opposite. I have a very lovely and freidnly "Ooops, word censored!"zu/toy poodle called smudge and she is good with animals, doesnt attack anyo of them but we got teh chickens and i let her out into the garden to have a sniff and see what she made of thema nd the chickens chased her all teh way down the garden. Poor smudge even got a peck on teh side and she wont go in the garden anymore. shes terrified of them poor thing.

[Snowy]

Take it slowly and let them get used to each other through the fence first. Eventually they do settle down. My westie terrier free ranges with the chooks, but if he shows too much interest in them he gets his nose pecked

[chelsea]

Give it time and as they get used to each other they will become friends.

 

My big german shepherd HATES cats or anything fluffy, but she never batted an eye lid at the chooks, she and the chickens can sit right next to each other without fear - they even share the same food/eat at the same time - im very lucky.

 

It says in my chicken encyclopedia that some "shepherd" types of dogs (collies etc) can become "great protector of chickens".

 

Fingers crossed you will have a happy furry/fluffy family soon.

[little chickadee]

Just keep an eye. My dog seems to want to eat our chooks even though she's best friends with the cats - we keep them separated with the omlet type soft netting if they're allowed to free range. I think it really depends on the dog, but don't leave them alone together unless you're sure.

[Tessa the Duchess]

My dog really likes the chickens. She v.occasionaly chases them and they all bok bok at her and run away, quite funny to watch When they are out she sneaks into their run and drinks out of the glug she also regards chicken poo as a snack but then she's always been a dog that regards water in the toilet as champagne

 

Tessa

[MaggieMcHen]

My 9 month old labrador pup free ranges with the hens. Only problem - he eats their droppings, and will pinch their cabbage, cauliflower, bird seed, layers pellets or anything else he thinks is edible.

At least when he is with them the fox and other local predators don't even think about it

Maggie

[chicklit]

I'm glad to say that I have been really lucky too when it comes to my dog's accepting the chickens in their garden. I have two westie terriers and at first I kept them separate in the garden with the dogs getting aquainted with the chooks through the run wire. When we had had the chooks for about two weeks I decided to let them and the dogs into the garden together and see what happened. I must admit that I was really surprised because the dogs took no notice at all of the chickens. The chooks now come into the kitchen and drink out of the dog's water bowl at the same time as the dogs.

 

My Persian cat Thomas, however was very curious and wanted to know what these strange creatures were. At first he just sat and watched them and then one day, when they were free ranging, Thomas went into the Eglu run and then into the Eglu and had a good look round. Since then he hasn't bothered with them at all, he obviously decided that they were okay.

 

I must add though, that I never completely trust the dogs when the chooks are around and I am always there to supervise when they are together. I have only had my chickens for five weeks but I am very fond of them and would not take any chances with their health and welfare. I would hate anything to happen to them.

 

I hope your dog gradually comes round to accepting your new arrivals because it does make life easier if you do not continually have to keep them apart.

 

Brenda

[jsbates65]

i have a Rottweiler, chinese Crested, a lab mix and another mixed dog. . .they love the chickens. One of my favorite things is the fact the neighbors and people driving by are shocked when they see four dogs and two chickens hanging out together.

However I did raise my girls from chicks and they were around them then. . .that may make a difference. If I had dumped a full grown chicken in my backyard it could have been totally different.

 

I am trying to introduce a little silkie chicken with my girls now and I'm suprised how vicious the chickens can be with her but they are totally fine with the dogs, the cats. . .run up to visit neighbors at the fence. Everyone else they are totally cool with. . .

 

They just don't like other chickens? It's a bird thing I guess. . .

[superjules]

It sounds like your dog is just checking them out although some dogs will always see chickens as a potential meal. From what I've read and people I've spoken to, terriers and hounds are the riskiest types of breeds, but as with people, dogs are individuals and they are all different.

 

On the first day we had the chooks, our 2year old Springer fully tested the fox-proofness of the run, even jumping on top of it! The first time I let them all out together the girls stood up to him and he now knows the true meaning of the term "hen-pecked"! He had a few soakings with the hose in the beginning too. They get on ok now, (the chooks even crouch for him !) although he occasionally chases them when the urge becomes too much for him as he's a very excitable dog! I don't fully trust him with them and I'm sure if one was a bit poorly and weak he'd have her in a heartbeat.

[BeckyBoo]

Hi Timmy, what sort of massive dog have you got - we've got a mastiff cross who's very friendly and can now be let out when the chooks are free ranging. It took a while and I don't completely trust her, every so often she herds them round the garden at top speed (chasing them really! ) so has to be called in, but then she's only 6 months. Give them a while to get used and never leave them alone. Ours is like Tessa the Duchess - loves chicken poo, it's like a secret snack that she knows she's not allowed so wolfs it down at every opportunity!

[CatsCube]

I think sometimes the hens dont know what the dog intentions are, so being circled seems to imply trying to break in!

 

I dog sit my mums dog who is very gentle, when we used to keep pet rats she used to lick them to play! When I first introduced her to my girls I did it while they were freeranging, she they just saw her meekly pottering around and could see she wasnt trying to circle them or go bounding over, but could make a dash for the run if they felt like it. They just pretty much ignored her, and she went and sniffed their bums a bit (not just other dogs) then she was more interested in sniffing round their run woodchip for lots of interesting smells.

 

Is she a very lively dog, cause this might put them on edge? I would suggest trying to have them freeranging and go out with your dog holding on to her collar and let her watch for a bit and let the chickens come over to her and check her out, perhaps enticing them over with some treats, should make introductions easier.

[sandiemay86]

Dogs and chickens for me equal perfect harmony!!

I have a 2 year old Rottweiler and a 4 year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Two months ago we decided to get two pekin bantam hens...my dogs are soooo friendly but I thought I would keep an eye on them, but the dogs took to them straight away, both dogs are girls and immediately accepted them as their babies.

Unfortunately one of the 'hens' turned out to be a cockerel ...the breeder had apparently sexed them, but Lenny was definitely a rooster, I had my suspicions from when he was only about two weeks old.

Two weeks ago I found another breeder to take Lenny as we live in the suburbs therefore sadly couldn't keep him...being on the understanding that we would swap him with one of the hens he had. I went looking for a pekin bantam but came back with a rather large fully grown hybrid layer!

I put her on the living room floor and the dogs immediately came to give her a good sniffing...Lilly (as she is now known) didn't bat an eyelid...she obviously didn't sense any sort of danger! Within a few minutes she strolled into the kitchen and plonked herself quite comfortably on the dogs food bowl...a sure sign of dominance, i thought....the dogs just looking on at her.

Now came the time to introduce the Cat....not so smoothly, Lilly squawked as I placed Boo (the cat) next to her, hmmm I thought not a match made in heaven. Bedtime came and I put Lilly to bed in her hen house....Morning came and Lilly had escaped and outside the patio doors was Lilly and Boo standing next to one another wanting to come in, they both flew through the door as soon as I opened it...and ever since they have been fine together.

Pups our Staffie has adopted our approx 9 week chick (HENry...see the pun?!) and allows HENry to bury herself under her and go to sleep...perfect warmth!

Rosie (Rottie) and Lilly are the terrible twosome, they get into mischief with one another...often digging holes , and when I gave rose a bone yesterday there was Rose eating from one end and Lilly pecking from the other...I swear I could make a living from 'You've been framed' if I had recorded everything from the last few weeks!

 

The chickens (and dogs) roam free during the day and today...whilst packing (I'm moving house) I heard Rose squealing and barking and ran downstairs as I new something wasn't right, and she was staring at the patio...I couldn't understand what was up until I heard a faint tweeting and realised HENry had somehow got stuck under the patio (there must be a hole somewhere???), we had to lift the patio slabs and out popped a rather dirty little chick...Rosie the Rottweiler A LIFESAVER.

 

As I look now they are all snuggled asleep on the sofas (which are going to the tip at the end of the week when I move, so the poop won't matter too much ) and I haven't the heart to throw Lilly and HENry outside...luckily hubby is staying at the new house else I would be in trouble!!

[cutechic]

Well what a wonderful story Sandie I doubt its often you kind of get that good a relationship between dog and chicken

Mine r okay together, great dane wants to play with them tho but no nastyness from either dane or collie but I must say not quite as a contented relationship as yours have

Tina

x

[littleleicesterfox]

After a couple of hours I let my dogs go over and check the hens out in their run yesterday and although they now 'bok bok' at them a bit when they go over they aren't bothered really.

 

I took two small animal carriers, like these, over to collect the chooks yesterday.

 

 

I let the hens out and then put them, without the front doors, on the lawn behind me and didn't think too much about it. I turned around about five minutes later to find my bigger cavalier shoved right into one with his bottom sticking out stuffing chicken poo into his mouth!

 

Daft dog

[hanson]

Thought I would share my experiences.

 

I have a very large but loving 3 year old Rottweiler. At first, I introduced them to each other, with the chickens behind the safety of the eglu and he jumped up and down and around them - having never seen them before (we've had him since 8 weeks old), he was quite excited. After doing that for a while, I let the chickens free range whilst the dog was on a lead and gradually got him closer and closer to them so he could smell them and get to understand what good behaviour and bad behaviour was around them.

 

Within 2 weeks I felt comfortable enought to allow them to free range the garden together and it's great. They peck him and he ignores them. He protects them from foxes and knows instinctively when a fox is in the garden. The other day, the chickens were making a lot of noise, crowing away and he was howling along with them (the first time I have ever heard him howl!). He also eats their poo's which means less picking-up for me!

 

I realise I'm very lucky but think factors like breed, general instincts and training all play their part!

[Woodcat]

For me dogs +chicken= two cowering cocker spaniels. Plus three terrifed cats. The chooks are top animal in the garden and god help anything that challenges that. Once they even nicked the dog's bone and all the dog did was come crying to me......