Small garden

[sheena]

I'm still having trouble with my dog's and the chooks. Had the girl's almost 2 months now (my it has flown past) and they still curious as to what is going on behind the 4ft fence that keeps the dogs off the lawn.

So I thought if I got a couple of chicks they might eventually calm down, but that has been unsuccessful so far.

Guess they will never get used to them being there. But I can't get rid of either dogs or chooks.

[pdblake]

Been told dogs or chooks, not both

No fresh eggs for brekky then

It's odd, originally it was the wife who wanted chooks and me who kept saying no. Then we went on holiday in a static caravan and one of the kids found a toy, rubber egg under her bed. For some reason I packed it when we left. When we got home and unpacked I found this egg and though 'Hmm, that'd make a good dummy egg for some chickens', and immediately drew up some plans for a coop and run.


In other words, hold out, she might change her mind.

[pdblake]

I'm still having trouble with my dog's and the chooks. Had the girl's almost 2 months now (my it has flown past) and they still curious as to what is going on behind the 4ft fence that keeps the dogs off the lawn.

So I thought if I got a couple of chicks they might eventually calm down, but that has been unsuccessful so far.

Guess they will never get used to them being there. But I can't get rid of either dogs or chooks.

Whenever I go in the run our dog starts yelping from the patio. She sounds terrified sometimes. I swear she thinks they're going to eat me (the way they go at their greens like a plague of locusts she might be right).

She's normally really placid, but very protective, and is getting better (down to a whine now), but I'm glad I strengthed that run.

[RichmondHens]

Dogs will chase (and sometimes kill) chickens given half a chance. We had some building done a couple of years ago at our old house and one of the guys brought his dog along every day. Apart from leaving piles of poo everywhere (I was NOT happy) it also chased and caught one of my best Light Sussex bantams and nearly killed her. It ripped all the feathers off her back, poor little thing. Another dog came in from the footpath (across the road) and ran uncontrolled round the garden ignoring its owner and just missed getting hold of another hen. I was furious.

I know some dogs (if brought up with chickens) are fine with hens, but I guess it's always going to be risky.

[Suechooks]

Dogs will chase (and sometimes kill) chickens given half a chance.
I know some dogs (if brought up with chickens) are fine with hens, but I guess it's always going to be risky.

I quite agree RH. My dogs are never allowed near the chooks - the chooks are on the lottie so not too difficult. I keep remembering the awful massacre that happened at Little Hen Rescue a while ago when 2 dogs got at the rescue hens - made harrowing reading.

[jbalmer]

I have a staffy who goes in the garden when im there, the chooks rule to roost and peck his bum. The girls are the bosses, he is the one who runs away!.

[Hilary B]

Just about any dog will chase things that run away (training may make a difference). What doesn't run is less appealing. Quite a lot of dogs are totally bemused by 'prey' types which are not afraid.

[frias]

My mum and her dog often stay with me. After the having a small woof the first time she saw the girls, the dog now ignors them. She is a well trained guide dog though and I'm not sure I want to leave them completely alone and put her to the test. If the girls were startled by something the dog might also become excited.