training Dogs with new hens.......

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Got our 4 ex-batts last sunday,and started the dogs training as soon as we got home.We're lucky and have 7 dogs,5 Whippets and 2 terriers.Sunday and monday were relatively easy,the hens were shut in their house and run,so the hens could see and smell the dogs,and the dogs could see and smell the hens.I could supervise them all well,praising the chickens for being brave,and being firm with the dogs to be gentle as my 3 younger ones can be boisterous.
Tuesday came,with lovely sunny weather,and the hens were all asking to come out of the run.So I decided there was no time like the present,and went on with closer contact training.
First,I shut 4 of my younger dogs into a dog cage,it is in my lounge,with the door open so the dogs can go in and out as they please.When they want peace and quiet they do take themselves off to bed :) .
My house is a 'modern' naff design,the back door to my garden is in my lounge,lovely to see the garden,but dogs,kids etc walk allsorts of debris in.Also,as I often have the back door open(even when I'm out)winds blow dust,dirt and leaves etc in.
With the other 3 dogs peacefully sleeping,floor,couch,chair,I brought the 4 hens in.Sat each 1 on my lap briefly,then popped them on the floor.the hens did look a bit stunned,the dogs looked horrified :D .
After a short while,the hens seemed less stressed/shocked,they wandered round,tried out dog beds,drank from the dogs water bowl etc.My whippets just completely ignored them,allowing the hens to approach and inspect them,which they did.
The 4 dogs I'd shut in the cage,were desperately trying to get out.Couldn't quite believe the hens were in their house :lol: .When these 4 had calmed down,and were lying quietly,I allowed them out,3 came straight out.My smallest terrier,stayed in the cage,she was trembling and wanted to come out,but,Chicky hen was stood in the cage doorway,and the dog was too scared to walk past her.I left them to it,the dog needed to pluck up the courage to walk past the hen.The other 3 were busy sniffing the hens,but,being very carefull and cautious.
The hens stayed in the house for a couple of hours,exploring,checking stuff out etc. and the dogs were fine.I then put the hens back into their run and shut them up for the night.

Obviously,it is still too soon, to not supervise how they are interacting,but I'm very pleased so far.This morning,as soon as I let the hens out,Chicky came straight into the lounge,and,has spent most of the day indoors.The others have all popped in and out,Chicky pops out for a quick forage,maybe some sunbathing,but then comes back in,eventually settling on the chair where I'm sure she would have stayed for the night,if I hadn't taken her outside,back to the hen house.
So far,so good,hopefully this will last.
 
It sounds so lovely, you must have very good dogs & very calm chickens!
I always thought terriers wouldn't be good around anything they perceive as fair game. I have a mad Bichon (we kind of took her over from a friend when our old dog died, she came to stay & never went home! ) We can't get her used to the chooks, she goes up to the wire of the run & barks at them, poor things, she can't get used to them at all, consequently we keep them well apart.
 
Yes, our dog has killed and would do so again if she had the chance. I always try to get people to socialise puppies with chickens at an early age when they will usually just accept the hens as part of the family but introducing them like that... wow I'm impressed! It sounds like one of those 'Don't try this at home' moments!

Well done!

Tim
 
DSC00486_edited.jpgI have a 15 year old Border collie - Daisy and a 9 year old English Springer Spaniel - Tilly, they are fantastic with our chooks. We have 20 free ranging birds, who go and do as they like! Including come in the house if the back door is left open! Broodys always climb onto Daisy's back when she is laying down, I have a great photo I must post!
Just knowing your dog and what it is saying by the look on its face, we have only kept chickens for the past 3 years, and the dogs have been fantastic.
 
Today has also gone well.I think because my hens are ex-batts,they don't realise that dogs are potential predators.Two of my dogs though,do want the chooks to play with them.So they do play bows etc to the chooks,they then usually get pecked on their noses for being a nuisance :o :D .

I don't know if I'll ever leave the chooks and dogs together unsupervised though,it doesn't take a second for a dogs hunting instinct to kick in,which would be annihalation for the chooks.Also,if the dogs have a few moments of wild play,they could trample a chook or startle it so much,that in fear/panic it runs into something solid.
I am very pleased though,it is lovely weather this week,so I've spent a lot of time outside with the chooks and dogs.Watching them interact with each other,and me.

Although it might seem hard that your Bichon barks at your chooks Lucylou,maybe she sees them as a threat.She is probably telling the chooks that if they attack her or you,she will deal with them as well as alerting you to the fact that they are there.She may have done it for long enough now to just be a habit.Bichon's are lovely dogs,I've met some really lovely ones and I expect yours is as well.

That pic of your collie and chook sazzblue is lovely,a real gem.

It would definitely be easier to get puppies used to chooks,especially with the chooks i've got....they would only have to peck a pup once or twice and I think the pup would know to leave well alone.
 
I recall the ex batts I took in as being fearless of all the dogs/cats/horses/pigs. As you said, they have no concept of predators or anything else really. They really never reacted in the same way as my other chooks.

All my pure breeds have a natural awareness and are alert and will squawk/flap/run away from things that startle them or chase them. That's when I've usually seen dogs then start to chase, which even if playing, can turn in a moment.

I've had 2 dogs I trusted totally with chooks but I'd never leave them unsupervised totally, although would be in the house while they sat outside or some such. But not go out and leave them together. However we had 7 acres and the chooks would often be off somewhere else and the dogs tended to stay closer to home. But they never ever tried to play with the chooks either. The ones who play (or stalk, look overly interested) concern me more than the ones that generally don't. My most recent dog, Eric is a whippet and he has killed one cockerel of mine and also caught one of my others but I rescued her and she was fine apart from feathers missing. He didn't set out to kill I am sure, but the cockerel got out from the large run, Eric was in the garden and I wasn't. By the time I found him the cockerel was dead and Eric was throwing him round and then running to pick him up again. He hadn't ripped in to him, just mouthed and pulled out feathers. He was still treating him as a game, even though dead.

Dogs that want to kill generally behave differently from how Eric behaved. His was play that had an unfortunate end.

Have the hens not crapped in the house or on your furniture yet? :o I let mine in the kitchen, one likes the sofa (and my feet) but I try to keep them from coming in too much these days because of my son and the dog. Also one or two coming in a bit are fine, but lots leaves a hell of a mess.

I do recall my old rescue hens used to like the kitchen door mat as it was a nice sunny spot. A few pics attached

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Oh wow... would you let me use that 2nd photo in an article (with due credit given) on the poultrykeeper site Snifter?

That is a fantastic photo, I love it 8-)

I wish I could take photos like that. They all look SO relaxed...

Tim
 
snifter said:
I recall the ex batts I took in as being fearless of all the dogs/cats/horses/pigs. As you said, they have no concept of predators or anything else really. They really never reacted in the same way as my other chooks.

All my pure breeds have a natural awareness and are alert and will squawk/flap/run away from things that startle them or chase them. That's when I've usually seen dogs then start to chase, which even if playing, can turn in a moment.

I've had 2 dogs I trusted totally with chooks but I'd never leave them unsupervised totally, although would be in the house while they sat outside or some such. But not go out and leave them together. However we had 7 acres and the chooks would often be off somewhere else and the dogs tended to stay closer to home. But they never ever tried to play with the chooks either. The ones who play (or stalk, look overly interested) concern me more than the ones that generally don't. My most recent dog, Eric is a whippet and he has killed one cockerel of mine and also caught one of my others but I rescued her and she was fine apart from feathers missing. He didn't set out to kill I am sure, but the cockerel got out from the large run, Eric was in the garden and I wasn't. By the time I found him the cockerel was dead and Eric was throwing him round and then running to pick him up again. He hadn't ripped in to him, just mouthed and pulled out feathers. He was still treating him as a game, even though dead.

Dogs that want to kill generally behave differently from how Eric behaved. His was play that had an unfortunate end.

Have the hens not crapped in the house or on your furniture yet? :o I let mine in the kitchen, one likes the sofa (and my feet) but I try to keep them from coming in too much these days because of my son and the dog. Also one or two coming in a bit are fine, but lots leaves a hell of a mess.

I do recall my old rescue hens used to like the kitchen door mat as it was a nice sunny spot.


I do agree with you Snifter,dogs do not always realise that their play will harm/kill the other pet they are playing with.
My dogs are a lot better with the hens,the novelty must be wearing off ;) ,but,Rusty my Staffie does want to play which I am discouraging.
I'm not going to take the chance,whilst I'm able to supervise,great,if I cant,I'm not going to leave my dogs and chooks unsupervised.
I've also started a new routine for all of them.When I wale up,I am letting the dogs out first,obv to go to toilet etc.Then I get them back in the house whist I let the chooks out.I am then taking the younger dogs for their walk.When they get back,they have their breakfast.It does seem to be helping,as it is first thing in the morning that my dogs are most excited,they are full of the joys of spring.....despite the nip in the air :D .
My biggest worry is Chirpy and Rusty,Chirpy does try to tell Rusty off,she rushes at him,wings slightly open and tries to peck his nose.Rusty thinks this a new and exciting game :? .
I spoke with his breeder this morning,as I need to stop this behaviour now.She is excellent,fully agrees with me and gave me some usefull tips.If I don't get on top of it this week,within a few days actually,Chirpy will be going to live with my sister :( ,and her chooks.I do think that I can get Rusty to stop winding Chirpy up.

As for chicken poop in my lounge...... :oops: ,er,just say I'm getting to be an excellent 'pooh picker' :lol: :? .
 
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