redinator
Songster
I'm just getting started with raising chickens, but I've been a dog owner my whole life and have had a few cats too (they adopted me, as cats do). I was a bit unsure about diving into chicken keeping since I have two dogs. One of them is Brutus, a senior rescue dog we've had for a little over a year. He can be a bit stubborn and not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's a sweet lap dog and my constant companion. Then there's Daisy, my Husky/Chihuahua mix, who is almost 4 now and I've had her since she was 6 months old.
I had a feeling Brutus would be fine around the chickens; I wasn't even sure if he'd pay them any mind or just think they were some unusual dog breeds (I was right, he does not care). Daisy, however, is a different story. She's all about chasing squirrels and has caught a chicken before (just a mouthful of feathers, and the chicken was okay, it belonged to a friend) so I had me reservations.
Before I moved forward I needed to make sure I had a plan B in case things didn't work out and I couldn't keep the chickens. I called a friend (the same friend that the chicken belonged) that had raised chickens previously and lost their flock to predators (my dog was not the predator). I knew he'd secured his yard better since then and has a few ducks and a goose. He said he'd be happy to take them, and wished me luck with a bit of a sarcastic tone.
Now the adventure begins. I decided it would be best to hatch from eggs because I realized Daisy would need time to get used to these new little creatures wandering around HER yard. I also have a theory: if the chicks are familiar with her, they’re less likely to run away, which means she won’t feel the urge to chase them. So, I ordered a batch of eggs and placed them in the incubator. Over the 21-day (actually 23) incubation period, I played various chicken sounds, including recordings of chicks peeping, on and off leading up to the hatch. On the first day, she was very curious, panting and trying to locate the sounds. After a few days, she would just perk up her ears and settle back down. When the chicks began to hatch, I played the audio clips again, so when the real chicks started peeping, she wouldn’t think much of it.
During a span of 4 to 5 hours, a few of the eggs had started to pip, but none had hatched just yet. When I could tell a chick was about to hatch, I let her watch. She was squirming and did a little bit of whining with anticipation. When the first chick emerged and started flailing around, she lunged at the brooder. I saw it coming so I was prepared and gave a thump on the head, told her "NO," sternly and made her leave the room. After about ten minutes I let her back in the room and she just sat and watched them hatch, no whining, no lunging, just observing. When each new chick stopped flailing around, she’d lay back down and relax. I tried to go play with her outside for a bit, but she just peed and went back in to check on the chicks. As I watched this unfold in front of me, I realized this might actually work, she may not eat them.
I still had my reservations though so my guard was still up. After two days of her watching me handle the chicks and her being by my side, curious but not obsessive, I decided to let her get a look and sniff. I had her sit and I leaned down with the calmest chick I have, to my surprise and with no further instruction from me, she laid down and rolled over. I could've kissed this dog (but I had a delicate chick in my hands that needed tending to)! Once I put the chick away, I showered her with praise and kisses! I have decided not to give treats or play with toys during this process because I don't want either associated with the chicks.
Ok, I'm no fool, I know this doesn't mean she'll be okay once they start running around the yard, but I continue to be impressed with her every day. Anytime the chicks get too loud she's the first in the room, if I'm not paying attention she'll come get me.
Today I moved the chicks to a larger pen at the foot of my bed on the floor. I knew this would be a big deal for her because now they're at eye level all the time. During the move she was very anxious pacing and whining and the chicks were calling for each other and a couple screamed bloody murder because they don't like being handled. After I got all the chicks moved, I sat next to the pen, opened the door and hand fed them to help them calm down and spread some feed on the floor of the pen to help them forget their harrowing ordeal. While I was doing this, she inched her way over trying to get a good sniff and make sure they were okay. I took out my calmest chick and let her get a sniff and she laid down and relaxed.
After everyone settled, I decided to sit and write this. For the last hour or so she has been calmly laying by the pen watching the chicks flutter about exploring their new space and the chicks aren't phased by her presence one bit. I decided to write this because it has been an amazing experience and I wanted to share it with others.
I had a feeling Brutus would be fine around the chickens; I wasn't even sure if he'd pay them any mind or just think they were some unusual dog breeds (I was right, he does not care). Daisy, however, is a different story. She's all about chasing squirrels and has caught a chicken before (just a mouthful of feathers, and the chicken was okay, it belonged to a friend) so I had me reservations.
Before I moved forward I needed to make sure I had a plan B in case things didn't work out and I couldn't keep the chickens. I called a friend (the same friend that the chicken belonged) that had raised chickens previously and lost their flock to predators (my dog was not the predator). I knew he'd secured his yard better since then and has a few ducks and a goose. He said he'd be happy to take them, and wished me luck with a bit of a sarcastic tone.
Now the adventure begins. I decided it would be best to hatch from eggs because I realized Daisy would need time to get used to these new little creatures wandering around HER yard. I also have a theory: if the chicks are familiar with her, they’re less likely to run away, which means she won’t feel the urge to chase them. So, I ordered a batch of eggs and placed them in the incubator. Over the 21-day (actually 23) incubation period, I played various chicken sounds, including recordings of chicks peeping, on and off leading up to the hatch. On the first day, she was very curious, panting and trying to locate the sounds. After a few days, she would just perk up her ears and settle back down. When the chicks began to hatch, I played the audio clips again, so when the real chicks started peeping, she wouldn’t think much of it.
During a span of 4 to 5 hours, a few of the eggs had started to pip, but none had hatched just yet. When I could tell a chick was about to hatch, I let her watch. She was squirming and did a little bit of whining with anticipation. When the first chick emerged and started flailing around, she lunged at the brooder. I saw it coming so I was prepared and gave a thump on the head, told her "NO," sternly and made her leave the room. After about ten minutes I let her back in the room and she just sat and watched them hatch, no whining, no lunging, just observing. When each new chick stopped flailing around, she’d lay back down and relax. I tried to go play with her outside for a bit, but she just peed and went back in to check on the chicks. As I watched this unfold in front of me, I realized this might actually work, she may not eat them.
I still had my reservations though so my guard was still up. After two days of her watching me handle the chicks and her being by my side, curious but not obsessive, I decided to let her get a look and sniff. I had her sit and I leaned down with the calmest chick I have, to my surprise and with no further instruction from me, she laid down and rolled over. I could've kissed this dog (but I had a delicate chick in my hands that needed tending to)! Once I put the chick away, I showered her with praise and kisses! I have decided not to give treats or play with toys during this process because I don't want either associated with the chicks.
Ok, I'm no fool, I know this doesn't mean she'll be okay once they start running around the yard, but I continue to be impressed with her every day. Anytime the chicks get too loud she's the first in the room, if I'm not paying attention she'll come get me.
Today I moved the chicks to a larger pen at the foot of my bed on the floor. I knew this would be a big deal for her because now they're at eye level all the time. During the move she was very anxious pacing and whining and the chicks were calling for each other and a couple screamed bloody murder because they don't like being handled. After I got all the chicks moved, I sat next to the pen, opened the door and hand fed them to help them calm down and spread some feed on the floor of the pen to help them forget their harrowing ordeal. While I was doing this, she inched her way over trying to get a good sniff and make sure they were okay. I took out my calmest chick and let her get a sniff and she laid down and relaxed.
After everyone settled, I decided to sit and write this. For the last hour or so she has been calmly laying by the pen watching the chicks flutter about exploring their new space and the chicks aren't phased by her presence one bit. I decided to write this because it has been an amazing experience and I wanted to share it with others.
I hope
How…
I’d love to see a picture. We had a dachshund/Rottweiler mix at a vet I worked at. Cute as heck. 
