When you think of dogs and chickens, your first thought is probably not about them being excellent farm friends. But that’s a mistake. Dogs and chickens can get along swimmingly.
If you’re introducing a new dog to your established flock, or you just brought home a handful of adorable baby chicks, this guide will help your dogs and chickens get along at your urban farm.
1. Trust that your dogs won’t eat your chickens
Your dogs and chickens will naturally be curious of one another. While chickens can inspire your dog’s curiosity, they will not inspire their appetite. Even if your dogs eat processed or raw chicken daily, they are happy and well-fed and will not hunt down your chickens to eat them.
2. Boundaries, however, are important
Though they’re not openly aggressive pets, a fully grown flock of hens can boss your dogs around. These birds are silly, curious, and sprint into a full run at a moment’s notice. Unless your dog is a livestock breed and trained around livestock, these quirks can be exciting and distracting. Your dog might see chickens as a plaything or a bird they were bred to retrieve.
“Sit” and “stay” commands are essential foundations for introducing young and mature dogs to the very interesting behavior of chickens, and your dog’s training level and temperament is key to nurturing a safe environment for both pets.
3. Acknowledge nervousness
If you notice that your dog is nervous, restless, or does not respond to commands when around the chickens, you might need to build a super-safe space for the chickens. Enclose the flock in a secure run that has gate access and fencing that extends into the ground to prevent your dog from digging into the enclosure. Otherwise, an over-excited dog can turn your yard into a frenzied chase that ends in the chicken’s death, since chickens can have heart attacks when cornered or overrun during their “flight” instinct.
We had an experience where one of our dogs chased our free-ranging flock to death while we were at work one day. We had ignored the signs of our dog’s excited nervousness around the chickens. We learned the hard way. The chickens are now in a fenced-off run separate from the main backyard.
Setting your dog up for success around the fowl when you’re not there can greatly increase the safety of your flock. You can also leash your dog when he or she is outside without you.
4. Introducing chicks to your dogs is different
If you are raising chicks inside your home, rather than in a coop, introduce the chicks slowly to your dogs. Leash your dog and command him or her to sit. Crouch and bring the chick in your hands carefully toward your dog. Let the dog sniff and see the connection between your presence and the chick.
When we introduced our dogs to our chicks, the dogs were cautious and curious. Our German shepherd even licked one of the birds. We repeated over time this step as the chicks grew in our home. This technique not only made most of our dogs comfortable around the chicks but also helped bond the chickens to us. Even months after moving to their coop, the chickens would line up at our back door wanting to come inside.
When not handling the chicks, keep them in a separate room with a door shut so they can safely be left unattended.
5. Trainers can help
If you are committed to free-ranging your flock or training your dog to protect your urban farm, I highly recommend enrolling the help of a certified dog trainer. The trainer can help teach your dog appropriate boundaries and work with them to stay focused during distraction.
Having a happy, balanced home can be achieved by paying close attention to your dog’s behavior and taking extra boundary precautions. Watching your dogs comfortably roam and relax in your yard, surrounded by a flock of chickens pecking at bugs or zipping after one another is delightful. It just takes a little effort.