Grow Your Own Magazine

anyone got any ideas of how to introduce cat and dog to chickens.

they are familiarising themselves with chook house at mo and are quite curious to know what will arrive.

also wild bird table is near chicken quarters (any danger of disease spreading between wild birds and chickens? thanx in advance

angelat

Cats usually aren't a problem with chickens - chickens are taller than cats and can stare them down quite effectively!

Dogs are a very different matter, however - just like foxes, they instinctively chase and snap at anything they perceive as prey*, which includes chickens, especially if they run away. Dogs should always be introduced to chickens slowly and carefully, using a lead to begin with, and should never be left alone with free-ranging hens even if they have never chased them in the past. Many owners have found this out the hard way

There is some small danger from bird droppings, since DEFRA bird-flu regulations require housing with mesh too small for a wild bird to get through and a roof to keep wild bird poo out of the run, but in the normal course of things I think it's highly unlikely that your hens will pick anything up that way.


* Remember that wolves prey on large animals, so size is not necessarily a deterrent!

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Small Plot? No Problem! - my blog about growing organic veg

A dog will probably need to be TAUGHT that the hens are 'out of bounds'. My way would be to take him/her close to the hens (preferably while hens are still in travelling crate) and everytime the dog looks alertly at hens tell him 'NO!'
Once they are out of the crate and in the run, take him in with them ON THE LEAD and repeat the process
You may have to resort to sterner measures in order to really get him ignoring the hens, especially if they flutter about.
With a dog that isn't a 'confirmed chaser' (some aren't) the bigger problem will be to get the hens to stop panicking at sight of the dog. If the dog will lie still when told, place him in plain sight (OUTSIDE the run, just in case) and the food dish or a tasty treat nearby. The hens will eventually treat him as 'part of the furniture' and that will go a long way to reducing risks. If the hens don't flutter about, most dogs will ignore them, especially if they have been taught that hens are not to play with.

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Flowers come in too many colours to see the world in black-and-white.

we've had chickens who soon put dogs in their place - a bite from a chicken is pretty nasty and hens tend to go for the nose!

saying that, I wouldn't really trust any dog which hasn't grown up with hens around.

cats have never been a problem - hens are just too big a bird to mess with