He did pretty well! He didn’t get as close as Cricket did, however, because we take everything very slowly with our reactive dog Luke. A couple times we had been out there, it seemed like he didn’t even notice them so this time (last week) I wanted to be sure he did. As soon as I felt him go tense, we didn’t go any closer.
In this second photo you can kind of see that he almost seemed just a bit scared of them, moving away. I let him watch for a minute and then we moved on, so he wouldn’t think they were any big deal.
The point of all this going slowly is moot now anyway, because on Saturday morning the chickens got their freedom and they are now free range! They were kind of funny….very timid about venturing out at first and sticking pretty close to the coop.
Eventually they started going a little further each time, mostly sticking close to the garage and barn to start with. They actually seem to love the pole barn, and they hang out in there a lot now. It’s been pretty hot the last couple of days and I think it’s cooler in there for them.
By Sunday evening, the fun really began because they started getting closer and closer to the house. Then they were spotted by both Cricket and Luke. Even Cricket, who had virtually ignored them when they were in their pen, started barking at them in the yard! Of course, that egged Luke on as well, and then they’d take turns getting each other wound up.
Overall, they did great though. With a lot of “leave-it” and “be nice”, they did not carry on for long. We really feel that in time they’ll be fine. One of our blog friends and readers, Raven, commented “If Cricket is calm around the chickens will that help Luke be less reactive?” on the post I wrote recently about Cricket meeting them. At the time I told her that I didn’t know, I thought it would probably have the opposite effect, and they’d egg each other on. However, I’m starting to see a little bit of what Raven said happening too. If Cricket stops barking, Luke kind of loses interest some of the time and doesn’t carry on either, and if he’s under the deck looking out at them, he’ll come back up to us.
We will still be cautious of course, because Luke has shown prey drive before. When heading out for walks, I’ll observe where the chickens are and be sure I have a firm grip on his leash when we’re passing them.
We’ve had some wild turkeys hanging around lately too, so one time I thought they were barking at the chickens, it was actually those turkeys. Well, my theory is, we didn’t name it “Barking Dog” Organic Farm for nothing, so they have to live up to that reputation at least some of the time! They are, after all, just learning to be farm dogs and I think they’ll settle into their new roles in time.
If I see any kind of birds I chase them so I would not be good around those chickens. But, mom wants to know, how come they don’t run away? Love Dolly
I guess because they know where they’re fed and where their shelter is!
Good job, Luke!
New question: do the chickens go back to their coop when you’re out in the yard playing with Cricket and Luke?
No, because the way the house and yard are set up, the chickens are mostly out of our sight when we’re playing in the yard (at least until they start wandering further out, but they haven’t yet).
They can see the chickens from one end, but the chickens are actually getting used to the dogs anyway, so they don’t always run away when they get barked at!
Good job Luke. My chickens stay in the pen or the dog grab them. Gambler has been known to go to the neighbors and bring back their free rangers.
Uh-oh! We do see an occasional loose dog roaming around here, so we will have to keep an eye out for that!
That’s very encouraging Jan!! So when they start laying eggs, will they go to one spot, or will you need an egg hunt? 🙂
An egg hunt would be kind of fun, wouldn’t it? 🙂 But no. We will put nesting boxes inside their coop and that will be where they will lay their eggs.
Hopefully! Sometimes hens take matters into their own hands and lay elsewhere! I once came across a nest with 20 eggs in it inside a fern! She’d been sneaking out every day to lay in her ‘wildnest’!
I guess we might get to do that egg hunt after all then! 🙂
Probably if you take it slow and they realize they are part of the family they will be fine. We don’t hurt our own kitties, but we want to go after those we see on walks. Once the chickens are old hat, they won’t be so fascinating.
I’ve been going outside too with the chickens and picking them up, and letting Luke see me do that. I’m hoping that will help him to understand that they’re ours.
I saw the blog title and was excited to find out how Luke reacted to the chickens. So far, so good. Hopefully the chickens become part of the scenery and both dogs find them boring.
They get used to them hanging out in certain places, but then when they move to a new area, they get all wound up again! But I do still think in time it will become old hat.
Seems like it is going pretty well, so glad! Wow, your place just really looks awesome, like a farm indeed-everything is looking great, dogs and chickens included!
Thanks, Auntie Lynn! It sure feels like a farm when you’re outside and there’s chickens roaming all around! 🙂
I can’t even begin to imagine what Jaxson would do if he was anywhere near a “live” chicken. I think Luke did just fine.
Looks to me like Luke will be fine with the chickens as time goes by. He’s doing a lot better than I’d expect of my girls. (Shadow has actually killed a few birds in her lifetime. Yes, Shadow! And Ducky is my champion squirrel hunter.)
Melissa actually asked the question that was in my mind about the chickens’ nocturnal freedoms, so I’ll have to come up with another one. ????????
I’m not sure I’d ever really trust Luke with the chickens, that’s for sure. Right now they’re at least keeping him busy looking out the windows anyway!
Good job, Luke! You’re going to become a chicken herder we bet. 😉
All in all it looks like everyone is doing darn good! It’s nice to see the chickens out n’ about!
Don’t eat the chickens whatever you do
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
Tell Mom to stop teasing me and saying “mmmm….I smell chicken!” BOL
Woofs,
Luke
Wishing the best. Hopefully Luke and Cricket will also help to protect the chickens from outside predators.
That is the hope, Pamela! That’s why I don’t want to discourage them TOO much from barking at things. There may be things we need them to bark at!
It’s wonderful how Luke is doing with the chickens. I can’t believe how big they’ve grown already!
I can’t imagine how Bentley and Pierre would react to chickens. I’m sure Luke and Cricket will make fine farm dogs. Silly question: How do you keep the chickens from leaving your yard? Can they run away?
That is not a silly question! The chickens will only wander so far, they won’t run away or get lost. We have plenty of land for them to wander, however, they could still leave the yard. But they will come back at night to roost in their coop (so far every night by a certain time they are all in there lined up on their perch). We won’t let them free range unless we’re home, so we can try to herd them back if they wander too far.
Wishing you good luck! Maybe someday we will try raising chickens too! 🙂
Thank you! So far it has been a really fun experience for us. Hopefully that continues! 🙂
How exciting! I’m glad that Luke had a minimal reaction to them. It sounds like you have a great plan for keeping him clam and everybody safe.
I am learning there always has to be a plan where Luke is concerned. 🙂
I’m sure they will become the best farm dogs… my granny’s dog loved the chicken… he always snitched the breadcrumbs they got :O)
When they were inside the house, our cat Sam would eat their food if they scattered it out of their cage! 🙂
It’s so cute to see those chickens wandering around freely. Are they able to leave the property? One of the farms near us has no enclosures at all, and their chickens are sometimes in the street (yes, they DO cross the road!! LOL) or on other people’s property, which doesn’t always go so well. My concern for our local chickens is that they’ll either get hit by a car or eat something on another person’s property that isn’t good for them. I think you’re doing a great job with Luke!
Thank you! Yes, they can leave our property. However, we have 17 acres so they certainly don’t need to! But our house is close to the road and that is a concern. We do live on a dirt road though, and it’s a dead end street. There are about 6 houses beyond us, so most of the traffic is just our neighbors, and hopefully they’ll get used to seeing them and slow down if they do start wandering that way.
None of our neighbors are within sight of us, so I don’t believe the chickens will ever wander that far. We will also mostly keep them in the coop if we’re not home, so we’ll always be able to keep an eye on them for wandering.
Also, I’ve read that chickens are pretty smart about knowing what they can and can’t eat. I hope that’s true!
These baby steps will pay off big time. Kudos for having the patience and fortitude to make it easy on Luke.
I think it was funny seeing Luke being afraid of the chickens in the beginning. I hope that eventually he will get together with them and that all will be fine. Funny article <3
Thank you, we always aim to bring a smile! So glad you stopped by!