Hens and a new puppy?

My brother in law has decided to get a border terrier puppy. They already have 5 or 6 rescue hens in their back garden, mostly kept in a pen but allowed out to wander when someone can keep an eye on them. He’s never had a dog before and I see how stressed he gets with three kids, approx 8 – 14 yo and I’m worried this might tip him over the edge. I’m also worried there’s going to be a hen massacre. Anybody else had a similar situation and have advice. With time and a lot of training it might work, my experience of border terriers is that they are very intelligent and can be very trainable but at the end of the day it’s still a terrier. He’s really going to have to trust the kids to help keep an eye on the puppy, he’s always busy and isn’t going to manage on his own but hes very reluctant to give the girls responsibility for anything. Give me some hope because there’s also guinea pig in the mix for the short term.

So long as the dog is introduced to the hens early, so they’ve always been “part of the family”, then he shouldn’t see them as prey/toys. Hopefully. Also, hens are pretty feisty and if prodded will likely give a good hard peck or two in return. A dog will quickly learn they’re no fun. We’ve had no problems with 2 dogs and various ducks and chickens.

My brother kept hens and also had a Cocker Spaniel.   They got on well, they’d all be out in the garden together.  The dog used chase away the foxes if he spotted any .

Border terrier? Ours tries to kill leaves when the wind blows. Sure it will be fine though.

Yeah, had hens and a Springer. Dog was calm around them and, on summer days when he was with us in the garden, the hens used to roost on him when he was lying down.

Not sure how relevant this is but my spaniel loves nothing more than chasing and executing rabbits. A great day out. But we used to have pet rabbits who she would sun bathe with in the garden whilst they lay on top of her. I think dogs understand what is part of the family and what is fair game.

Our pup was “playing” with our chooks yesterday and the missus saw him with one on his mouth.

“Ziggy!!!”

He let go and you could tell he knew he’d been busted playing with them.

(Stark opposite to the 6 rescue chooks we got – minus wings and beaks which our GSD played with a little too hard. One found dead, the other 5 nowhere to be seen. Not even sure how they escaped as they had clipped wings!)

We had hens surrounded by an electric fence. Whippet puppy arrived and checked them out. He only did it once.

My sister has two dogs (springer and cocker) plus several chickens – they’re kept in a large but very secure section of the garden. The dogs will sometimes lie there looking at them but never trying to get in or showing any signs that they’d show for a squirrel or something that they’re allowed to chase.

Plus the chickens don’t tolerate any messing, they’re quite feisty!

Our chickens always put our spaniels in their place. After a couple of incidents with the hens running at the dogs, the dogs totally ignored them.

Our chickens always put our spaniels in their place. After a couple of incidents with the hens running at the dogs, the dogs totally ignored them.

A friends chickens do exactly the same, a couple of them are vicious bully boys (girls) and very quickly put the dogs in their place. The spaniel is a bit thick so does get regular reminders 😀

Can confirm hens are pretty feisty as our WCS found to her cost. She got hold of one when we were visiting Eigg she soon dropped it when the hen pecked her near her eye!

Our bantams used to take on fox hounds when they came sniffing around.

The average chook is basically a winged cutlery draw.

We had a cocker as a puppy that was absolutely fine and completely trustworthy with our flock of 12 to 15 hens. If anything, he was a little wary of them. He would however go mental at the site of a pheasant (chicken in a party frock) as we often get them in the garden, he even caught and killed one once 🤦‍♂️ Despite their similarity, he was able to differentiate. As a puppy we took him in the chicken run for supervised sessions until he just accepted them. When they were free ranging he was a useful guardian in case of foxes.

Best introduced at an early age – the hens will probably peck at the dog. We let our hens out into the garden and the dogs just ignore them – even our Lab which has a pretty strong prey drive, catching a variety of furry and feathery things over the years.

My Mrs used to have a border collie which ignored the hens until sunset then herded them into the hen house faster than any human ever could.
Edit Watch out for moulting hens they’re crabbit.
Hens and cats isnt a good mix.

I’d be concerned more for the pup. They’ll have his eyes out

In time I expect a special friends insta reel with cosied up pup and chooks, best friend halcyon days tinged with sepia vomit filter

‘Hens and cats’
We used to put stray kittens under a sitting hen.
Worked fine.
They would still be trying to get under there when they were the same size as mother hen.
I come from a farm, hence the abundance of suitable sitting hens and stray kittens.

Loving the mental image of adult cats desperately trying to burrow under a hen for warmth and comfort!

😁

Just read Kristi Noem’s autobiography to the puppy to teach it what happens to naughty dogs.

Kristi Noem shot her dog, Cricket, cause still as a puppy he couldn’t hunt like she demanded he should. She could have had him adopted.

People who brag about shooting their pets are not fit for the human race much less elected office.
What a psycho. Seriously.
Y’all have to… pic.twitter.com/WXTE0NQyd5

— We HearVoicesOutThere #voteBlue2024 (@WeHearPodcast) April 27, 2024

Rè Hens and Cats. I should make it clear this cat was very large for a domestic cat, lived outside all summer and was stalking some just hatched chicks. All the hens ganged up on him. He also killed a mink once. You wouldnt want to hear that racket again

All the hens ganged up on him.

Very socialist and matriarchal the chicken flock. Watch how the roosters point out the best bits to the hens when feeding and the aforementioned ganging up!

Sounds like all will be well if they introduce the puppy to the hens early on. Just need to train the brother in law.

Hens and cats isnt a good mix.

we have both, they’re fine. Hens are very much dominant though! Next door’s cat is absolutely terrified of them 😂

Hens are very much dominant though! Next door’s cat is absolutely terrified of them 😂

An animal with a pickaxe on its face, is not to be messed with! Could be worse, though; gulls are really nasty, and I’d not want to be on the receiving end of a pecking by a carrion crow or a raven!

Chooks would see crows/ravens as a challenge. I had to despatch a jackdaw that had been set upon by our flock. I think they’d had enough of the buggers stealing their food. Caught them with it pinned to the ground laying into it!

My brother in law has decided to get a border terrier puppy.

They already have 5 or 6 rescue hens
He’s never had a dog before
three kids, approx 8 – 14 yo
I’m worried this might tip him over the edge
he’s always busy and isn’t going to manage on his own
hes very reluctant to give the girls responsibility
also guinea pig in the mix.

Is it too blunt to ask WHY?

No, I’ve already asked the same. He wanted to get a puppy from my family but we put him off then. It could be what they need. The girls are more than capable and do a good job with the hens and guinea pig. He needs something which gets him out the house and helps him to switch off, if it’s possible. He also has a mother with Alzheimer’s in a care home nearby and he tries to visit her at least once a week.