Hi everyone! First post but have been lurking, reading information on keeping chickens
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I would love to keep chickens at home, and have a large secure garden.
The only problem is I have two dogs, a collie and a retriever. Both from working stock, though neither have worked a day in their lives!
The collie is very obedient, and 5 months old. He's seen livestock and after a quick look will come back to heel. The retriever actually a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever(well known for their excitability!) is 3 years old and an utter law unto himself. He is obedient on the lead, but is the type to chase livestock and gets very over excited very quickly. Both are walked twice a day with longer walks at the weekend so have plenty of opportunity to work of excess energy.
These two are the only ones stopping me getting some hens. Primarily, because I have to put them first. I don't want them being wound up continually, when the garden has always been their space.
Also, I don't want to bring hens into a stressful environment.
The setup would be at the side of my house, which is about 15ft long, 4ft wide. The dogs would only be able to see the hens through the 4ft side, and not run up and down the fence line. Dogs don't spend too much time in the garden, so hens could have the garden when dogs were indoors.
Is it possible?!
Oh, and also someone told me chicken droppings were harmful to dogs, is this true?