Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Honey pauses to pick a piece of dirt out of Chico's fur.
Introducing Other Pets
Most people who are inclined to share their lives with livestock probably already share
their bed with a cat or a dog. If you plan on letting your flock and bichon frise cross
paths, you'll want to introduce them slowly. The combination of pets and chickens
should be carefully considered since they can either be your own peaceable kingdom or
a recipe for disaster.
The earlier you can bring your dog or cat to the chickens, the better. Showing them the
brooder while keeping them secured on a leash or in your arms lets you gauge their re-
sponse to the birds. Most dogs will eye the box curiously (as will most cats), but if your
dogs are anything like mine, they'll lunge at the brooder, hoping for a mouthful of chick-
en nugget.
Be realistic about your situation. I know my chickens will never be safe around my
Siberians, and perhaps your cat will never be trustworthy around your flu#ball chicks.
But plenty of supervision and the occasional harsh tone when a claw or jaw gets too
close could be all you need to let your pets understand their new flat-mates are not food.
