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Labradoodles Meet Hens

6 February 2013

"Scooter", one of our six-week-old Australian labradoodles, meets the hens.

We’ve had the best luck with our two Australian Labradoodles and the two elderly hens Daisy and Sweetpea. Labradoodles are rather high energy dogs and I really thought that we would never be able to let both hens and dogs out in the yard together to free-range. But, they have both learned to tolerate each other quite nicely. The dogs still like to sniff and will follow the hens around until the old girls can’t take it any longer and turn, puff up, and say, “That’s enough!”. The dogs go back to doing what they were doing and the hens go back to digging in the dirt beside me.

I love being outside with my two old hens and my two young dogs. I was unable to be out in my garden as much as I wanted this fall because our “Tillie”, a breeder that we co-own with a professional, was bred in October and produced the sweetest, smartest, puppies for us to raise. Husband Don and I were kept busy inside with the six little furry bundles so it was fun when they were ready to get out and explore. One of our favorite puppies “Scooter” was the only one really interested in chickens. Maybe a little too interested and we had to put the girls in their run when the puppies were out. The puppies have all been sold and are in wonderful homes. None have chickens to play with.

See puppies here.

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5 Comments to “Labradoodles Meet Hens”

  1. MaryannFebruary 6, 2013 at 3:23 pm

    How sweet!! I have poodles and can attest to their intelligence and their calm and patient curiosity with our hens!
    Glad your two hens are doing fine. I visit with them often!

  2. Helen CoxFebruary 7, 2013 at 5:22 pm

    Those puppies are adorable!

  3. MaryannFebruary 20, 2013 at 8:10 am

    Hi Lee,
    I’ve been seeing a little bird inside the run of the coop…..what’s the story with the little intruder?

  4. SarahNovember 18, 2017 at 10:51 am

    We are considering an Australian labradoodle puppy in January and wondered if the winter months and snow would be a good or bad thing as we try to introduce a young puppy to our 4 hens? We would be mostly inside while the puppy is young (and potentially more rough with the hens)…or is it better for the puppy to have lots of time while very young and should we wait until Spring for a puppy? Thanks for any input! I had read something about waiting until the puppy is older and calmer…

  5. LeeNovember 20, 2017 at 8:10 am

    Labradoodles are extremely bright and want to please. But they are energetic, especially when puppies. As to introducing them to hens, I waited until they were about six months old to actually let the hens out when the pups were out. I put the dogs on a leash and when the hens came close, I told the dogs to “Leave it”!!! It only took a few days of this. They really just wanted to smell the hens. I think dogs chase hens because the hens scatter and run. This, of course, activates the “prey” instinct and the race begins. You want to avoid this.
    I’ve never dealt with snow but some of our labradoodle puppies were shipped to Idaho and Nevada and really thrived. They loved snow.
    Best of luck. Sounds like you’ll have your hands full this year.

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