Every since we brought the baby chicks home, our border collie mix Sydney has been on guard. She spends most of the day laying in front of the greenhouse/brooder. If she does come up to the house, I can simply say “where are the babies?” and she runs back down to stand guard!
Yesterday I was working in the garden and one of the chicks was “peeping” a lot. It sounded louder than normal which made me think she had escaped. Sure enough, there were only five chicks in the brooder. Sydney was not on guard either. Had she taken the chick someplace? 
I then heard the chick again and it was coming from underneath the greenhouse/brooder. That is where I found both the chick and Sydney!
The chick was unharmed and it looked like Sydney was just “babysitting“. Of course the chick came out easily but Sydney was actually stuck. There is only about a six inch gap so she really worked hard to get under the greenhouse/brooder. Unfortunately this meant I had to work hard to get her out! Rolling her to the side and pulling was the key to success for doggy extraction.
We are thankful for our chicken guard dog! I now know that the chicks are spreading their wings and we can’t leave the door flap open. Even though there is a wooden gate about 2 foot tall, they have learned to flutter.
Always an adventure with animals!
Latest posts by Renae Chiovaro (see all)
- Last Minute Batgirl Costume - October 22, 2016
- Agnes & Dora: Comfortable & Affordable Clothing - September 19, 2016
- Life is a Highway - September 17, 2016
