Dogs killed my sweet chickens

We moved into our new home 4 months ago. There have been 2 dogs that I have chased away from my chicken coop at least 6 times now. One is a large white dog that looks similar to a Husky and the other is a black Lab. Sunday morning they were back and I chased them away. I left for a few hours and came back to the side of my coop completely torn apart and all my chickens were killed. I have no idea where the dogs live or who the owners are. I called animal control and made a report with an officer. The officer truly didn't act concerned at all. She said if I find out who the dogs belong to then I can call her back and she will file a citation. I talked with a few of my neighbors and no one knows who the dogs belong to. I am completely at a loss. I do not know what else I can do. I took pictures of my coop and killed chickens. I have my camera ready to take pictures of the dogs if they come in my yard again.... Any advice on what else to do? I don't want them coming around next summer when we get new chickens.

Large live trap with a dead chicken in it?

Hot wire for your next coop...works wonders on dogs.

Sorry for your loss.

A large trap baited with a dead bird is not a bad idea. I might need to go hit up the hardware store and check out their traps.

I'll go ahead and offer this up before someone else does. It might be better for you to eliminate the threat entirely by eliminating the dogs. I understand that some folks prefer that this option be ignored but sometimes it's the most cost effective and reliable way to take care of situations like this.


RichnSteph

Oh. If you have the $$ lying around to spend and the time to upgrade your coop then that is another option. Electric fencing, better fence wire, things like that.


RichnSteph

RichnSteph said:

I'll go ahead and offer this up before someone else does. It might be better for you to eliminate the threat entirely by eliminating the dogs. I understand that some folks prefer that this option be ignored but sometimes it's the most cost effective and reliable way to take care of situations like this.


RichnSteph

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The issue with this approach is that it does not protect the birds from the next predator that comes along. I am not opposed to the elimination of problem predators, but it is only a bandaid to the bigger problemf.

SSS the dogs, reinforce the coop. Those are your best options. If you prefer to trap them, that's your choice, of course, but what's your plan if you catch them?

bobbi-j said:

SSS the dogs, reinforce the coop. Those are your best options. If you prefer to trap them, that's your choice, of course, but what's your plan if you catch them?

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Agree with bobbi on this one. Since no one around claims they know the dogs, I'd consider them dumped and take care of business as long as you have and can use a firearm where you are located. Animal control is of little use in most places--they get there WAY after damage is done in most cases. Always helps to know your local ordinances/laws as far as livestock-killing animals, too.

Just please, do not try to grab one of the dogs and risk being bitten. Not worth it at all. Anyone who suggests that you do so is not firing on all cylinders. I'm really sorry for your loss.

bobbi-j said:

SSS the dogs, reinforce the coop. Those are your best options. If you prefer to trap them, that's your choice, of course, but what's your plan if you catch them?

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I feel I should amend this by saying, "SSS the dogs if you live in an area where it's legal to discharge firearms and you are proficient in the use of one." I tend to forget that not all chicken keepers live in the country (as in farmland - not a development 5 miles from town where everyone has their 1/2 acre plot right next to each other) and are allowed to handle these things on their own. Where I live, "animal control" is whatever we need to do to protect our stock and flock. Sometimes it's returning a dog to the neighbors, sometimes Mr. Remington gets involved.

bobbi-j said:

I feel I should amend this by saying, "SSS the dogs if you live in an area where it's legal to discharge firearms and you are proficient in the use of one." I tend to forget that not all chicken keepers live in the country (as in farmland - not a development 5 miles from town where everyone has their 1/2 acre plot right next to each other) and are allowed to handle these things on their own. Where I live, "animal control" is whatever we need to do to protect our stock and flock. Sometimes it's returning a dog to the neighbors, sometimes Mr. Remington gets involved.

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I forget that, too, bobbi so it's not just you. I'd probably not even have chickens if I lived somewhere I couldn't handle things on my own. I'd move, LOL.