A hard lesson learned about chickens and pit bull not mixing well

[hungryhensfarm]

My cousin had some trouble keeping his chickens in the coop and run he built for them. His children kept letting them out. Rather than stop them from letting them out he decided to allow the chickens to free range. Personally, I have no problem with that and someday I hope to do the same. There were two hens and one roo. Both the hens are gone due to predators and the roo probably met his end today.

My daughter owns a pit bull mix that we wish she had never brought home. The only reason she has kept the dog is that it is the only thing left from her relationship to her boyfriend who died last year in a horrific crash. DD was in the vehicle with him and unfortunatey had to watch him die. It was a horrible time for us all because our entire family had literally fallen in love with this young man. We have never been shy about expressing our distaste for this dog. She can be aggressive and she obviously loves chickens (for dinner).

Today she broke free and went after the roo. She caught him more than once I am told. At one time Mercedez had the roo by the neck. The roo somehow miraculously escaped and ran under my parents house. The dog was caught but she was still wanting that roo. We still haven't been able to get to the roo to see how bad the situatio is for him. I fear that he is gone. He will be missed very much.

I realize that most any dog can and probably would attack chickens. My dachshund managed to squeeze herself into my coop a while back. I think she got the raw end of the deal though. My chickens attacked her and all she could do was bark at them. Anyway, I've vented but I didn't mean to make this so long. Sorry.

 

[nnbreeder]

Sorry to hear of it. Maybe now she will see the light on whether or not to keep the dog. If the dog shows aggression to humans it will someday have it's way. And that is any dog, not just Pits.

 

[Mahlzeit]

Quote:
Sorry to hear about what happened but that is a very untrue statement. I have had 3 dogs all different breeds, a black lab, german shepherd, and rottweiler and have never had any problem with any of them going after my chickens. Even the hunting dog lab didn't want anything to do with them he just wanted the scraps we give the chickens. The rottie just lays in the middle of them all paying them no attention and he is a 8 month old puppy. Not trying to come across as mean.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I'm sure you'll hear lots about the pit aspect. Any dog can be aggressive and go after the chickens.

Sounds like your daughter needs to take some obediance classes with her dog.

I had a rottie that I adopted at 6 months with the requirement that I attend obediance classes.

Years later, she hung out in the backyard with my mini lop Waldo.

I have an ACD and aussie and wouldn't EVER trust them with the chickens.

Best of luck to you and your family. Update us with how the roo did.

 

[cariboujaguar]

blah blah, train the pit. there are plenty of wonderful breeds out there, pits are not one of them. I have known nice pits, they do exist, but why on earth take the risk? Shoot the dog, sorry but why keep a dog you don't enjoy who kills valuble useful pets simply for a memory? Poor roo... doesn't make any sense to me.. I am soooooooo sorry this happened

 

[nzpouter]

a pit is just another dog....

they have extra muscles... and that's about it, make a brilliant dog around the farm if you know what you're doing.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

hungryhensfarm, I am so sorry to hear of your cousin's loss.

Quote:
Wow. Was that nessecary? I am the PROUD owner of a VERY SWEET American Pit Bull Terrier, who has never been inclined to growl at anyone, BITE anyone, or ATTACK my chicken (who free ranges while I'm outside and has been known to jump on the back of my WONDERFUL PIT! Guess what? My roo lived to see another day.

I tried to abstain from commenting- but I cannot sit idly by without speaking on my bullie's behalf.

That being said, I, too would shoot a dog if it got into the chicken coop or was attacking my chickens, be it a pit or a chihuahua, but I will not tolerate ignorance.

 

[joebryant]

I'm sorry for your daughter's loss of her boyfriend and the fact that she had to witness his death; HOWEVER, that's no excuse for her keeping any aggressive dog, especially when you don't want it in your home. Tell her to rehome it, give it to her bf parents, whatever, but that she has to get rid of it or you will.

 

[toredano]

Quote:
Where do you get this info ? its simply not true..Pitbulls have the same muscles as any other dog.. The jaw muscles are all the same as any other dog.. just bigger. And they dont lock their jaws. They simply chose not to let go.


Pitbulls in the wrong hands are lethal. Tie them up in the backyard, dont socialize them, and have their energy turn into frustration . And that frustration turns into agression towards anything that squeals , runs or seems like prey to them. .Their have a huge prey drive that needs to be directed towards something else.
I have owned Pitbulls most of my adult life.Bred them and trained them for years.Never had a problem with any of my dogs.

My allmost 2 year old female couldnt care less about them running by them or squaking at her. She was trained to ignore them at any time.
Do I trust her with my 3 year old niece.? 100% with the chicken? 100% .But does that mean I leave them unsupervised? no.. never.

Would I shoot that dog if she EVER attacked that girl or any other lifestock ? 100% .And That goes for any dog.. not just the pitbulls.

 

[hypnofrogstevie]

Any dog will attack chickens,. My chow has done it, My moms little beagle mix did it and our golden retriever did it. My pitbull was really good with the birds and used to protect them from squirills and buzzards. Unfortunatly he died 2 years ago. The do not have "lock jaw" as stated by vets and my "how to care for bull terriers" book. Also I read that pitts are not supposed to be agressive to humans. If they where the trainers would kill them. You starve or abuse any kind of dog and he will go after a kid or adult. Most stories are of mixed brred dogs but the media puts them as pitts. Its just to scare people. I know I wont be able to change your mind but maybe someday I will. I changed my mom, her b/f and my neighbors os far.

To the OP. I am sorry you lost your roo

. I think the dog needs to know that those chickens are pets not food.