Advice needed on replaceing my neighbors chickens that my dog killed-

[woodstock]

He says they are Americana or Aracana, and that he wants them 6 - 9 months old. I can only find baby chicks mailed online (had no idea one could get chicks in the mail!) I'm in Austin Texas. My dog got away from my wife when my dog (rosie, a female rotweiler) saw some of the neighbors chickens on our side of the fense, and she is very stong and got away from my wife, within minutes, rosie killed about 1/2 dozen of his chickens. He called the law, and they had animal control take rosie. I paid to get her out after they microchiped her. Now he says he will sue and that baby chicks won't cut it because he says it costs alot to raise them to 6 or 9 months old. Anyone know about how much I should pay him for 6 chickens?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Where did he get his original birds from? If he got them from a feedstore or a hatchery they are most likely Easter Eggers sold as those other breeds of birds.

 

[MissPrissy]

6 layers are about $15 each, $90.

Did the dog kill the chickens in your yard or his? If the chickens were in your yard you don't owe him anything. If your dog was in his yard you own him full replacement value. IMO.

Were the chickens pure bred or actually easter eggers dressed up with pure bred name?

Have any photos to identify the chickens as EE's or purebred?

 

[CoopCrazy]

I paid $8 a peice for my Easter Eggers on craigslist.. which if he got them from a hatcherie is prob what they are as Americana or Auracauna are very rare it seems... you might post an ad on Craigslist otherwise look for breeders in your area.. I think I would also point out to the courts that his chickens were on your property... I would think that would give you some leeway nas moost dogs are very protective on their property.. So sorry this happened to you hopefully you can get it all sorted out without much cost..


Wow i guess we were all posting at the same time.... Great minds and all...

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Check Craiglist for chickens, in our area you can get layers that are already 6-9months old! Hopefully you'll be able to find some for them! In our area it's about the same $15 p/layer.

 

[flopshot]

Quote:
your side of the fence ? what does animal control have to do with your property ? what happens to his birds when they leave his property is not your problem. i understand you want to remain a good neighbor but if mine told me he was going to sue me for what happened on my property he would get nadda, zip and i would sue him for harrassment.
hope you get it worked out.

 

[woodstock]

Wow- you giys are fast! His chickens come over here alot, and the day of the incident she chased them back over to his side and she got into one of the chicken pens where he had the aranconas separated as he said he was breeding them. My dog rosie is kept in a huge pen I built for her, but my wife was walking her on the 3 1/2 acres we lease at the edge of town. So when we finally saw where she went, the cops were there with rosie inside the chicken pen <rolls eyes> . So it sounds like I owe him about $75 from yalls posts. The local feed store only sells baby chicks, but perhaps craigslist is a good idea to find 6 to 9 month old layers. Thanks a bunch!

 

[toletiquesbysam]

If you don't see layers listed on your craigslist, but you see some selling chicks or roosters, then email or call those and ask about layers. If they don't have some they might know someone who does!!

 

[Wynette]

I'd just give him the cash and let him find replacements. Since he has chickens, he most likely has more chicken resources than you will. Also, he'll get to pick what HE wants.

Sorry 'bout this. Hope it ends up okay.

 

[horsejody]

If the chickens were killed on his property, you are liable. If they were killed on your property, you might not be. I say might because a few jurisdictions have arcane laws about right away for roaming livestock (those jurisdictions are rare). If the birds were purebred quality stock, $15 per bird probably won't cut it. If he wants adult birds, he may have to purchase them online or from local sources. If the birds have to be shipped to him, that can be expensive. At this point, it is normally the injured party that establishes the value. At that that point, you can either pay or dispute it. Even if you locate replacement birds, he can claim that they are inadequate due to age, breeding, color, conformation to APA standards, etc. I'm glad that you are trying to make this right. I had to take a dog owner to court recently. BTW, 13 birds ended up costing him over $1000 plus court costs plus lawyer fees plus my legal fees. All that on top of the fine. He would have been much better off just paying for the birds.

I strongly recommend that you contact the chicken owner and ask him what he feels is a reasonable replacement cost. Only he knows the costs that he has in them, the age, breeding, etc. If he had quality show birds and the dog decimated his breeding stock it is a lot more expensive than if he had birds from commercial hatchery stock. If you are afraid that a personal conversation will be hostile, put it in writing and mail it to him.

Also, please have your wife take the dog through obedience training. A well trained dog is a blessing and a joy. A large unruley dog is not. I can tell you from personal experience that having a dog decimate pets that you raised from babies is heartbreaking. There can be a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears getting a flock to laying age. Yes, they can be beloved pets. The dog now knows where the chickens live and how much fun they are to kill. Without adequate training and restraining measures, it is only a matter of time before he does it again.

Also, I would like to thank you for taking responsibility and especially for not saying, "they were just chickens."