Hey everyone,
I'm having a MAJOR problem that I am hoping someone can come up with some advice on how to solve. Two of my four dachshunds have suddenly decided they enjoy killing my chickens and turkeys! The killers are twin brothers, who, up until this year were the most lovable and generally well behaved dogs you could meet. One is definitely an "alpha", while the other is very very submissive and laid back (he is #4 in the pack).
We got our chickens in March, and the dogs didn't seem to be too interested in them. After they got used to living in their coop and run, we started letting them free range around the property. One day, I found one that looked like it had been mauled, but it was still alive, and with some care, it ultimately survived. We thought a cat or a hawk had tried to get at it, as there are a lot of outdoor cats in our area, we never suspected the dogs. So time goes on, the chickens get bigger, we cull out the roosters, and no problems with the dogs other than the occasional "lets chase the chickens!". In fact, the one who is now the main killer dog would actually guard them while they played under their favorite pine tree.
Some more time passes, and round about July 10th, we got two pullets to add to our flock, and two day-old broad breasted bronze turkeys. The turkeys we kept separate because they were so tiny, but the pullets we put right into the run to acclimate to their new surroundings while we locked the girls up for the pullets' safety. After about 10 minutes of supervision of the chickens and no signs of aggression from the dogs (interest but no attempts to bite or get at them), I went into the house to continue doing some work, the dogs remained loose in the fenced yard, as is usual for them, but the door to the chicken run was closed and locked, as is also usual. 15 minutes later, I came back out to check on the pullets, and the dogs had dug UNDER the fence, killed BOTH pullets and had brought them back up onto the deck to pluck and dismember them. There were chicken parts EVERYWHERE, needless to say I was horrified by what they had done, and the dogs all got a good spanking and locked up in their crate.
Time passes, and we have not replaced the two pullets, the turkeys are now old enough to be out of their brooder box, they are about as big as our hens, and are adjusting nicely. We socialized the turkeys really well and they follow us everywhere when they are loose, including up onto our deck where they like to nap on the dog beds. One of them even had a favorite pillow he liked to sit on. The dogs are NEVER allowed to have any unsupervised contact with them, have shown no signs of repeat aggression and have not the least bit of interest in the chickens when they are loose either. Last Sunday morning, while I was cleaning the kitchen and my husband was supervising outside, the twins (#1 dog and #4 dog) and our puppy to a lesser extent, ran down my favorite turkey and killed him before my husband could get to them to stop the attack. So turkey #1 is gone. THEN this morning, our other turkey must have flown over the fence, and when I went to check for eggs at 11, I found her mangled corpse right next to the back of the coop. Our female and the puppy were nearby, but the twins were covered in blood and feathers.
There was also a baby robin that fell into the yard which my husband recently found them chewing on as well.
So it appears that I now have at least two and possibly three little chicken killing monsters! These are show dogs, not mutts that you can shoot or give away, so them leaving my home is not an option, but my hens and turkeys need to be safe! The dogs behavior has continued to escalate despite discipline being imposed and 24 hour a day supervision is simply not realistic. What I'm worried about now is that they will start to try for my laying hens.
I've read about beating the dog with the carcass of the bird they killed and then tying it around his neck for several days and ignoring the dog completely but for food and water. I'm at my wits end with this and I'm willing to subject them to whatever treatment is necessary, as long as it is truly effective. #1 dog is currently tied up behind the house with the turkey's body tied to his neck and the others are locked in their crate.
Has anyone used this method to break a dog of his chicken killing habit? Does anyone know a better or more effective way to deal with this problem short of a .22?
I'm having a MAJOR problem that I am hoping someone can come up with some advice on how to solve. Two of my four dachshunds have suddenly decided they enjoy killing my chickens and turkeys! The killers are twin brothers, who, up until this year were the most lovable and generally well behaved dogs you could meet. One is definitely an "alpha", while the other is very very submissive and laid back (he is #4 in the pack).
We got our chickens in March, and the dogs didn't seem to be too interested in them. After they got used to living in their coop and run, we started letting them free range around the property. One day, I found one that looked like it had been mauled, but it was still alive, and with some care, it ultimately survived. We thought a cat or a hawk had tried to get at it, as there are a lot of outdoor cats in our area, we never suspected the dogs. So time goes on, the chickens get bigger, we cull out the roosters, and no problems with the dogs other than the occasional "lets chase the chickens!". In fact, the one who is now the main killer dog would actually guard them while they played under their favorite pine tree.
Some more time passes, and round about July 10th, we got two pullets to add to our flock, and two day-old broad breasted bronze turkeys. The turkeys we kept separate because they were so tiny, but the pullets we put right into the run to acclimate to their new surroundings while we locked the girls up for the pullets' safety. After about 10 minutes of supervision of the chickens and no signs of aggression from the dogs (interest but no attempts to bite or get at them), I went into the house to continue doing some work, the dogs remained loose in the fenced yard, as is usual for them, but the door to the chicken run was closed and locked, as is also usual. 15 minutes later, I came back out to check on the pullets, and the dogs had dug UNDER the fence, killed BOTH pullets and had brought them back up onto the deck to pluck and dismember them. There were chicken parts EVERYWHERE, needless to say I was horrified by what they had done, and the dogs all got a good spanking and locked up in their crate.
Time passes, and we have not replaced the two pullets, the turkeys are now old enough to be out of their brooder box, they are about as big as our hens, and are adjusting nicely. We socialized the turkeys really well and they follow us everywhere when they are loose, including up onto our deck where they like to nap on the dog beds. One of them even had a favorite pillow he liked to sit on. The dogs are NEVER allowed to have any unsupervised contact with them, have shown no signs of repeat aggression and have not the least bit of interest in the chickens when they are loose either. Last Sunday morning, while I was cleaning the kitchen and my husband was supervising outside, the twins (#1 dog and #4 dog) and our puppy to a lesser extent, ran down my favorite turkey and killed him before my husband could get to them to stop the attack. So turkey #1 is gone. THEN this morning, our other turkey must have flown over the fence, and when I went to check for eggs at 11, I found her mangled corpse right next to the back of the coop. Our female and the puppy were nearby, but the twins were covered in blood and feathers.
There was also a baby robin that fell into the yard which my husband recently found them chewing on as well.
So it appears that I now have at least two and possibly three little chicken killing monsters! These are show dogs, not mutts that you can shoot or give away, so them leaving my home is not an option, but my hens and turkeys need to be safe! The dogs behavior has continued to escalate despite discipline being imposed and 24 hour a day supervision is simply not realistic. What I'm worried about now is that they will start to try for my laying hens.
I've read about beating the dog with the carcass of the bird they killed and then tying it around his neck for several days and ignoring the dog completely but for food and water. I'm at my wits end with this and I'm willing to subject them to whatever treatment is necessary, as long as it is truly effective. #1 dog is currently tied up behind the house with the turkey's body tied to his neck and the others are locked in their crate.
Has anyone used this method to break a dog of his chicken killing habit? Does anyone know a better or more effective way to deal with this problem short of a .22?
