Chickens VS. Dogs

[ChocolateMouse]

I agree that starting rumors helps more than hurts most times. We had a serious problem with some stray cats, lots of em, in my neighborhood, going into my pen and attacking chicks.

I have a 6' wood fence around my yard (nothing to most cats) and one day I let my dogs out and there was a stray kitten in the lawn. Then my husky hit the kitten and there was now a dead kitten in my lawn. My neighbor had been feeding them. I told a few neighbors about the incident throughout the weeks as I helped my immediate neighbor finally rehome the kittens and get mama spayed with a TNR. I know there have been several cats in the neighborhood, some even with collars, that I haven't seen since. Rumors can be a useful tool.

Having said that, I always would try for a non-violent solution first. Like I asked repeatedly that my neighbor get the cats taken care of and he didn't until one got chomped by the dog. My neighbor wouldn't get rid of the groundhog living under his shed and eating my garden, so later on my dogs did it for him. And I know my dogs would kill chickens, and I try to keep the dogs close... But I would be heartbroken knowing that my dog slipped a leash and got shot for her hunting enthusiasm, an enthusiasm I utilize to keep vermin levels low on my property. So I would always say try to seek out a non violent conclusion first. Always. Take steps to keep your animals safe as well. It swings both ways.

 

[aart]

What is your opinion?

Welcome @fjwallace ...well what is your reaction to the responses here?
Any dog killed chicken thread here will go on and on and on, pro and con, sometimes just reiterations of every dog story anyone has heard or experienced...and often slightly off topic, with more debate.
Typical forum...not much personal abuse is tolerated here tho.

 

[centrarchid]

This is a view of about 1 acre that would have barn in the upper left of this picture. You can see hints of perimeter that fence runs down the middle. The area on the inside now grows up much more each production season and provides location chickens gravitate to. Rabbit population went up once fence in place and up further when cover patches got dense enough to hamper owls.

Half of my core perimeter looks like this

This what I am striving for. Dense bamboo forming bounding a path of short slow-growing grass. The bamboo provides an exceptional wind break and funnels bad guys to walking along fence where game camera can be put to full effect. Does require additional trimming. Real fun for kids to play in and refuge for chickens when it gets really hot. Red-tailed Hawks seem to steer clear of this stuff.

 

[centrarchid]

Welcome...well what is your reaction to the responses here?
Any dog killed chicken thread here will go on and on and on, pro and con, sometimes just reiterations of every dog story anyone has heard or experienced...and often slightly off topic, with more debate.
Typical forum...not much personal abuse is tolerated here tho.

It is no fun limiting responses treat problem after losses incurred. Way more fun to prevent loss in the future.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Where I live we shoot them.
If your a friend we warn you but some will shoot regardless.
I’ve returned loose dogs to my neighbors.
I love dogs. Mine cannot get to the chickens. I would never risk it.
I’m responsible.
Irresponsible dog owners sometimes have to learn the hard way. Trust me have tons of stories....in the end the chickens always end up dead.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Get a gun and shoot them.
Do you know who owns the dog that was captured? Do you recognize the other? Do you have to register dogs in your county?
If you can identify the owners, I would pay them a visit. Be pleasant! Tough to do considering your loss, I know, but you will catch more flies with honey. They may be horrified to find out what their dogs did or they might not care.
Very calmly and assertively explain what their dogs did then inform them that in no uncertain terms, if their dogs are ever seen on your property again, they will be shot on sight. You will not be waiting for them to attack or kill another animal. They will be shot on sight. Then DO IT.

 

[WthrLady]

Fences pulse so a person, and livestock, can break away from it. Put signs up, tell neighbors there is an electric fence, and in my case, the fence is also 30 feet INSIDE my property line. If you're touching it, you are totally trespassing. It's a huge NO NO out where I live.

As for my spacing, I have lines at 6", 12", 18" 24, 30" and 40". I run the bottom 4 hot and the top 2 are not. The 24 inch one is white coated hot line and the rest are all brown. This makes a very visible fence perimeter in all lights. My fence is 1.5 acres coated wire, solar charged, and the posts are 5 and 9 inch creosote driven. 12.5 guage high-ten line. We keep the area under the lowest wire mowed with a push trimmer.But as you can guess it's not up for chickens So no $$ comparison. The chickens come and go as they please. I grew up learning to "build for the bull, raise lambs" method of building.

I also have baited the lines, training varmits about the zapping power is a good thing. Deer keep clear until the next generation needs trained.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Hence the ol sayin’
Good fences
Make for
Good neighbors

 

[bobbi-j]

There is no one size fits all answer to this question. Accidents happen, dogs get out and sometimes cause trouble. Because of this, I'm willing to give a nieghbor a chance to keep their dog off my property. If the dog is a recurring problem... well, the problem won't last long. I think that being proactive is necessary. Not only will an electric fence keep dogs out, but other predators as well. If you have a Houdini dog that can get in through that and is a repeat offender, shooting it would be a solution here.

What a shocking story! Anyway, IF you do plan to put up an electric fence.... make the neighbor PAY for it and warned them that if they don't pay for the electric fence, next time Fido will come back home in a black trash bag. Might work, and you will get that electric fence you've been dreaming of for free!

How exactly would one MAKE a neighbor pay for a fence? Just curious.