compensation for dog killed chickens

[Wisher1000]

I would handle it this way...

Make a detailed list or inventory of your losses. Describe each bird individually and in great detail. Find replacement birds that are the closest to yours as possible in breed, quality, age, etc. Try to find local sources but go to the internet if necessary. Get three sources/ prices for each bird. Ask your neighbor to replace your birds at the lowest prices even if you can replace some (the roo?) for free. Suggest that he/she may want to check around themselves so they will know you did your homework fairly. You can then choose to have the replacements or to use the money to buy chicks and grow your own. This seems the fairest way IMHO.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Need to replace with equal valued birds of the same age, not chicks. Of production birds, point of lay pullets and young hens are the most valuable. If the birds were show stock, they could be worth considerably more, depending on quality.

The calculations are great, except that the "average costs" seem REALLY low. The least expensive food here runs at least $16 per 50#; organic runs $25. Even when we first bought chicks 10 years ago, pullets were $2.85. I'm sure we are not the least expensive place in the nation, but I'm also sure we are not the most.

If the OP substitutes in the cost he/she spends on feed, should be able to get a pretty good estimate, though.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The neighbor doesn't know the precise costs, but "gets it" that you have feed, labor, bedding and other costs. $20 a bird is fair and the point is compensation. Monetary compensation is all that can be achieved. The loss is horrid. The compensation is also some motivation for the dog owner to restrain his pet and perhaps enough to prevent this from happening again.

We have simple country rules here. You borrow it, return it. You break it, fix it. You lose it, replace it. Rules of civilized living.

 

[ECBW]

How much can fox pelt go for? That is the only thing of value that my chickens' killer owns.

Anyway, I would suggest that whatever your cost to buy replacement of similar type and age, should be the cost to your good neighbor. Much like cars, sentimental value is not factored in.

In my area, retail prices for layers are: $5 for chicks, $10+ for POL and new layers, $5 for old layers.

Anyway you slice it, it is still much cheaper than replacing a dog. Have you seen how much puppies cost?

 

[woodmort]

If you're like me and, for biosecurity reasons, will not bring in adult birds, compensation causes a problem. First it means, assuming I can get them, purchasing chicks which requires a minimum number then a 6-month or so grow out time before these chicks are in production. Therefore I figure, depending on breed, a $5 per chick replacement. Figuring a single bird will produce a dozen eggs every two weeks, that 12 dozen eggs per bird and, since I sell my eggs at $2 a dozen that is $24 in eggs alone. Feed, on the other hand, is a wash since you have to feed them either way so I don't figure that in. Aside from mental anguish, I'd charge at least $30 a bird for hens in production. On the other hand, if you're relying on the eggs and have to buy 12 dozen free range eggs per bird over the next six months that may increase the cost to closer to $40.

 

[pixiedouglas]

Quote:
THANK YOU!!!!

 

[GiddyMoon]

Here is the other issue...even if the neighbor was willing to pay the almost $90 per bird...you still have to start all over and do it all again to get back where you were before the dog ate your birds..I would want to hear what the neighbor has in mind..if he is this remorseful..he needs to make it right and keep his dog home.

 

[DickGJ]

Quote:
Nice work and summary. Even if I don't charge that much for replacement, your work has at minimum...helped anyone who's lost birds to a neighbor's dog with a ballpark for negotiation.

 

[Mojo]

Thanks for all the input. The chickens were on organic feed which ups the price. What I asked is $30 for the hens just coming into peak production and $25 for the roo and older hen. This does not account for lost egg sales or another 6 months of raising more chicks. Life (or loss) is just not fair but compromise has to be made.

 

[jason_mazzy]

Thank you for the support. This was not written by me but by shook poultry here in Claremont NC. Remember you can change the numbers to your cost. lets say you feed organic, then your feed amount will be a higher dollar amount multiplied by the feed amount (.24lbs for light breeds) here is the full article:



Rearing Chicks vs Buying Started Pullets
First we just want to say that this is an average cost example of Rearing Chicks vs Buying Started Pullets and in no way will this example
be completly accurate in everyones experience, it is up to you to decide what you are wanting to do and to put your own cost into this
form and see what it will cost you.


You may be better off buying started pullets rather than rearing chicks. Compare your cost to a growers price. Figure the cost of raising
a started pullet under your conditions. Multiply your chick cost by 1.1 to allow for some mortality and culling. Light breed pullets will eat
from 22-26 pounds of feed per bird and heavy breed pullets will eat from 30-34 pounds per pullet from hatch to 18 weeks of age, you will also lose 1-3 pounds per 50 pounds due to scratch out and waist. Figure all equipment cost and housing cost. Estimate your expences
for litter, heat for brooding, medications, and other miscellaneous production cost. Allow cost for your labor and for any payments made
for labor to care for the flock. Convert your figure to a per-pullet basis for comparison.

This is an "average" example of what it will cost to rear 25 chicks from hatch to 18 weeks old.

Pullet Chick Price "Average Cost" $2.05 each - 25 x $2.05 x 1.1 = $56.38 lose of 3 chicks = 22 chicks at $2.56 per chick

Feed per 50lbs "Average Cost" $12.00 = $0.24 per lb x 24lbs (Light Breeds) = $5.76 per pullet
Feed per 50lbs "Average Cost" $12.00 = $0.24 per lb x 32lbs (Heavy Breeds) = $7.68 per pullet

Vaccinations and Medications "Average Cost" $1.23 per pullet - "use only if you plan on vacc/med"

Brooder House/Box, 1 Lamp, 1 Heat Bulb, 1 Waterer, 1 Feeder, 2 Bags of Shavings "Average Cost" $100.00 = $4.55 per pullet

Labor "Average Cost" Minimum Wage Law $7.25 per hour - 30 minutes a day = $3.63 x 126 days "18 weeks" $457.38 = $20.79 per pullet
You can pay yourself less if you want too. $2.50 a day x 126 days = $315.00 divided by 22 = $14.32 per pullet
Maybe you work for free = $0.00 per pullet - (We have plenty of work for you if you work for free)

Electricity for a 250 watt Heat Bulb "Average Cost" $0.60 per day x 49 days "7 weeks" $29.40 divided by 22 = $1.34 per pullet

There are a few other miscellaneous production cost but I want get into them, I just wanted to give you a basic idea of what it would cost
on average to Buy and Rear Baby Chicks vs Buying Started Pullets. This is based on people who are new to rearing chicks that do not
have their setup in place and have to start from scratch, but even if your not new to rearing chicks you can still use these guidlines to
figure your cost of rearing chicks, just don't use the average cost of what you already have like (Brooder, Lamp, Bulb, Waterer, Feeder).

Now to Figure your Price Per Pullet

22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old Using everything listed above along with the minimum wage law.
Light Breeds Price - $36.23 per pullet x 22 = $797.06 "Average Cost"
Heavy Breeds Price - $38.15 per pullet x 22 = $823.90 "Average Cost"

22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old using everything listed above except vacc/med with the minimum wage law.
Light Breeds Price - $35.00 per pullet x 22 = 770.00 "Average Cost"
Heavy Breeds Price - $36.92 per pullet x 22 = $812.24 "Average Cost"

22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old using everything listed above except vacc/med with the $2.50 wage per day.
Light Breeds Price - $28.53 per pullet x 22 = $627.66 "Average Cost"
Heavy Breeds Price - $30.45 per pullet x 22 = $669.90 "Average Cost"

22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old using everything listed above except vacc/med and no wage (but who works for free?)
Light Breeds Price - $14.21 per pullet x 22 = $312.62 "Average Cost"
Heavy Breeds Price - $16.13 per pullet x 22 = $354.86 "Average Cost"

22 Chicks Reared to 18 Weeks Old with just the price of the chicks and the feed
Light Breeds Price - $8.32 per pullet x 22 = $183.04 "Average Cost"
Heavy Breeds Price - $10.24 per pullet x 22 = $225.28 "Average Cost"

Remember all the prices above are based on an average cost, you will have to see what each item cost you speciffically to do the math on your cost.

Shook Poultry's Cost of 22 - 18 Week Old Started Pullets to You
$6.70 Each x 22 = $147.40