Do you ever feel like calling it a day? *Just caught a dog*

[Coralietg]

Shoot. Shovel. Shut up.

The animal control officer here in my county told me that if I catch the neighbor's dogs even ATTEMPTING to get at my chickens, that it is MY RIGHT to shoot them dead. My babies aren't old enough to be outside yet, but we've caught the neighbor's dogs a dozen times near the coop, trash cans, and just making our land their home...and we've only been here since January 19th. It's bad enough that I'm going to have to worry about "natural" predators like coons, possums, skunks, coyotes, and the pair of red tailed hawks that soar overhead...I don't need to worry about a careless neighbor's pets as well.

I have never shot anything in my life. But if I catch those dogs threatening my chickens...they are gonna be six feet under. Period.

I am OK with this now. I think it's about time we got a small rifle to protect against animals, but we have no idea where to start. It couldn't be too terribly expensive either, we've spent $2,400 already this year between chicks, fencing and feed. Any suggestions would be very welcome.

Everyone who has mentioned animals burrowing under the coop, I appreciate you sharing, and I'm sorry for those awful experiences. My partner has buried hardware cloth, but I'm going to make him check all the way around. The coop and run is a few years old now. We're also planning on renovating his old shed into a hen house. It is raised off the ground. Could something chew through the bottom to get to chickens?

 

[NickW1]

As an Ex-Animal Control Officer I can tell you that YOU DO-NOT have to put up with dogs killing your chickens!!! IN MOST rural jurisdictions you can shoot ON SIGHT any dog that is harassing live-stock and/or poultry. In Fact, most Animal Control Officer are bound by law in most rural jurisdiction to SHOOT ON SIGHT/SITE any dog(s) harassing live-stock or poultry. The key to this is “ON SITE” meaning your property, do not chase the animal and shoot it off your property. Also, applicable Jurisdiction, subject law does not apply in all jurisdictions, KNOW THE LAW where you live. The following is the law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

§ 3.2-6552. Dogs killing, injuring or chasing livestock or poultry.
It shall be the duty of any animal control officer or other officer who may find a dog in the act of killing or injuring livestock or poultry to kill such dog forthwith whether such dog bears a tag or not. Any person finding a dog committing any of the depredations mentioned in this section shall have the right to kill such dog on sight as shall any owner of livestock or his agent finding a dog chasing livestock on land utilized by the livestock when the circumstances show that such chasing is harmful to the livestock. Any court shall have the power to order the animal control officer or other officer to kill any dog known to be a confirmed livestock or poultry killer, and any dog killing poultry for the third time shall be considered a confirmed poultry killer. The court, through its contempt powers, may compel the owner, custodian, or harborer of the dog to produce the dog.
Any animal control officer who has reason to believe that any dog is killing livestock or poultry shall be empowered to seize such dog solely for the purpose of examining such dog in order to determine whether it committed any of the depredations mentioned herein. Any animal control officer or other person who has reason to believe that any dog is killing livestock, or committing any of the depredations mentioned in this section, shall apply to a magistrate serving the locality wherein the dog may be, who shall issue a warrant requiring the owner or custodian, if known, to appear before a general district court at a time and place named therein, at which time evidence shall be heard. If it shall appear that the dog is a livestock killer, or has committed any of the depredations mentioned in this section, the district court shall order that the dog be: (i) killed immediately by the animal control officer or other officer designated by the court; or (ii) removed to another state that does not border on the Commonwealth and prohibited from returning to the Commonwealth. Any dog ordered removed from the Commonwealth that is later found in the Commonwealth shall be ordered by a court to be killed immediately.

I’ve stood in court many times while the plaintiff presented still picture or video of their neighbors dog chasing their stock/chickens; in every case, the Judge had the offending dogs destroyed. You don’t need a lawyer, all you need is proof. One plaintiff installed “Trail Cameras” by his coop. If you’re not familiar with Trail Cameras they are simply cameras that hunter use to take still pictures of game so that they can determine where and at what time game passes along a trail, a sensor activates that camera whenever game passes by and Walla, flash, caught in the act. In any event, it makes me mad as hell when people think they are powerless to stop dog predation on their stock, you are not, the law is on your side!!!! Sorry if I was a bit overbearing, its just you don't have to live like this. Good Luck.

 

[SlipsWife]

We have a number of guns but the one I feel most comfortable with when going into the backyard is our 22 pistols. They have a shorter range than a rifle but anything you're shooting is going to be on your property and probably pretty close. There of course is the responsibility to owning guns (keep away from children, know how to use it, etc.). Adding a red dot also would help with accuracy.

We have a neighbor that has dogs that have gotten out a number of times (a large German Sheppard and a doberman). We left our gate open one day and didn't know they were in the yard (before chickens) and then closed the gate when we got home. I let our dogs out to potty, not knowing they were now locked in our yard, and everything went crazy. Luckily our dogs came in without to much trouble. I then had to wait for them to go to the back, sneak out, open the gate, go to the back and herd them out. A few days later the were behind our house (outside of our fence) and had killed a neighbors dog. The dead dog was actually bigger than our Chihuahua mix so that shows how lucky we were. My husband was home so he checked the tags and called the owner. He told the owner that if the dogs were EVER seen on our property again he would shoot them and then call him to come get them. They haven't been out since.

Sometimes when people know you mean business they finally listening. It would break my heart if someone shot our dogs because they had gotten out but now I can understand why someone would.

I hope it never comes down to that an maybe warning the neighbors might be all it takes for them to keep their dogs more contained.

 

[Fentressfarmer]

Coralietg,
I am so sorry for your loss and don't give up on chickens! There is a huge learning curve we must all go through and your heart will get broken more than once I am sorry to say! I live on a small acreage also and have to put ip with other people's roaming animals and it drives me crazy. Just remember only do what you feel comfortable with when it comes to dealing with these animals! I always confront the owners first about their animals before I take drastic measures because that is my choice to do. You do what you deem necessary not what everyone else tells you to do. Find out your local laws and ordinances before you act to hastily! You don't want to get in trouble for shooting something if their is a law in place. Don't get me wrong I have used lethal measures many times but only where I felt it necessary, I wish you the best of luck and it is sad to see this same thing posted over and over because of stupid people who don't control their animals.

 

[SlipsWife]

I am going to start this off by stating that I am Texan. To some that means nothing, to others it explains a lot.

If people cared enough about their pets they would keep them safe. I'm not saying to make a trail of steaks going to your chicken coop and leave the door open. I would be heartbroken if someone killed one of our dogs. They've gotten out twice since we moved into our new house. The first time we had only been here for 2 nights and were gone to pick up our stuff and we didn't realize our back gate wasn't secure. The second time we had a bad storm and it blew the front gate open. We've taken measures to secure both gates so it doesn't happen again. Our Great Dane is 180 pounds and the biggest baby you will ever meet BUT if he were to get out and scare someone and they felt the need to protect themselves or what is theirs, I would understand. It is MY job to make sure MY family and animals are protected. If I fail at that, it's on me to deal with the consequences. A huge problem in our society right now is people not feeling they are accountable for their actions. The original poster has the right to protect what is theirs. They have gone ABOVE and BEYOND what is needed to protect their chickens. I don't agree with going on a dog killing spree if you don't know who did it but if you have PROOF, or the culprit is still on your property then you have the right to respond. One of our dogs is a chicken killing machine (we learned the hard way) and if he were to get out and kill our neighbors chickens I would understand. There is A LOT of time/money/effort that goes into chickens (or at least for us there has been. Our run was $300 alone) and it's not right that we should take loses because someone else doesn't feel the need to take responsibility for their pets. Also, when would be considered ok? When a dog that you don't know comes after you or your child because they feel like you are threatening their kill? Your home should be your safe place.

None of this is meant to sound or be harsh, it's just MY point of view on matters.

 

[liz9910]

We've had such a horrendous year when it comes to chicken raising. We lost 7 fully grown chickens in January to a raccoon attack. I was heartbroken. We ordered straight away from McMurray, because feed stores weren't carrying chicks yet. The first box arrived from McMurray, half of the chicks were dead. More died the next few days, until we were left with only 2, out of 28 or so. Another box shipped, most survived. I got chick fever, got some more chicks from TSC a long the way. I had 42 chicks, I was happy with that!
We had trouble with a neighbours dogs in the past, so off I sent my partner to Lowe's to finally get everything for a fence. $1,800 later, fence is in progress around our acre. In the meantime, he put up a metal fence to create a 1200sq/ft pen, because I wanted to let our now 9 week chicks free range during the day, while we were out.

Monday, he left for work. For some crazy reason, he let the chicks out into the pen. Two hours later, I got up, went out to feed them and as I was approaching I saw a feathery lump. And another lump. I don't remember much more after that, but the pen was full of my poor poor dead baby chicks. We had 38 outside, only 4 were still in the brooder in the house (a picked on leghorn, two tiny bantams and a crooked beak bantam).

I stormed up the road in a fury and followed feathers to her property, with her two little dogs running around outside. I have no proof it was them. We have 4 survivors, out of all the ones that were outside. I never thought I could be so sad over chickens, but I'm crushed to the point of insomnia. I'm haunted by the terror they must have been in their last moments.

I apologise for the essay, I just had to get it off my chest, and this is the only place I know people would understand.

I'm really feeling like we should call it a day. We have two little girls who love the chickens, but I feel like a negligent chicken murderer. Other people have said they were "only" chickens, so I should get over it. I miss them all though.

I am so sorry for your loss. Not sure how your animal control works there but could you file a complaint against the neighbor?

 

[shmccarthy]

All this talk of shooting people's dogs makes me think so of you really need perspective and possibly help.  That is needless, senseless, cowardly, infuriating, immature and nauseating.  Protect your animals without harming people's pets.  If you do hurt someone's dog, you had best pray they're not someone like me.

It's the owners responsibility to look after and train their dogs. My neighbor has a border collie that has bit my brother not once, or twice, but THREE times. One time being on the face. My brother was 12 at the time and wasn't in their yard or doing anything to bother the dog. He walked by their house. We didn't press charges because we didn't want to deal with the police and animal control. We told them keep the dog in their yard and if we see that dog anywhere on our property for any reason, it's a dead dog. Dogs with aggression problems are not okay. I was so livid about that dog biting my brother and I would be furious if any dog went after my chickens.
A dog (with an owner) is different than a wild animal going after the chickens. You don't train wild animals. You train dogs. If someone is going to have a dog then it is their responsibility what that dog does. It is irresponsible not to teach your dog not to be aggressive with other animals.
I have a lab that has been trained since he was a puppy to be a bird fetching dog. He doesn't go after my chickens because I was responsible enough to train him not to. Several of my neighbors have chickens and he doesn't bother them either.
I believe if any animal, whether it be someone's pet or not..it doesn't matter to me, is going after MY animals I have a right to stop it. It's the owners fault.

 

[BGMatt]

I was just suggesting a way people can avoid conflict and trouble. Edit: Not worth it, but it's still shocking an appalling. Be responsible for your animals. Why would a dog owner train a dog to leave chickens alone if they don't own them? I will retreat to the other forums and stay out of this one.

Edit 2: just not worth it. Sorry I even said anything. Not flaming or trying to start a fight.

 

[Coralietg]

We have tried Animal Control before. We would have to trap the dogs on our property for them to do anything. The last time her dogs were killing our chickens, we got one and took it to AC. She got more dogs. I know this because one day we had a small puppy show up at the house. 5 days went by, puppy was still hanging around outside. It started chasing our hens around, so I took it to Animal Control. Next day, neighbour shows up asking if we had seen a dog. Yup, sure had, it tore the screen out of the door and I took it to Animal Control. He was ******, told me he was planning on breeding them, stormed off. They're not going to secure their dogs. They're not going to secure their property. We are taking steps to have our property secured.

Do I want to shoot a dog? No! Should I just shrug it off when I find over 30 chickens killed by my neighbours dogs? The same neighbour whose dogs have killed about 10 other chickens in the past. The neighbours couldn't care less. Apparently this whole area is their dogs playground.

 

[Coralietg]

I was just suggesting a way people can avoid conflict and trouble. Edit: Not worth it, but it's still shocking an appalling. Be responsible for your animals. Why would a dog owner train a dog to leave chickens alone if they don't own them? I will retreat to the other forums and stay out of this one.

There is a difference if you are a responsible dog owner. My neighbour isn't. The dogs are outside, while she goes to work all day. The same dogs chase me down the street when I go out for a run. Before you edited, you said chickens were "cheap, disposable livestock". I spent $125 on those 36 chicks her dogs killed, raised from babies. Plus 100lbs of food. We're not rich. We can't afford to replace chickens several times a year because she won't keep control of her dogs. But, that's fine. We've spent a couple of thousand now buying fencing to secure our property. If her dogs find a way in, we will be ready.