Does anyone know how to keep a dog away from the chicken coop?

[keely15]

Hello, Our neighbor dog is terrorizing our chickens. We recently put new chicks 6wks in a small coop inside the large coop so they can become used to each other. We have spoke with them and they just tell us to correct him. We have reinforced our fencing and even put 6x6 redwood around the pen. He is digging under the redwood. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what we may do to stop him. Our dogs have always gotten along fine with the chickens. Now they are all skiddish and the "girls" have quit laying. Thanks for any help.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Well that is exasperating! You say he is digging into the pen?

The first thing that came to mind ( well after "they should control their dog") was a supper soaker gun. A real farmer might suggest a higher caliber gun. But seriously it might be time to file a complaint, if your chickens are allowed under your area's codes.

The other idea is to lay chicken around the pen with the 6x6 on either side to at least keep him from digging under. But he would still terrorize them.

If you want more responses you might want to start a new thread. Your question might get kind of lost here.

 

[HEChicken]

Hello, Our neighbor dog is terrorizing our chickens. We recently put new chicks 6wks in a small coop inside the large coop so they can become used to each other. We have spoke with them and they just tell us to correct him. We have reinforced our fencing and even put 6x6 redwood around the pen. He is digging under the redwood. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what we may do to stop him. Our dogs have always gotten along fine with the chickens. Now they are all skiddish and the "girls" have quit laying. Thanks for any help.

Personally I'd bundle the dog up and take it to Animal Control. It is the neighbor's responsibility to contain the dog and if they refuse to do so, they are breaking the law by allowing their dog to "run at large". In order to get their dog back from Animal Control, they'll have to pay a fine and after having to do that a time or two, they might be more motivated to contain it. If they don't care enough to go and bail it out, it will ultimately be placed for adoption and you can hope it will be adopted by someone who does care about it.