Dog Problems...Any tips on keeping them away?

[AGeese]

Invisible fences suck.

 

[AGeese]

Not sure what distance is needed, but BBs can pierce an animal. When I was a teen, one of my cats came home with something odd in her head. Took her to the vet and they pulled a BB pellet out of her head. Cat was friendly as can be during the process despite acting like she’s being skinned alive when getting her nails trimmed. She’s still kicking at 13! The vet did tell us that they get pets in for X-rays and find unexpected BB pellets frequently. Assuming the best of people that would lead me to believe you need to be farther away than you might think? Good luck with keeping your chooks safe!

When I adopted my first Min Pin he had just came from the Vet who had removed a BB from his side that was under the skin.

 

[McChooky]

Heyo. I was outside the other day, and a neighbors cute blue heeler dog came over. She's not a bad dog, and I was hoping to sort-of be friends with it, but then it started bothering my chickens... so pretty much never mind on that. (Chickens first, thank you.) She was running around the coops, jumping up on them (they are mostly low, moveable runs), just really scaring the birds for sport. I couldn't get her to leave, and eventually resorted to running to keep myself between her and the chickens. It didn't work great (I have four coops to protect, after all).... Eventually I noticed my little bantam Ahsyolka, and her coopmate were bleeding from hitting themselves on the side of the coop. That made me pretty mad! I have had way too many past experiences with dogs hurting my chickens, and my nerves in that area are pretty delicate now. I finally chased the dog off (or maybe it just got bored, who knows). Afterwards, inspection of my hens revealed the one bird to (thankfully) just have a little blood where the beak meets the top of her head. The poor bantam's comb, however, was nearly severed from slamming into the wire! I didn't think I had the supplies, time or experience to try and save it (it was pretty ugly, bloody), so I wrapped her in a towel, took an alcohol- cleaned exacto-knife, and cut it the rest of the way, using flour to stop the bleeding. Poor bird! I am worried it will get infected, or she will start bleeding again. I am going to put some triple antibiotic (no painkillers, don't worry) on it today. I would have done that yesterday, but it was still so fresh I was afraid daubing stuff on it would make her bleed again (it was kinda hard to get it to stop). She's such a little bird; it couldn't be good for her to lose so much. She looks like a different breed without her little comb! I will try to post a picture of her later when I have the chance.

Obviously, I do not want this happening again. We are going to try and find out the dog's owner (we're not sure who's it is, because almost everyone lets their dogs roam around here), and let them know she's bothering our birds. In the meantime, if it comes back, how do I communicate with this dog that my chickens are absolutely off limits? preferably without hurting it? There's not much I can see to do to reinforce the coops, so for now I'm going to have to go with keeping the dog away, I think. I've managed to get another neighbor's sweet dog to leave them be, but she only really chased them once, and was a people dog; this new dog next to completely ignores me. (She didn't even turn an ear when I slapped her with a stick. I guess it didn't hurt...) I'm not one to really try and hurt animals, but this, I feel, is going to make me snap if it happens again. (Chickens be my weakness.) *sigh* and to think I had just started warming up to dogs again.

Thanks in advance!

We have laws on the books that allows shooting dogs that kills chickens but I hate punishing the dogs when its the owners fault that they're running loose in the first place. I built a fence around my place to keep out the dogs and a predator proof coop and run to keep out other predators.Even if you manage to keep out the dogs you'll still lose chickens to other predators if you don't protect them better. Good luck!

 

[Kriscam]

Heyo. I was outside the other day, and a neighbors cute blue heeler dog came over. She's not a bad dog, and I was hoping to sort-of be friends with it, but then it started bothering my chickens... so pretty much never mind on that. (Chickens first, thank you.) She was running around the coops, jumping up on them (they are mostly low, moveable runs), just really scaring the birds for sport. I couldn't get her to leave, and eventually resorted to running to keep myself between her and the chickens. It didn't work great (I have four coops to protect, after all).... Eventually I noticed my little bantam Ahsyolka, and her coopmate were bleeding from hitting themselves on the side of the coop. That made me pretty mad! I have had way too many past experiences with dogs hurting my chickens, and my nerves in that area are pretty delicate now. I finally chased the dog off (or maybe it just got bored, who knows). Afterwards, inspection of my hens revealed the one bird to (thankfully) just have a little blood where the beak meets the top of her head. The poor bantam's comb, however, was nearly severed from slamming into the wire! I didn't think I had the supplies, time or experience to try and save it (it was pretty ugly, bloody), so I wrapped her in a towel, took an alcohol- cleaned exacto-knife, and cut it the rest of the way, using flour to stop the bleeding. Poor bird! I am worried it will get infected, or she will start bleeding again. I am going to put some triple antibiotic (no painkillers, don't worry) on it today. I would have done that yesterday, but it was still so fresh I was afraid daubing stuff on it would make her bleed again (it was kinda hard to get it to stop). She's such a little bird; it couldn't be good for her to lose so much. She looks like a different breed without her little comb! I will try to post a picture of her later when I have the chance.

Obviously, I do not want this happening again. We are going to try and find out the dog's owner (we're not sure who's it is, because almost everyone lets their dogs roam around here), and let them know she's bothering our birds. In the meantime, if it comes back, how do I communicate with this dog that my chickens are absolutely off limits? preferably without hurting it? There's not much I can see to do to reinforce the coops, so for now I'm going to have to go with keeping the dog away, I think. I've managed to get another neighbor's sweet dog to leave them be, but she only really chased them once, and was a people dog; this new dog next to completely ignores me. (She didn't even turn an ear when I slapped her with a stick. I guess it didn't hurt...) I'm not one to really try and hurt animals, but this, I feel, is going to make me snap if it happens again. (Chickens be my weakness.) *sigh* and to think I had just started warming up to dogs again.

Thanks in advance!

My dad said when he was a kid they scared animals away with rock salt in a shot gun. Supposedly it's non-lethal, but the wounds sting. Not sure if he really did that. Might be a tall tale.

 

[cmom]

I have had isses in the past with a neighbors dogs. I told them to keep them away. They did. Maybe shoot it with a paintball, non lethal. I'm sure you would be able to find out who the owner is then. Also, document everything including pictures so If you need to go the legal route you will have the proof. Good luck...

 

[bobbi-j]

The problem with many of those devices is, you have to be there to activate the deterrent. A couple of strands of hotwire is on duty all the time, and usually only takes once (or twice if you have a very headstrong dog) for the dog to learn that it bites.

 

[texsuze]

The dogs aren't likely to go away. If neighbors are already so lax in their responsibility as to let their dogs free-range and trespass, they'll just smile and say "OK" if you attempt to negotiate with them. Ask me how I know. My advice is to pony up and secure your chickens with some type of fencing--tall enough to keep dogs and other predators out and chickens inside. Electrified enough to deter dogs and other predators. As others have suggested, search ebay, CL, want-ads. Yes, money up front but money well spent if you want to keep your flock safe and stress free. Wish I could help more, best of luck.

 

[McChooky]

Invisible fences suck.

Yes underground fences are always getting shorts and need fresh batteries .They're a huge waste of money and time and unreliable. A regular electric fence works wonders though.

 

[McChooky]

My dad said when he was a kid they scared animals away with rock salt in a shot gun. Supposedly it's non-lethal, but the wounds sting. Not sure if he really did that. Might be a tall tale.

I'm pretty darn sure its true just saying lol

 

[McChooky]

The dogs aren't likely to go away. If neighbors are already so lax in their responsibility as to let their dogs free-range and trespass, they'll just smile and say "OK" if you attempt to negotiate with them. Ask me how I know. My advice is to pony up and secure your chickens with some type of fencing--tall enough to keep dogs and other predators out and chickens inside. Electrified enough to deter dogs and other predators. As others have suggested, search ebay, CL, want-ads. Yes, money up front but money well spent if you want to keep your flock safe and stress free. Wish I could help more, best of luck.

I agree! Its a matter of necessity to invest in a good fence if you raise animals or have pets.