Dog

[ThenNotSoChickenMaster]

We never had problems with predators, we had enough trees for the chickens to take cover for aerial attacks and our dog scared of cats and other animals. We started to let them free range and never lost a chicken due to a predator. Becuase of this, we never built a proper fence, they only have a coop. But now, we are having some issues with a predator. About 2 weeks ago, an animal came and killed a chicken and a duck. It was strange because both animals were never eaten, just left there on the ground. I started to reinforce their coop and also let our dog out to "guard" more. We kept them inside and only let them out if someone was in the house. Since then, no more animals came, so I started to get confident and let my chickens out to free range more. Now yesterday, a dog came and luckily I was at home so I was able to get the culprit without causing harm (our dog just started playing with the dog and didn't anything -_-). We were going to call an animal shelter or something but the dog's owner came. He said the dog escaped, well I let it pass and told him it was alright. Well today the dog came back, not once, not twice, not three, but four times. We got him the first time, sadly the second time when we left the house he got 2 more chickens. Then he came back in the afternoon and we caught him. He came again 10 minutes later but the owner got him before he could do any harm. We told the owner to give us 40 bucks, 10 dollars for each chicken (and duck) the dog killed. I know it's my fault too for not being able to fully secure our yard but come on, four times a day is just ridiculous.

 

[3riverschick]

Well he smelled blood. now you'll never get rid of him. now can call Animal Control .
you could shoot the dog shovel and shut up. but you better build a fort for your chickens because this dog is never going to give up now. once they start killing chickens , you're done.
Karen

 

[3riverschick]

This is not your fault. this is your neighbors and the dog's fault. It sounds like this dog is killing for sport. never a good thing. talk to the neighbor. contact Animal Control.
I'm so sorry for your losses
Karen

 

[ThenNotSoChickenMaster]

Thanks for the advice. Hopefully, the dog doesn't come back or I'll have no choice but to contact animal control.

P.S Nice chicken you have as your avatar, what breed is the chicken?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I agree, this is a dog ownership issue. Check your animal control ordinances. Usually all dogs should be under control, and definitely not killing livestock in the neighbor's yard. Most places allow you to kill a dog who attacks your livestock. I would not do that without warning, but warning your neighbor that this has got to stop or you will stop it likely will help that dog be kept better. (It also will likely cause a rift with the neighbor, but he is being thoughtless with that dog...in many ways).

Even if the owner begins to secure the dog better, the dog has shown a history of escaping (and some dogs are escape artists, especially if they are bored, left alone all day long, which goes back to poor dog ownership).

You will have troubles until this is resolved....meaning you've either got your birds locked up tight at all times, or the dog is no longer able to get to the chickens (gone or securely kenneled on the owner's property).

If you want to keep neighbor relations on the friendlier side, build a fence now with electric wire. That's expensive, so the only other option is to get results with the owner.

Hopefully a good cup of coffee and a heart to heart will help the owner see the error of his ways. If not...it is the law or a fence.

Lofmc

 

[ThenNotSoChickenMaster]

Yeah, I don't really want to get my hands messy, I'm not sure about the rules here but I'll investigate. Anyways, I prefer to keep them in while I'm not home than to have all my chickens gone.

I'll build a fence and talk to the neighbors and try to fix the issue.

 

[3riverschick]

Seriously, www.predatorpee.com
This dog isn't going to stop. he's not going to stay home. he's found fun and he wants to play. this is the owner's fault .
Karen

 

[centrarchid]

There are several issues to this and I have survived similar. Neighbor has a part LGD that worked hard to become part of our pack getting mauled a few times in the process. She is now part of the pack. For a good six months she was interested in and did kill chickens. My dogs were not so good at stopping one of their "own". Neighbor payed for a couple losses. I upgraded fencing and worked to reduce her interest in the chickens. She still cannot be trusted in the cockyard area but that is no longer an issue because fence keeps her out.

Even now, fencing backs up defenses protecting chickens. Area too big to stop every predator incursion before dogs get their. I have responsibility as well using fencing to keep bad guys out. Dog on this end still a problem when she eats my carcass decomposition experiments.

 

[theoldchick]

Good fences make great neighbors. Electric fences make them even better. However, if the dog keep visiting, contact animal control, or better yet take the dog to the shelter and tell them who the owner is and what the dog is doing. Make sure you have photos/videos of the culprit in action. Now keep in mind if you do this you will have a very angry neighbor who make seek revenge on the chickens.

 

[chickens really]

I have a Golden Retriever Aussie Cross trained to protect my Birds..Chickens and Ducks..Lady down the road has gotten 3 little Goats..Bindi now goes off my property to protect her Goats..She lays by their fenced pen and licks them through the fence...Looks like I might need to get Bindi her own Goats...lol........