Dogs INSIDE my coop! Compensation?

[centrarchid]

Why have they been killing your chickens for 3 1/2 years? I would think after the first time, you would fix the coop so those dogs, or any other predator, couldnt get to them.

With wildlife and feral animals, that burden falls solely on the chicken keeper, but at some point the dog owner needs to take some responsibility since dog has potential of being controlled.

 

[halo]

I do agree to a point. But if a neighbors dogs can continuously get in the coop and kill chickens, so can feral and other neighbors dogs. You can't control others animals, be they domestic or wild. But you can control the safety of your own birds to predators, be they the neighbors dog, or a feral dog.

 

[kgdubois]

Not to sound too bloodthirsty or awful, but those dogs would be dead if I lived there. I understand that it is very hard to catch them while they are in your yard, but have you looked into livetraps, or another way to capture them?

I believe that you have been very, very understanding about the continued loss of your birds, and it is time to take drastic action. It also sounds like your neighbor is completely taking advantage of you NOT doing more than you have...you may have no choice but to take further action (whatever you deem necessary) to resolve this issue.

I hope this does not upset anyone, and I am not trying to be cruel or inhumane, but I would either set traps or hire someone to set some traps for me, then shoot the trapped dogs. But I live way out in the country, and do not have city laws to deal with.

I wish you luck, and hope that this gets resolved!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I have to agree with Halo. I would absolutely be taking steps against this dog owner BUT I would first and foremost be making my coop inaccessible to the dog/dogs for the sake of the chickens. A very easy and relatively inexpensive way to do this is to run a few strands of hot wire. Either fasten the holders to the coop/run itself or pound in a few metal T stakes around the coop and run the wires on that. Can use an electric charger if you have access to an outlet or if not, a solar charger. Either one will give plenty of hit to any dog that sticks his nose on that wire. I've never, ever had a reapeat offender who got his nose shocked twice! Very effective training tool! At least the chickens can be safe while you deal with the idiot dog owner.

 

[only4ghosts]

I agree. Why are they still getting in to the coop after three and a half years?

 

[nthehunt]

I agree with Halo as well, after the few times of talking to the owners and nothing was done I would have shot the dogs, its my legal right. There comes a point where enough is enough!
I'm a police officer in a large county(smallish population) and our animal control officers handle these type calls. Us deputies are just to busy with HUMANS getting hurt or dying. Please don't think I don't care cause I do. But sometimes you don't need the police to handle all problems, especially after 3 1/2 years.

I love my chickens dearly as I do my cattle and hogs. I just can't imagine paying $50 for a chicken that's like paying $10,000 for a feeder pig!

 

[samouw]

Go to the Police - and the dogs go ... nothing can go forward until the dogs are gone. Call animal control - whoever you need to call get them picked up and gone. Take photos of the crime scene - document... document... document...

Sadly, the dogs don't always "go" when this situation happens. On March 7th, three of my neighbor's pit bulls got loose, came through my fence into my backyard and attacked my Lab, Conner. I heard the barking and got around there in time to see Conner on the ground with the three pits on top of him - one at his throat, one at his front legs, and one at his rear legs. I ran over there and tried to pull them off (and got bitten in the right arm and left hand in the process). My husband came around the corner with the shotgun, killed one, severely injured one, and the third got away.

A report was filed with (I thought) Animal control from the ER room of the hospital that night, but when I followed up on it, no report had been filed; only one with the Health Dept to verify rabies for the attacking dogs. Finally, Animal control came out to seize one of the dogs, but left the injured one with the owners. The court ruled that the dogs were dangerous animals and had to wear tags that stated that, but the seized dog was returned and the injured one is healing. I'm sure those tags are going to do a lot of good to the next pet...or horrors, child....they attack and severely injure or kill.

My dog is healing, but had multiple stitches (left front elbow ripped open, inside left front and inside right front slashed, multiple puncture wounds on both front legs, one all the way through rear thigh muscle and right ear, multiple puncture wounds around face and throat)

This is the second time these dogs have gotten loose and attacked a neighbor's dog - that one didn't survive the attack. I can't just turn my dogs loose in the backyard and go do something else - like feed the chickens. I stay right there the whole time they are out, with a shovel handy...just in case.


Edited to add:
My husband's greatest regret is that he didn't get a better shot on the one that survived, and had time to get a shot on the third one that got away.

 

[tellynpeep]

Why have they been killing your chickens for 3 1/2 years? I would think after the first time, you would fix the coop so those dogs, or any other predator, couldnt get to them.

My chickens free range in my yard. This neighbor has been fined repeatedly and warned numerous times. I've been too nice in not reporting every single incident, as I didn't want to have to see her dogs taken away (did I mention she is unbalanced and has threatened me? And I live alone?)
However, after this most recent incident, I would be happy to dispatch the dogs myself, if I could. And I AM a dog-lover. In fact, I make my living in animal care, and share my home with my own (non-chicken-eating) dog.

 

[dainerra]

have you mentioned to the police that she is threatening retaliation? That should be your next step.

 

[nthehunt]

I think most of us are dog lovers I have many, but not doing what needs to been isn't solving anything