Dogs more important than Chickens?

[Dita Orlik]

Alright, if we’re considering dogs and chickens as people, I’d put it into this perspective…

If a person came over and started attacking my children, they’d probably get shot, or seriously injured. And if you want to put it into their perspective, if a person trespassed on my property and started destroying my livelihood, they’d probably have the same result.

Exactly. What are you taking their space you moved to their Territory they were there before you. The least you can do is to protect your livelihood without killing somebody's. I never said you cannot protect your chickens, that's why I'm sharing my experience and giving you the tools to do it. So again, is it relevant what you are saying it's not like that you are against the wall and your only option is to murder something to protect your children or your animals.

 

[Dita Orlik]

I understand you have a very strong opinion on this and can imagine why, but I don't believe that dismissing other peoples' points of view while repeating your own is ever going to make someone suddenly see the light.

For example, the context to your above questions is the law, which varies by location. And we make up the laws that give us the right to exploit the planet, and animals, and other people so they're probably not the answer you want anyway.

Poeple don't wake up in the morning wondering how they are going to ruin the planet today. They might wonder how to protect their birds. They might even believe having their own birds and killing a predator once is a while is better for the planet overall than buying industrial meat from the store. A better question than "what give you the right" might be, what can be done to make it easier to protect the birds in a way that discourages killing predators. We have non profits helping fund electric fencing and managing attractants for people to reduce conflict for example. That has worked way better to save bears from being shot around here than treating people like they're a child by wagging a finger saying this is a big no no, find another way.

Also, note that I fundamentally I agree humans should be caretakers of the planet or at least leave a small footprint and not exploit/destroy it, though I have a more moderate/pragmatic stance, so I'm not going to argue further.

Again you can stop wondering I'm giving you the plan how to protect your chickens if you just are willing to try at least try, save all the words do the action, I got all the tools. As I'm saying where there is a will, there is away. And what do you mean “wagging a finger”…. you just said that they found the way that they use the electric fencing, ….that's what I'm saying, find the way. You found hundreds of ways why not to do it why are you wasting the time?

 

[FrostRanger]

I would also add that in some places certain species are overpopulated. In my state coyotes are overpopulated which causes its own problems. Predator proofing should be the first line of defense but sometimes there are just too many of a species and it throws things out of balance

 

[Dita Orlik]

I would also add that in some places certain species are overpopulated. In my state coyotes are overpopulated which causes its own problems. Predator proofing should be the first line of defense but sometimes there are just too many of a species and it throws things out of balance

The thing is here I am not trying to argue with people about their views and I don't mean you, I mean generally. But what I am saying is I found the way I have a know-how. But no one asks me how the hell did I manage this? Everyone is only telling me about how killing the animals it's okay, because of whatever reasons. I am saying do you wanna know how to protect the chicken without murdering the wildlife? I can tell you how step-by-step. And it doesn't matter where you live, how many coyotes are there I got two packs here. If you want to start thinking about how to protect the chickens, I tell you step-by-step. I show you, I made videos I recorded it from the beginning I have learned, they learned and you can learn from me or you can show me the better way but not the easiest way like to blast somebody's life off this planet.

 

[fowltemptress]

Whelp, the wild animals, when they're able, never balk at killing when it comes to protecting their own, and I don't fancy myself too good to listen to the lessons from nature herself.

 

[Ginmary]

I recently had an issue come up that got me thinking. I had a few dogs attack my chickens and I contacted the owner within my neighborhood chat.

A few people have made comments like: “a dog is my child” and “a dog is more important than your chickens”

“If you would shoot a dog, I hope you wouldn’t shoot a child”

I don’t agree that a dog is the equivalent to a child. They are animals.

Do you all believe it’s acceptable to protect your chickens against all predators? (Including someone’s dog)

The law states I can kill a dog attacking my chickens. Hopefully, more people can be aware of this issue so they can protect their own animals.

We ended up putting up an electric fence.

"A few people have made comments like: “a dog is my child” and “a dog is more important than your chickens”"

By that reasoning, is it ok if a neighbors child comes over to attack the dog? The child does have the higher hierarchy.

 

[Seaslug]

I want to express my sympathy to anyone who has lost a chicken to a predator. It is difficult. I think that all of us can understand the motivation behind wild predators killing. Whether it is this understanding, the knowledge that we have to share this world, or that killing a predator only creates a temporary hole that another predator eventually fills -- if it gets you to "live and let live" then I am for it.
I understand how frustrating it is to have a domesticated animal kill your chicken(s). I do not believe that killing the domesticated animal is the best solution to this problem. First, I know that I am not infallible, and until I am, I am not going to kill someone's pet (who, second, is NOT the party at fault) due to a probable error. How many of us are busy? Do not have a couple hundred of dollars available to throw at a problem? Have numerous people counting on us or aches and pains getting in the way of immediately tackling a large project? Who has not had an emergency or something unexpected happen when they were out of town? Everyone in this situation deserves better than simply retribution shooting. Talk to the person who owns the dog. Ask if they need assistance. Are they having a difficult time caring for the animal? Can anything be done to help? Because this loss was very difficult for you and you do not want anyone else to go through something similar.

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

I had an ongoing battle with my crackhead neighbors dog that kept killing my chickens and rooster and even threatened to shoot it. They were not responsible dog owners. It was very frustrating and exhausting. I recently had an incident where I had one of my flighty leghorns fly into my English and French bulldogs fenced in yard (6ft)…. I would like to think that my dogs are well trained and they have never caused any problems with people or even my autistic child. They are just too lazy cute dogs that I love to pieces! Never showed any kind of aggressive behavior. Both are 1 yr old. Anyways, about that leghorn that flew into my yard… BOTH English and frenchie bit her! I was outside so I had time to intervene and save my chicken. Had I not been outside there is not a doubt in my mind that they both would have killed my hen for sure! It was quite chaotic scruffing them and getting to her to help her but I did. Moral of story, I’m not sure how to respond because now I can look at this from both points of views. My dogs are my family and I’m a good owner. My chickens are also my family and I am a good owner! However there has to be a fine line for me, it may sound bias but I wouldn’t dream of killing my dogs, yet they were definitely disciplined! With that being said, had it been someone else’s dog, I feel like I would have reacted much differently, much like in the past when I was constantly arguing with my neighbors because their dog kept killing my flock……. Dogs will kill chickens IF THEY CAN GET AWAY with it. I’m trying to look at my example as a wrong place wrong time type ordeal for my hen. She’s good though. No deep puncture wounds, cleaned up with some Hibacleanse and spending a few nights in the garage to relax and not be stressed out and warm. My pups got a bath and that’s the end.

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

I want to express my sympathy to anyone who has lost a chicken to a predator. It is difficult. I think that all of us can understand the motivation behind wild predators killing. Whether it is this understanding, the knowledge that we have to share this world, or that killing a predator only creates a temporary hole that another predator eventually fills -- if it gets you to "live and let live" then I am for it.
I understand how frustrating it is to have a domesticated animal kill your chicken(s). I do not believe that killing the domesticated animal is the best solution to this problem. First, I know that I am not infallible, and until I am, I am not going to kill someone's pet (who, second, is NOT the party at fault) due to a probable error. How many of us are busy? Do not have a couple hundred of dollars available to throw at a problem? Have numerous people counting on us or aches and pains getting in the way of immediately tackling a large project? Who has not had an emergency or something unexpected happen when they were out of town? Everyone in this situation deserves better than simply retribution shooting. Talk to the person who owns the dog. Ask if they need assistance. Are they having a difficult time caring for the animal? Can anything be done to help? Because this loss was very difficult for you and you do not want anyone else to go through something similar.

Great advice for sure!

 

[Chickenshannanigans]

I personally do believe it's acceptable to protect my birds against all predators. If someone's irresponsible enough with their dog that it escapes and attacks my chickens, how can they compare it to a child? No one would be that irresponsible with a child and children are a lot more capable of learning and growing anyway.
Dogs are animals just like chickens, but dogs are predators and ought to be treated as such because they can harm people including children, and other animals.
My chickens are my pets and my livestock and they're immeasureably valuable to me because of all the work I've put in with them. Some are more pet than other.
So yeah if someone's dog came after my birds I would do what I had to do.

But what if your own pups were the villain and your own hen flew into the very space that keeps them seperated? That’s a hard one to answer, right.