Dogs more important than Chickens?

[McChooky]

I have had 3 dogs in the last 30 years, one every ten years, some of the dogs over lapped each other a bit, the younger one meeting the older one. I have had who knows how many chickens during that same time. I recently had a chance to not have chickens at all. I had a weasel wipe out my hens. I quickly hatched more to replace the loss. (Weasel taken care of, and coop secured.) I decided I cannot live without chickens. When my current dog, 13.5 years old, passes on I don't plan on replacing him.

Nothing says you can't have both. I trained mine to sound alerts but my chickens aren't out a lot.

 

[McChooky]

Most people don't realize the work that goes into raising chickens or keeping them alive until they get chickens . I spent the spring and summer of 2021 making fences and a coop before making a run.
I barely got it all finished before winter.This is why dogs get shot.

 

[fowltemptress]

Yeah, but the question is, "are dogs more important than chickens?"

That's just the thread title. Here's the actual question in the original post:

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

 

[TOMTE]

That's just the thread title. Here's the actual question in the original post:

You're right, my bad. But again, my point, that I have made to the point of getting annoyed, still stands: there is no right or wrong answer.

Y'all keep replying to me to bring up these same points as if my answer will change or something. Or like it's a gotcha? Hence why last night I was pointing out that we're all just talking in circles now.

Bottom line: we all want to protect our flocks. What that means differs from person to person.

Why do I have to keep saying this?

 

[saysfaa]

...
Why do I have to keep saying this?

You don't. Like, stop when it seems to you to be just circles.

I saw different aspects presented this morning in McChooky's post. I hadn't thought of the issue in quite that way before. It was helpful.

I don't mind some circling to allow time for development like that.

My two cents? (you get what you pay for) - I have less tolerance for multiple posts complaining about circling or repeated positions or exhausting the topic or however one wants to describe it. If a thread no longer interests any given person, for whatever reason, what is so hard about moving on?

 

[TOMTE]

You don't. Like, stop when it seems to you to be just circles.

I saw different aspects presented this morning in McChooky's post. I hadn't thought of the issue in quite that way before. It was helpful.

I don't mind some circling to allow time for development like that.

My two cents? (you get what you pay for) - I have less tolerance for multiple posts complaining about circling or repeated positions or exhausting the topic or however one wants to describe it. If a thread no longer interests any given person, for whatever reason, what is so hard about moving on?

I'm quite obviously talking about people quoting me directly to drag it out.

I also find new points of view helpful. What I don't find helpful, as originally stated last night and where this started, is the tired back-and-forth of "you kill my dog and I'll go crazy" - "your dog goes after my chickens and I shoot your dog". It isn't productive and gets us nowhere.

You're right, I can just duck out of a thread if I'm tired of it. But what I'm mostly tired of is my posts being taken out of context to the point of getting off topic and/or repetetive. I find this topic interesting exactly because it's nuanced and I like to see others' thoughtful points of view which is why I haven't unsubscribed.

 

[saysfaa]

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

My take on it

"Protect" - yes.
"Shoot" - a qualified yes

Of the shooting (or other lethal options)
"All predators" - no
Some predators in some situation - yes
"Someone's dog" - a qualified yes.

Saying a dog is more important than your chickens is just rude.

How it was presented on the neighborhood chat is also important, though.

Dogs being equivalent to children is, hm... no. At least as a real thing. Playfully having a grandpuppy or whatever as semantics is just fun.

 

[saysfaa]

Sometimes people are quoted to indicate which part of the thread or the conversation is being addressed. Vs, for one example, an invitation for the quoted person to respond.

Edit to add: and sometimes I choose to take it that way regardless of how it was intended. Not that I am or am not in this thread but life on forums got a lot more enjoyable once I started doing that.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

A dogs life doesn't have any inherent value- though with that said, all of life is deserving of compassion when possible

A good livestock guardian dog guards livestock. A good guard dog guards humans. A bad dog roams on impulse and attacks people, children, pets and livestock

A good dog may be worth it's weight in gold. A bad dog that attacks and kills at random is better off dead

Any dog that busts through my large fence covered by barbed wire is a bad dog. A good dog wouldn't shred itself to get on my land

Regards- someone who lives in a popular dog dumping location

 

[fowltemptress]

I'd much prefer reading people talking in circles in an effort to clarify their stance or drive home a point than have to read through posts from people going off topic to complain about how annoying and/or repetitious the on-topic posts are. But that's just my off-topic, hypocritical take on that.

My husband is a sweetheart who wanted to go the the route of talking to the owners rather than shooting, because he loves his pets and wouldn't want to deprive anyone of theirs. I've worked in animal rescues and lived the rural lifestyle and so had my own opinions on how well that would go. He had his way in the beginning, which led to very painful lessons learned. I think it's just one of those things that only seems nuanced until experience gets the upper hand. He now shoots wandering dogs on sight, and I hate that dog owners are cruel enough to have forced my husband into this new frame of mind, but it is what it is. If you're lucky enough to have neighbors who care enough about their animals to keep them on their own property, treasure them! They're worth their weight in gold (or free eggs!).