Don't understatement the brutality of domestic dogs...

[ChickensRDinos]

Dogs are Predators - just domesticated ones.

They will still kill and eat chickens if they are hungry and for fun also!

There are many wild predators like foxes, which kill for 'fun' - they will kill all the chickens in the coop - far more than they can eat.

Also some whales and dolphins will kill for fun - killer whales often hunt down young wales or adult seals, then play with the dead body and not even eat them - although we don't have to worry about such predators with our chickens - unless we are taking them on a swimming holiday.

x2

Human's also kill animals for fun and then stuff their bodies and put them on the wall to proudly display how fun it was. I feel like when you look at our history we, as a species, are not really in a position to judge on brutality.

Dogs kill chickens out of instinct. Good fences are the best answer and good training if you have a dog.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[browning6]

I feel the pain that you all express. We recently adopted a lab that first thing took in after my chickens and the first one the caught was dead in seconds. I wasn't home at the time so when i got home I staged a chicken attack with him on a 20 foot rope. when the chicken saw him it took off, when he saw it run he took off. he was going full speed when he hit the end of the rope. He hit so hard he almost did a back flip. then I yelled NO! NO! I never hit him because i think this is not good for the dog owner relationship. The next day i did it again and again he fell for the bait. After the second time he won't even look at a chicken. And trust me, I staged a third and he didn't give chase. They can run or fly by him and he pays little attention.
So take heart that your dogs are more intelligent than we give them credit for. A strong no is all it took for my dog. I hope that yours are the same.

And i agree on the stray and neighbors dogs. Keep them home if you don't want them shot. And to all the people that say their dogs would never do that, they are no naive for their own good, and most of the time the dog is the one that pays the price for it.

 

[Flock Leader]

Flock Leader, you can train your dog to leave the chickens alone, although that would have been easier if you had done it before the dog learned that it is fun to chase chickens. But the dog can still be trained; it will just take more of your time and effort.

I would love some tips on that. I thought it was hopeless to train her now. My husband invested in an electric fence for the dog. She is a German Shepherd/Malinois cross, comes from excellent blood lines, we were only able to afford her because she's not pure-bred and considered it our very good fortune, so naturally we don't want to part with her. But of course I can't let her make away with more chickens!!

 

[sumi]

Here's a thread on dog-chicken training: Ideas on training my dog to leave the birds alone? Hopefully you will get some good advice there!

 

[Mattemma]

Sorry for your loss.I would kill or rehome a trespassing dog.At the same time I might keep your trepassing chickens.Everyone must keep their things in THEIR yard.Fence up.It is not 100%,but it helps keep them out and yours in.

 

[janinepeters]

"Don't understatement the brutality of domestic dogs"

I find the brutality of domestic dogs perfectly understandable, for the reasons others elaborated on above. What baffles me is the brutality of people. We have much larger brains, the capacity for discussion and deliberation, yet we continue to subject most of our livestock to brutal, horrific conditions, and destroy wildlife and their homes on staggeringly grand scale. Thus, it always stuns me when people complain about the actions of dogs and other predators.

 

[Flock Leader]

Here's a thread on dog-chicken training: Ideas on training my dog to leave the birds alone? Hopefully you will get some good advice there!

Thanks!

 

[Bobaroni]

Dog attacks kill 25 to 30 humans per year in the US. They are the number 2 animal killer, Bees and Wasp are number 1 (50 deaths per year), allergic reations to their venom, Spider are number 3 with about 7 deaths per year in the US.

 

[nzpouter]

not much to understand really.... useless owners + free range untrained bored dogs ... never really a good combination.

 

[sourland]

not much to understand really.... useless owners + free range untrained bored dogs ... never really a good combination.

Good pens make good neighbors - on both sides.