Entire flock killed. What would you do?

[dichotomymom]

Not sure what to tell you but I know what I would want to do. Put that darn dog down.

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
Everyone should. In this economy I even had neighbors stealing eggs out of the nest, which is why I padlocked the coops up in the first place. They were just latched before that. Plus I added a trip wire that they did trip over (I hope they hurt themselves) and had a baby monitor in the coop, and a stealth cam in the woodline. The stealing stopped, just like that. (this is the previous mentioned dog hoarder) It would have been different if they weren't a ugly nasty person to me previously. I used to give them eggs. That is a whole other story though... I go off on tangents.
Point is... lock your birds up and protect them from any and all possible attacks, first.

As far as legal options, I'm sure you have some. Whether they get inforced in your area or not is different. Here... it depends on who you are. No, it isn't right, but that is the way it has always been and I'm sure I'll be long gone before it ever changes.

 

[geebs]

I would get online to CL and find out what the replacement cost of my hens (as adults are) and I would have him cited.... Just put it on the record... (for next time)... If you don't want to put it on the record because he is a nieghbor.... then don't but insist on the replacement cost and tell him the next time it happens his dog will disappear.... and mean it... (That is justice).....Legally here in Oregon... you could kill it....I would do it in a hot second. My nieghbor pulled the same crap...I bought 11 roosters and warned him that if any ended up dead... His dog would too... and then I put the rooster pen next to his bedroom.. Haven't had any trouble in a year so I know I am being kind and reducing my rooster numbers as a reward for not harming my stock.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

That is just waaaay beyond gross negligence. I would go to small claims court and sue for every possible cent.

Somebody here has a BYC page with info. and letters pertaining to this very subject, as well as calculations of all the costs involved. I think it's horsejody(?).

There's a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to the actual costs involved with replacing a flock of laying hens, not to mention the loss of use (eggs) you're suffering from now.

 

[SilkieTime]

I agree with everyone else but I don't think he need children eather.

for the kids and

for you family.

 

[asher]

Quote:
Where can you find a reasonably priced game cam?

 

[CARS]

Sorry to hear about this.

First off, I wouldn't have waited almost a week to get advice. The first thing I would have done after talking to the neighbor kids is call the cops. Let them take pics and take a report down. Even if it was a drunken mistake, he should be held accountable for his actions.

This is a property damage case and the police should handle it like one. But now (i'm sure) all the evidence is cleaned up and now it's hear-say. Your word v/s his. He'll just say his kids don't know what they are talking about and without evidence, walk out.

Again, sorry. But I think 5 days later is too late to do anything about it. Have you talked to the guy??? Or have you been avoiding him????

 

[fordmommy]

I am so sorry for your loss. I had a similar experience in January with an unleashed neighbor dog. I however walked in on the slauttering and the dog charged me. I was able to catch the dog and call the sherriff and animal control. The owner was fined for dog at large and restitution for my chickens. However.....I have not seen a penny of it. And the guy offered money from his tax returns BEFORE he knew that I had called the cops and that they were looking for him. The animal control also took the dog so there was another fine. That's doggie jail. It's not free! I haven't heard one word about what happened to the dog. I haven't seen it. But when I had the short conversation with the owner after it had happened, I told him the was NOT going to be a next time. He knows I WILL shoot the dog if he comes here again. I will not take the chance of him hurting my kids or my chickens.

 

[NYREDS]

I'm going to give what I'm sure will be an unpopular response but in my opinion much of the responsibility is yours. By your own account you knew that your neighbor was irresponsible & that he had a chicken killing dog. Despite that knowledge your birds were unsecured. Now I certainly think the dog owner has some liability & I would seek whatever remedy local law provided for. That said, if your chickens had been inside a well constructed run they would have been safe from whatever preditor that came along. Free ranging chickens comes with some obvious risks as dogs Or other preditors don't respect property lines.

 

[CARS]

But the neighbor had chickens too IIRC. I don't remember "a chicken killing dog", but I guess I should re-read the first post. ETA. You're right, killed half their flock last year. Hmmm.

I change my vote, have the neighbor pay for the shell to put down the dog. Seems the whole neighbor hood would be better off. A chain is no life for the dog either.