Freaking out!

[homesteader34]

Ok, the kids and I got brave today. We finally put our babies outside. We hope our coop and run can hold back the predators. It was horrible getting them out there. My inlaws dogs acted like they were going to attack me and the kids. We went and bought a pellet gun this weekend. My son got it out to be safe. The dogs barked for a solid hour after we put the chickens out. Now they are all laying our my chicken coop like waiting for one to get close. One of the dogs is a stray and I am considering calling the dog warden on him. He scares me with or without chickens. I have buried chicken wire in the ground and got a "small animal" hotwire fence put up around it. My babies keep going to the fence where the dogs are laying. Im so scared one is going to stick their head out and that be it. I can not beleive after all the stuff I do..homeschool my kids, run my husbands business, house and yardwork, garden, and etc etc, that is is the one thing that may get me on Prozac!

This should be a great experince for me and my kids.. but all I am doing is waiting for the attack.. How long wil lit take for the dogs to leave my yard? Or to settle down? They never come over here...Please let my babies be safe!

Also, I just realized they have no shade out there, do they need shade? If so ill go purchase a tarp for one side.

 

[joanm]

The dogs belong to your in-laws? Call and tell them to come and get their dogs out of your yard!!!

 

[homesteader34]

They live beside me. I did call ,but she said she wasnt going to get the dogs. That she was against us getting chickens in the first place. And that the dogs had to get use to them, because she wasnt jumping everytime she heard her dogs bark. That I made this mess and I had to deal with it. I just bite my tongue..we dont get along at all.

 

[Whirlwind]

I would so hate to be worried about others dogs in my own yard.

Since its in-laws its kind of a sticky situation. I would for sure try to do something about the stray. It may not have its shots and Your children are out there.

Yes they need some shade.

Hope the dogs leave soon.

 

[chicknmania]

If it makes you feel any better, the predator frenzy will slow down considerably as we head into summer. Spring is always the worst, because they have babies to feed. Most babies are teenagers or young adults now. In August and September the hawks begin to be more of a problem, though.

 

[Poison Ivy]

Fire crackers worked for me when the neighbors dogs kept coming on our property. I chased them with the truck and was throwing them at them. Funny I've never seen dogs run as fast as they were Chased them all the way to the back of the property. They haven't been back in my yard since.

 

[homesteader34]

Yeah, everything I do is sticky around here. When I mentioned I had planted an herb garden, They told everyone I was planting pot.

LMAO. I had lots of phone calls that day. I am going to call someone about that stray dog. I know she doenst keep up with her shots on her animals either. She HAD a dog that attacked me and my 5 yr old. We found out it had not had shots in 5 yrs. She raised "you know what" when we wanted the dog gone. She put it in a cage and hid it for awhile. She claims we were bothering it. We were in our yard and he went after my childs icecream. Reason I got attacked was because i was getting him off my son. But my thing is . since I know she WONT do anything about them, How long is it before normal pets and such get use to the chickens being there and its like no biggie.

 

[homesteader34]

Quote:
great idea! I dont want to hurt any animal. Its against my beliefs. I was thinking of water hose or using the pellet gun to sting them. But firecrackers sound great also.. Plus I have lots of them. We throw a big July 4th party and already stocking up. Thanks!

 

[homesteader34]

Quote:
I dont see many hawks around here. So havent prepared for that. I will have to research that.. Thanks! And that did make me feel better.

 

[Whirlwind]

Oh so sorry you have to deal with this. I would think once the dogs figure out they can't get to the chickens they would loose interest. Some fire crackers might get them going in the right direction.