Getting nervous and need suggestions...

[quiltnchik]

We're in the process of moving from a suburban neighborhood (HOA with security and the whole nine yards - YUCK!) to the country (on 3 acres). I had to be at the new house this morning to wait for the HVAC guy and, while sitting on the back deck, saw two dogs coming down through the woods and onto our property. I don't want to move to a new area and cause problems with the neighbors, plus I'm an animal lover and would not be able to live with myself if I killed someone's dog, but I need to know what we can get to make them leave when/if they show up after we move there. I was really looking forward to moving, but now I'm nervous for the safety of my chickens with those dogs running around loose. Are the Air Soft guns any good or is there something we could get to use in the .22? Again, I don't want to kill them, but I want to let them know we mean business and to stay away!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Personally the best suggestion non-lethal suggestion would be to build a fence. Even an electric fence with a decent shock would be enough to deter dogs and other predators. Electric fencing is usually the least inexpensive, easily repaired/maintained, fencing their is. Another alternative for affordable fencing would be field fence, field fence would allow you to turn your chooks loose without them wandering off your property.

-Kim

 

[jhm47]

I would invest in a good electric fence. They are not very expensive, and they will repel dogs and many other predators if installed properly.

 

[MariposaMama]

One other option if you want the neighbors to know they should keep their dogs at home would be a paintball gun. Won't cause them any lasting harm but will make it clear to their owners that the dogs were hanging out somewhere they shouldn't be.

 

[lalaland]

I can't really advise you as to which gun might be best - I'm sure someone else can, but I would like to point out that there is no way you will be able to protect your chickens 24/7 with a gun. ain't possible.

and, dogs will not be the only predators you will encounter.

so, in a word, fence.
yup, it is expensive. yup, it is a pain in the rear, lots of work and not fair. but it is also peace of mind! plus, if you have gardens, you will need to fence to protect the plants....so go ahead, plan out where your coop will be, and make the biggest run you can imagine and fence that! Add an electric fence, and you will feel much better about coons, skunks, etc. Lay some wire fencing on the ground around the run, and dogs and other critters won't be able to dig under the fence. You can always let your chickens out of the run when you are around, otherwise, they can safely enjoy the outdoors.

my "run" is 30' x 40', plenty big for a flock of a dozen or so - more grass than the chickens can tear up, plus it has a couple of big pines for shade and protection from overhead predators.

congrats on moving to the country!

 

[quiltnchik]

Quote:
Well, a fence would be fine except that we spent $3300 just to be able to move into this place (1-1/2 month's rent, sec deposit and pet deposit), so buying fencing at this point is out of the question. Also, I'm moving to the country to be able to let my chickens free range, rather than having to keep them in their run the majority of the time like I do here. I know you were just trying to be helpful, but I feel penning them in is defeating the reason we wanted out of this HOA in the first place. They will, of course, be cooped at night, but during the day I want to let them be chickens...

I may check into electric fencing for the property border, however. Does anyone know the best and least expensive place to get it? How much does it usually run?

Thanks!

 

[lalaland]

I can see how you are not wanting to do a fence, but.....really there aren't any "free range" chickens in the country - just slowly disappearing flocks. So many predators.

For some, occasional losses of birds are acceptable, and that might be true in your situation. Everyone has to decide that for themselves.

I've done both - let flocks free range and went for a couple of years not losing anyone, went for a couple of stretches where I lost a few and later, lost all at once inside a run (dog dug under).

Just didn't want you thinking that a gun would keep your chickens safe.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Free ranging is an opinion. A flock of chickens inside of 3 fenced acres are plenty free range for me. Especially if 3 acres is all you have rights to.

"Free range" chickens on someone elses property are tresspassing chickens. When I suggested fencing, I meant around the whole perimeter.

I hope you get it figured out, glad you got the opportunity to move to the country. Just be prepared because the preds are more abundant in the country than in the city.

-Kim

 

[quiltnchik]

Wolf-Kim, I wasn't replying to your post. I understood what you meant and am checking into options available for perimeter fencing around the entire property. Someone else had suggested just building a large run for the chickens, which I really don't want to do if I don't have to.

As far as moving from the city to the country, we don't live in the city now. This area is very agricultural, but this is an HOA among the farming communities. When we moved here it was very wooded and secluded, but they've since built houses in here like crazy. We still have to deal with foxes, raccoons, 'possums, coyotes and even the occasional bear, which freaks a lot of the "city slickers" out 'cause they don't expect to see them where there are houses! *LoL*

Thanks again for your suggestions

 

[Uppity Peon]

In the country they say good fences make good neighbors.

But if you can't afford to fence the 3 acres, build the best defenses you can afford, and be sure to at least get a small solar powered fence charger and enough wire to surround the chicken run. Otherwise your chickens will probably get killed.