Hello from New Hampshire

[mirlake]

My husband and I ordered our first set of chickens this past weekend that are due to arrive on Mothers Day. I am very excited as I have a love of all wild life and gardens. Having grown up in the country I had two turkeys, two geese and a goat as a child. I am now really looking forward to being able to have chickens.We have done alot of research and built one coop that i feel is a bit too far away from the house so we plan building one closer. We have no town ordinances retricting how many we can have, etc and do not plan on having a rooster so as not to disrupt the nighborhood.

My real concern that emerged this weekend is that my neighbor has a dog that is constantly escaping her pen. I have not called the local dog catcher before as i respected my neighbors love of her dog. I approached my neighbor ttoday to let her know her dog was running in my backyard again an that we were getting chickens and are concerned for their wellbeing. She told me Good Luck as her dog has already killed one her brothers chickens and that mine most likely will be next. How do i deal with this impending issue? Should i just cancel my order?
Has anyone had this kind of problem?

thank you to all.

 

[puglady]

Welcome!
You have approached your neighbor out of courtesy. Her response was not one of a responsible dog owner. Start calling the dog officer, call EVERY time you see their dog in your yard. Take pictures for proof if need be. Enough complaints and they'll need to find a way to restrain her or possibly loose her.
That being said there are many other predators out there and you will need a strong pen with a cover for protection from ground and air.

 

[TwoCrows]

Unfortunately, dogs do kill chickens. So you will either have to figure out a way to keep your birds penned up, keep the dog off your property by working with your neighbors, put up a fence, call the dog catcher or get a big gun. You can always keep your flock in a run and confined. I can't free range my girls due to all the predators. You don't have to free range them. There is a place that makes what is called a "Peck and Play" portable nylon enclosure. It can hold about 4 hens and you can get them out of the run occasionally and let them range around.

Good luck with your new adventure and be careful of the dog.

 

[boskelli1571]

Hello & welcome to BYC! Your neighbors attitude seems to be inconsiderate and uncaring to say the least! Next time the dog gets out, call the dog catcher, have it impounded, perhaps that will change her attitude but I doubt it.
Do you have a secure area for the chickens to be in? A wire run or similar or do you want them to truly 'free range'? If you answered the free range option, you must face the very real possibility that the dog will kill your chickens, or you will have to shoot the dog for harassing/killing livestock. Check on your local town ordinances to see where you stand legally before you have to make a choice. Last question - why should you have to change your plans??
Good luck with this priceless specimen of a neighbor!!

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. I would have to politely bur firmly indicate to my neighbor that if necessary I would get animal control involved, and that I intended to protect my chickens by ALL means. Good luck.

 

[jetdog]

I would run a couple of strands of electric wire around the coop and run, not a small one I'm talking like a bull box and light that dog up the first time it even tried to get in.Maybe a good vet bill from a good burn on the nose would change your neighbors attitude.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

 

[mirlake]

thank you for eeryones input so far being new its nice to get support and advice from others.

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

Well I had a neighbor with that attitude but her response was that she could cook
the chicken up for me and just thought it was funny to walk by and get her dog all
wound up but unfortunately for the dog the owner did not keep it tied up so I asked
her if I should cook it up in some cabbage like they did when I was in Korea

Ya she called the Deputies and they came out so I gave him the remains of the
little dog and the report of it destroying two of my chickens so she got some kind
of ticket anyway she don't walk my road anymore

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Like everybody else said, call the dog warden every time you see that dog loose, catch and hold it if possible for him to pick up. Be prepared to take more drastic measures. Your flock should have a secure coop and run anyhow, that is probably not the only loose dog around and there will be other predators like raccoons that may cause you problems. X5 You might want to look into electric fence or electric poultry netting.