Help My dogs got out and killed my neighbors chickens....

[OnlyOrps]

Uhm... No it isn't. Keeper of chickens is responsible for keeping their animals on their property. Nothing more nothing less, legally speaking. They are under no legal obligation to take steps to keep other people's dogs out. That legal responsibility falls on the dog owner. Keeper of dog(s) is responsible to keep their animals on their property.

Morally and as a prudent keeper of chickens I'll take steps to protect them but I am under no legal obligation to do so.

Agreed. Those are the laws everywhere I've ever lived. You aren't legally or morally obligated to fence your property. You are legally and morally obligated to keep your animals on your land. The op is being very responsible and $40 is reasonable when you consider how much it costs to buy feed and raise birds to maturity.

 

[Titanpaul726]

It has never occurred to me to free range my chickens without providing varmint proof fencing. Yeah, the dog that comes on to my property shouldn't be allowed to do so by it's owner, but as a practical matter, I realize it happens. So, I take precautions to insure the stray dog can't do any damage. I think the dog owner in this case should pay for the damages. And the owner has agreed to pay for the damages. A mistake was made. Responsibility was accepted. Where I come from, that's enough. We shake hands and move on.

If we're talking responsibility, and I guess we are, then the chicken owner has to accept some as well in my opinion. If you own chickens, an animal that every predator in the world dreams of, you should take some precautions to protect them. Failure to do so suggests you are willing to accept the casualties that come with your decision.

Legally speaking, the dog owner is responsible. Ethically speaking, both parties share some responsibility.

 

[ChickenDaddy523]

Yeah dogs and other predators can be difficult to prevent from attacking a flock and once they taste chicken you have a bigger problem and may never get full control again. I have really done some hard work to protect my flock, but things can happen. I'm even thinking of getting an electric fence and I live in the city!

 

[Titanpaul726]

Anyone remember the old days of seeing a dog walking around with a dead chicken tied to it's neck? I've heard so many old timers tell me that's how you cure a dog from killing chickens. Just tie it on their collar and leave it until it rots off! I don't know if it worked but those dogs sure did look miserable!

I'm with you Matt. I've tried electric fencing before but my soil is solid clay and for some reason I can't get an electric fence to work well.

 

[Laceychick08]

I guess it depends where you live Oregon (klamath county) law is free range chicken's are not live stock and since dogs can't read a private property sigh you can't kill a dog over killing a chicken unless the dog gets in the secure coop, I don't know anyone though who would want this to happen, we only can do the best we can nothing in life is perfect, accidents happen. I have dogs and chicken's and they are fine with each other.

 

[Laceychick08]

Although I realize this isn't always the case

I guess it depends where you live Oregon (klamath county) law is free range chicken's are not live stock and since dogs can't read a private property sigh you can't kill a dog over killing a chicken unless the dog gets in the secure coop, I don't know anyone though who would want this to happen, we only can do the best we can nothing in life is perfect, accidents happen. I have dogs and chicken's and they are fine with each other.

 

[Titanpaul726]

I guess it depends where you live Oregon (klamath county) law is free range chicken's are not live stock and since dogs can't read a private property sigh you can't kill a dog over killing a chicken unless the dog gets in the secure coop, I don't know anyone though who would want this to happen, we only can do the best we can nothing in life is perfect, accidents happen. I have dogs and chicken's and they are fine with each other.

That's interesting. I'm going to check Oklahoma law and see what it says about it. Thanks for the info.

 

[centrarchid]

Uhm... No it isn't. Keeper of chickens is responsible for keeping their animals on their property. Nothing more nothing less, legally speaking. They are under no legal obligation to take steps to keep other people's dogs out. That legal responsibility falls on the dog owner. Keeper of dog(s) is responsible to keep their animals on their property.

Morally and as a prudent keeper of chickens I'll take steps to protect them but I am under no legal obligation to do so.

It is not a legal issue, rather it is the threat is not always going to come from given dog(s). Chickens are among the more vulnerable forms of stock that can be threatened by many things, alive and otherwise. Since they are more vulnerable, the chicken owner needs to be more proactive. Not all dogs and certainly not all wildlife will be administered by parties concerned first about the well being of free-range poultry. Protecting the birds from dogs involved the same investments as required for protecting from wildlife. Dog owners are not excused from all responsibilities but they are also far from the only the threat.

 

[centrarchid]

Yeah dogs and other predators can be difficult to prevent from attacking a flock and once they taste chicken you have a bigger problem and may never get full control again. I have really done some hard work to protect my flock, but things can happen. I'm even thinking of getting an electric fence and I live in the city!

That is not a hard and fast rule.


The fencing is a first line of defense and often the most cost effective.

 

[Michael Apple]

That is not a hard and fast rule.


The fencing is a first line of defense and often the most cost effective.

X2. The reason we can control animals we own is because we have opposable thumbs and higher intelligence. Anyone stating they have no control over the situation regarding animal ownership likely shouldn't have them in the first place.