Help, my neighbor is family, and their dog keeps attacking my chickens

[littledel]

I have a member of my family that lives nearby, and their dog keeps coming back and attacking my chickens. This has happened three times and every time they promise to put the dog up. But this only lasts a few days and then it is out again. I have lost one nice hen and had three more hens and my main rooster chewed up severely by this dog. I am to the point of shooting the dog if it comes back. Any suggestions would help. They are crazy about their dog, but my chicken have a right to live too, especially on my property.

 

[redhen]

catch the dog and bring it to the pound....

 

[speckledhen]

Well, if you have animal control, try that. Many areas do not, I know. Present them with a bill for the losses. And then, tell them if it comes back, it will be shot on sight. Anyway, that's what I'd do. I personally don't care about the feelings of people like that, family or not. Family does NOT get a pass with me. You could also take it to the pound, I suppose. Sticky situation.

 

[incubatingisfun]

or tell them if it comes back on your property you will shoot it

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Shotgun with small game loads. I had the EXACT same issue with my BIL's dogs coming and getting after mine. Small game load to the butt, and she hasn't been back. 3 attacks in a month, and we had told him and he promised to put her up blah blah blah and never did. We didn't want to kill her, but we would have if we had to to protect the birds. She still roams the neighborhood daily, but won't even look at our yard now. She walks right on by.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Oh and speckledhen is right. Family gets no slack because they will take advantage of it in my experience. We tried to be nice...

 

[ranchhand]

Protect your chickens? It's obvious they aren't going to be responsible for the dog, can you fence an area for your chickens? The protection issue is a two way street, if you can't get rid of the dog at least protect your birds!

 

[incubatingisfun]

bean bag the dog with a shotgun we do it in alaska to scare bears away

 

[MandyH]

First off, you don't want to just "scare" it off because it will learn to come around when you are not home (ask me how I know). And since your family has been notified of the situation and does nothing about it, they shouldn't be too surprised when the dog doesn't come back home. Shoot it, dispose of it and go about your merry way.

 

[Southernbelle]

Send them a bill for the chickens you've lost. McMurry sells point-of-lay hens for about $15 each + $50 shipping per bird. Fill out an order form for however many birds you've lost, calculate the shipping and ask them to write a check to cover it. Maybe if they take a big enough hit to their pocketbook; they're buy a chain for their dog.

At this point, the dog knows your chickens are there and it'll keep coming back. If you've asked nicely more than once and they've ignored you, then I'd tell them you're ready to use lethal force to protect your chickens. Make sure they know you're serious and if it happens again, you warned them.