Help! Neighbor's dog continues to kill chickens!

[WindyTam]

So sorry to hear of your loss, and what a shock to your remaining baby girl! I have not experienced anything like this, but I just wanted to add that I heard that chickens love classical music. Maybe your girl would be soothed with some music?

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

If the dog is friendly, when not killing chickens that is, I would call it over, offer a treat maybe put a leash on it and drive it to the dog pound. If it has ID on the collar I would take it off to increase the odds it does not come back.

Edited to ad:
Take it to the pound the next city from you.

Gary

 

[PirateGirl]

My sister in law lost her flock except for One to predator. The survivor witnessed the attack and it impacted her deeply. When I met the One she had seemingly permanently changed her routine to sleep on the porch with the outside dog. She hasn't been the same since the attack, but has recovered enough to lead a healthy life. Mid afternoon she free ranges in the yard, but sticks close to the house and close to the dog. I hope your girl can make a similar recovery. Maybe give her a new safe spot to sleep and hang out because she probably doesn't feel her home is safe anymore.

 

[RollTideChicken]

Unfortunately, at least in my experiences, once a dog or any other predator finds an easy sorce of food or even entertainment, they wont stop visiting. I see 3 options:
1. Better barrier protection for your flock - Electrified fence or chain link.
2. Talk to you neighbor and if it happens again kill it.
3. Talk to your neighbor and if it happens again call the authorities.
And if you neighbor doesn't offer some sort of compensation then he's a peckerhead and there's no hope for the dog.

 

[PirateGirl]

Also I had a friend that was the owner of a dog that killed the neighbors chickens. It was reported to animal control. They went to court. Essentially were issued a fine and a warning and the dog has to wear a shock collar. If the dog violates its "probation" it will be confiscated and put down. There weren't terrible hurt feelings on the part of the dog owner, they understood their dog messed up and they needed to take responsibility.

What I'm saying is, that it can work out in a way that is favorable to both parties even if animal control is involved. It's not necessarily an automatic death sentence for the dog, so you won't have that guilt on your shoulders and that bad blood with your neighbor, but you will be rewarded damages and hopefully your neighbor will boost his/her control of his/her pet as a result of the ordeal.

 

[Stayc]

Im so sorry for the loss of your girls i think everyone has posted better advice than i could ever give. I hope the hen is okay and pulls through <3

 

[Sara Ranch]

*hugs*

 

[Newchickenwoman]

This all started a few weeks ago when we heard chicken screams coming from our neighbors backyard. When we peered over the fence we found a massacre of chickens. Our hearts broke for our neighbors, being chicken owners as well, we couldn't imagine coming home to 10 chickens peppered throughout the lawn knowing your four legged friend was the one to blame. We yelled at the dog to stop but it was no use, the damage was already done. A couple days ago this same dog managed to get into our backyard and kill all but one of our chickens.
What can be done about this dog??

The one we have left looks to be intact and is showing minimal signs of attack but we can't get her to eat or drink. This attack happened 3 days ago and she has since refused to eat or drink. We have forced some water via syringe. She was attacked in the afternoon and laid an egg by that same evening, my partner and I thought this to be a good sign but she doesn't seem to be getting better. She has a swollen eye and is missing feathers around her neck. She does seem a bit weezey when she clucks.
Could she be depressed? How do I know if she's suffering and is better off joining her recently deceased sisters? Also can she survive alone? We have her inside right now because I don't know how she would do out in the coop all by herself, especially with how she has been acting.

Really sorry to hear this - I'm totally paranoid about my girls as we live in a very rural part of the UK, where foxes are the main problem, though I couldn't bring myself to kill one even if I had the means to do so! As soon as it starts to get dark, I'm out there shutting them up in their coop. During the day, if it's winter with dark mornings and nights, they're shut in their covered enclosure to protect them from Mr Fox until I get home.

I really hope your one girl gets better and that you feel able to get her a couple of friends soon.

 

[Below frigid]

I'm in this situation Two dogs that have been running around the neighborhood got into my back yard yesterday. We keep our wooden coop in a 10X10 dog kennel and they broke a couple chain links and got under the kennel They killed all 5 of my hens. I don't know who owns these dogs and we are in city limits so I don't think the SSS applies to us... I've called animal control. How hard do y'all think it'll be to get owner (when we find them) to pay? My oldest (and very first chickens) were 2 buff orpingtons were almost 2.. They were all laying so they have a lot of value to us...

Even if you find the owners and have to take them to small claims even if you can prove it was their dogs, you can only recover the cost of replacement LAYING hens and maybe some punitives if there was gross negligence but doubtful. Even if they killed your dog or cat pets and livestock are property. Same laws apply. Humans are different.

 

[lazy gardener]

1. Tell neighbor there won't be a next time.
1. Call ACO and report the incident.
1. File a police report
1. Take up target practice so you will be prepared if that predator returns to your yard.
1. Be sure your fencing is intact, you might want to invest in an electric fence.
1. Present neighbor with a bill, and expect payment for repair to property, replacement of birds. (@ POL if that is the age that they were)