Horrible Monday! I lost 11 of my 18 babies today.

[Quillgirl]

so sorry about the loss of your chickens, and kudos to your understanding husband.

 

[jenjscott]

We keep ours behind an electric fence for exactly that same reason. I would not be forced to choose. We can't free range because of hawks and owls. So that wasn't even a choice. The electric fence is very effective. The dogs won't get within a couple of feet of it unless they just forget. About once a month or so, somebody gets in it, they holler and run like they've been wasp stung, and stay away. I've even had a chicken get into it once when he got out of the pen while I was working on it. He just squawked and jumped, then went back to his short lived free ranging till I could get him caught up again. It is also very effective against opposums and racoons. I even had a snake get crossways of it once. Oh, It also got my daughter and grandson once at the same time. He forgot about it before she did, she had to pout about it for awhile.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
I was thinking the same thing...that it must help to have such a supportive husband. And I'm with you regarding your dogs. They're family pets, and that's kind of a family decision...Assuming they are otherwise good dogs, I would try other tactics (such as securing the run like you're doing) before getting rid of them. I am sorry for your loss.

 

[DonnaBelle]

ELECTRIC FENCE IS THE WAY TO GO. I too have had very good results with electric fence. Two of our dogs got into our electric fence, and won't go within 50 ft. of it now.

Electric fence is about $160.00 for a 40' x 40' area, but it is portable/movable and well worth the money I think.

DonnaBelle