how to cover your rear when dh shoots the neighbors dog? pre-emptive?

[Beekissed]

I would definitely invest in a fence before getting chickens. You might look on Craigs List and Freecycle for old chainlink fences. It is difficult to free range your chickens and expect they will remain on your acreage at all times. Your neighbors could point this out as your not containing your pets, as well. Good fences make good neighbors!

I also think the nice note is a good idea, maybe with a P.S. like "Maybe we can all have the benefit of some fresh eggs soon if everything goes well with our chicken investment." A hint of egg sharing, or supplying, along with the implication that you have made a monetary investment.

I scrounged and scavenged and got a complete fence around my 1-2 acre lot here (part of which is old chainlink) and I think it keeps out the casual dog or coyote. Then I have my dogs in the largest portion, on above-ground electric containment. I dare any predator to walk into the danger zone....if they succeed, they are welcome to a chicken nugget! They've earned it! The chickens free range with contentment and safety and I don't have to start anything with the neighbors.

 

[spatcher]

I disagree with a few people that have responded to this post. NO ONE should have to fence their property to keep strays out. That is total BS! Thats exactly what the neighbors dog is when its on your property, a stray. Send them a note, call the police info desk first though and ask if you are within your rights to "dispatch the dog". As a retired police dispatcher beleve me they will know the term. Advise the neighbors you have talked to the police and depending on what they tell you, inform your neighbors. The only way I would put a fence up was if the neighbors paid for it! I have 4 dogs that are NEVER allowed off my property. Yes I have a fence but it is for their safety and wouldnt have one if I didnt have them. It is your rights that are being infringed upon!

 

[Miltonchix]

A note is great idea!! Tell them there will be fresh eggs for sale (if thats your intention) and that they don't want to spoil that. Then close your note with the caveat: ALL stray dogs, cats, coyotes, possums etc. will be dealt with with whatever means you see fit. Still SSS. Make certain your laws are on your side. Otherwise SSS quietly!

 

[klf73]

Spatcher, that is exactly how my husband feels. I just didn't want the friction with the neighbors since we have 6 kids (ages 12-7 mo) I too feel it is MY property and it is their duty to keep the dogs away. My children and animals should be free from any harm (unless wild, cuz we live in the woods) on their own property, that's why we have the property (all I see is dollar signs with paintball thing, groomer, vet, therapy, etc). I am going to call the PD and find out what is "within our rights" on our property. I just don't need the anxiety about these silly dogs when I let my chickens out. We are getting an old garage (large tarp type, without tarp) and enclosing that for a run for now.
Krista
Thanks again for the suggestions

 

[horsejody]

Whether or not the road is private is irrelevant. Your yard is your private domain. Years ago we had problems with stray dogs and neighbors that didn't care. I told them very nicely that my chickens would be out, and I expected to not have their dogs on my property. They didn't take any notice and basically still let their precious darlings run loose. I bought a shotgun and proceeded to call all of my neighbors with problem dogs. I told them that I didn't want to scare any of them because of all of the gunshots they would hear coming from my back field. I was going to be doing some practice shooting with my new "dog gun." I then proceeded to fire a few round into the manure pile. I never had to shoot the dogs because then they started to keep the dogs in. In later years I had problems with new neighbors, however.

If you don't go the gun route tell the neighbors you will file reports with the sherriff's dept. The sherriff's dept here is real good. They have no problem hauling people in for dogs messing with my chickies. One guy sat in the cooler all weekend once!

 

[halo]

It is not BS to fence your property. Its a matter of whats important to you, keeping your critters safe, or having an all out war with your neighbors. Your choice. I guarantee and I say GUARANTEE that if you do not fence your property for the safety of your animals, that you will be fighting dogs and strays for the rest of your life, and you will lose chickens after chickens. Your choice. I have 10 acres, and I put a strong perimeter fence around the entire thing. Not to keep my dogs in...my dogs are extremely well mannered and do what they are told. Its for keeping other dogs out. My animals safety is paramount to me, and I will do what I have to do to keep them safe on their own property. If you want to try and make a point by not fencing your property and free ranging your chickens, knock yourself out. But you are in for a lot of misery, I promise you.

 

[dacjohns]

Lots of great ideas.

One thing that disturbs me in this thread and in many other threads is the tendency to jump on the bandwagon and start saying things like shoot the (insert critter here) or put up a fence or . . .

The first thing that should be done is to find out what can legally be done. It might save a lot of grief in the future.

Granted, dogs are not normally considered livestock or wildlife but there are some fence examples I would like to share. Many areas do not have leash or other animal control laws and dogs are free to do whatever their owners allow them to do until they harm a human or "livestock". Remember, chickens are not always considered livestock. In many western states if you don't want animal on your property you have to fence them out. In some areas if deer are causing harming you have to fence them out. You will not be issued a nuisance permit until you have done everything reasonably possible. Reasonably is open to interpretation by the issuing authority.

Use of firearms may or may not be legal. Shooting someone's pet, even to protect your own may not be justified in the eyes of the law.

So my main point is to check the laws first before taking any action that can come back to haunt you.

 

[Cassandra]

I agree with almost everyone!

I think the note is a great and friendly idea. I think you have every right to peaceful enjoyment of your property. I think you have every right to dispose of any threat to you, your children, your livestock, or anything else.

However!

I don't believe it is realistic to expect that your chickens will be safe, while free ranging on your property without the benefit of a secure fence.

Imagine that you convince every person on your street to keep their dogs confined 24 hours a day and they actually DO it!

How safe is that going to make your chickens? Not very, I'm afraid. On the other hand, if you made some provisions for your birds that protected them from most of the other 999 predators and bad things that could happen to them out there, you'd also be protecting them from the dogs.

I think the note is a neighborly idea. Legally, I don't think it is going to make any difference. Domestic pet/livestock laws are going to differ widely from place to place. But I bet there is nowhere (or very few places) in the country where the law says "You are allowed to shoot predators, unless your neighbor didn't know you had chickens, then you have to ask him nicely first to keep his dog on his own property." I sincerely don't think it will come into play if you have to shoot a dog.

It may make you feel better. I know none of us wants to shoot someone's pet. And if you need to know in your heart that you gave fair warning before you can do that, by all means, do it.

The fact is, I don't think the letter is going to help a whole lot. I think the dogs are going to keep on doing what they've been doing. Even if they stop the roaming for the most part, if one of them does manage to escape, you can bet he's going to come running straight for your chickens. And what good is it going to do you to have a dead dog in addition to all of your dead chickens? (Even though you won't have to worry with THAT dog again... your chickens are still dead.)

I hope I am not getting too philosophical. I am just trying to say there are a whole lot more effective and efficient ways of dealing with potential predators. But I still think the note is a good idea.

Cassandra

 

[Guitartists]

IMHO..... I would only send a note if you feel that they will actually make an attempt to keep their dog in check... if not... SSS

 

[DuckLady]

My birds have the back 2/3 of our property to roam around. It is fenced. That is considered their safe area. If we ever get the whole property fenced then they can go where they want within the fencing.

The thing about free ranging is that if my chickens or ducks get into the front unfenced area of our property and get killed by a passing dog, that is my fault. If they are killed in their fenced area by a passing dog, it is the dog owners fault.

Either way the animal is the one who suffers the consequences the most.

Fencing an area to keep your birds safe is common sense. I mean when you look at the food chain, where is the chicken and where is the dog?