How to deal with dogs if I can't shoot them?

[Mac in Wisco]

How far away are the houses? If they are a few hundred yards away a shotgun would work.

 

[eaganchickens]

Pantball gun!! I have one and it works great!! I Even used it to shoot icicles off the house! It's also quiet so you don't disturb the neighbors!!

 

[horsejody]

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I agree. If the houses are far enough away, use a shotgun.

 

[Buster]

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I agree! Live traps or coyote snap-traps and shoot them in the head. That will make the problem go away fast. Also, you may not have to kill them all. If a couple turn up missing their owners might start doing something about it.

 

[tackyrama]

I know of people that used a shotgun loaded with rock salt, non-lethal but really gets the point across. You can easily open up a shell at the end and reload with rock salt. I can almost guarantee you won't see the dogs again. It won't carry far enough to be a danger to the neighbors.

 

[TXmom]

We just got our first chickies, so my husband bought me a bb gun

I've already had some target practice, and any predator that comes around my babies will regret it. We also have a 9mm if we end up with a stubborn one that doesn't get the message. Oh, we are also putting an electric wire around the coop and run.

I absolutely LOVE the paintball gun idea!

 

[mikeksfarmer]

My friend after experiencing several Dog kills on my chickens, and reading the many many articals here. Those dogs are going to keep coming back. You have the right to your chickens and protection of them. With in your means shore up your fences. Use prevention when you can. Inform the dog owners if you can that dogs think of chickens as squeeky toys to the death of the chicken. Since shooting is compromised by the neighbors house use a leg hold trap. Get them at farm stores and Feed stores. Anchor it well. Dig a deep hole where your going to plant tomatoes. (in advance) Use a baseball bat. when its over take a shower have a mixed drink. Its never easy. dogs are too cool to be so carelessly kept by the owners. You cant kill the owners, but you can kill the dogs. you have a right to protect your property and your live stock. I could spend hours telling you its the right thing to do. make up your mind before you set the trap. When you come home to carnage in your chicken house the pain will be greater than the rights of the dog.
the BB or paint ball gun will just teach them to come around when your not there. Its when your not there that they will kill every thing. Fence first kill second.

 

[sandypaws]

TRAP.. rent or buy a dog trap.... when dog gets trapped take it FAR FAR away to a pound...someplace the owner would not look for it,, lie to AC, tell them you found it running down the road or something...
OR what was it???? the "SSS"... shoot,shovel,shut up....

 

[banter]

I have neighbors that have very cute, but uncontrolled terriers, which they let out several times a week unsupervised. They run up and down our road, and although we're in the country, it is a through way, and trucks race down it at a great clip. They are nice people, but they just don't get it. The dogs will end up pressed out someday.
They (dogs) also come right up to our door and tease our much larger dogs, who have nearly gone right through a window trying to chase them off. My feeling is that one of the ganders is going to chew them up and spit them out this breeding season if they come into our yard, as they weigh triple what the pooches do! The roos have already spurred them. I have talked to these neighbors and they always have a sob story. They have had numerous visits from Animal Control (not turned in by me, because other neighbors have saved me the trouble). Go figure!

 

[PoultryPedia]

My favorite suggestion I've seen on BYC has been:

Catch the dog and chain it up on YOUR property!

* When the owner comes looking for it, you can tell them you see that they're able to care for their dog except do the part of appropriately controlling it, so you're doing that part for them.
* Do not feed the dog--Tell the owner that if they want to keep feeding it, they'll need to also do the restraining part on their property so it is accessible to them for feeding.
* If the owners don't agree to change their dog-restraint practices pronto, turn in the dog to Animal Control.

I prefer to directly resolve things with people where it's reasonably possible to be safe & effective. Then I don't have to have an outside entity handle the situation while I don't discuss it with the person and end up walking around on eggshells around them afterwards.

I think this method could allow you to have direct interaction while being somewhat humorously good-natured, yet make your point strongly, powerfully and hopefully with good effect.

Disclaimer: I have not tried this method, so I can offer no guarantee regarding its effectiveness.