Keeping Chickens Free Range

[OrganicFarmWife]

I had a dog show up last fall during hunting season. He was clearly a bird dog, so I assumed he got lost during a hunt. I kept my birds locked away and kept him and fed him while I looked for his owners. His owners turned out to be neighbors of ours who I like very much. I was happy to return him. A month later he showed back up, this time while my chickens were out and killed one of my BR. The neighbors quickly replaced her with a couple EE (like I said she is a great neighbor) and I have not seen the dog again. However if I ever do see that dog in my yard again, I will probably shoot it and bury it deep in the pasture, I can act dumb if anyone asks :/. The trouble with protecting a dog is it remembers and will come back. I have no ill will against these neighbors, but I may have to kill their dog.
I would not hesitate to kill a fox or coyote...they are not dogs, they are predators that will not only kill my chickens, but they will kill my cats, my dogs, and even a new unattended calf

 

[islandgirl82]

The people who own the dogs who came here live a mile away from me, they and their dogs of been trouble for people for years and unfortunately our ACO lives right across the road from them and I know he doesn't want to stir the pot. The dogs did come back here a couple of weeks after that incident. The shelter assured me that they would NOT be able to get them back until they had reimbursed me not only for the loss of my hen but the property that they damaged as well but they never did. The owner actually had the audacity to show up in my driveway, knowing full well that it was my hen house that had been invaded and girls mauled and in a panic, asked me if I'd seen his dogs. I told him to leave and haven't seen any of them since but am still letting any and everyone in my area know...which may be exactly why I haven't seen them.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I had a dog show up last fall during hunting season. He was clearly a bird dog, so I assumed he got lost during a hunt. I kept my birds locked away and kept him and fed him while I looked for his owners. His owners turned out to be neighbors of ours who I like very much. I was happy to return him. A month later he showed back up, this time while my chickens were out and killed one of my BR. The neighbors quickly replaced her with a couple EE (like I said she is a great neighbor) and I have not seen the dog again. However if I ever do see that dog in my yard again, I will probably shoot it and bury it deep in the pasture, I can act dumb if anyone asks :/. The trouble with protecting a dog is it remembers and will come back. I have no ill will against these neighbors, but I may have to kill their dog.
I would not hesitate to kill a fox or coyote...they are not dogs, they are predators that will not only kill my chickens, but they will kill my cats, my dogs, and even a new unattended calf

Wow they definitely seem like good neighbors! And you have a point that dogs remember but I don't know, if it's a bird dog it's probably fun for it or trained to do it or whatever, which I can understand is a problem. See, I don't think even then I would or even could shoot it and I hope you don't either or at least that it doesn't have to come to that. :/ I can definitely understand protecting the flock though but I don't think I'd think I'd be able to shoot someone's dog and also then lie about it, even I tried it'd be written all over my face haha not sure what I'd do in that situation but I'd probably return him again and ask them to please try to better contain him and/or may say I'll have to take him to the shelter. And actually, just realized it's only been 2 times right? I think if it was me I would give them 3 chances. Then after that if it happened a 4th time I may shoot or take to the shelter cause theres only so many birds you can lose. I hope he doesn't come back or that you don't have to resort to shooting him.

And yeah, logically I know coyotes and foxes are predators and I should shoot but I'm not sure if I could shoot any animal. Although I am scared of coyotes so I probably could if I had to.

 

[ShrekDawg]

The people who own the dogs who came here live a mile away from me, they and their dogs of been trouble for people for years and unfortunately our ACO lives right across the road from them and I know he doesn't want to stir the pot.  The dogs did come back here a couple of weeks after that incident.  The shelter assured me that they would NOT be able to get them back until they had reimbursed me not only for the loss of my hen but the property that they damaged as well but they never did.  The owner actually had the audacity to show up in my driveway, knowing full well that it was my hen house that had been invaded and girls mauled and in a panic, asked me if I'd seen his dogs. I told him to leave and haven't seen any of them since but am still letting any and everyone in my area know...which may be exactly why I haven't seen them.   

Oh wow, they zound like terrible neighbors and people. So sorry. People like that I may have an easier time shooting their dog but people like OrganicFarmWife neighbor who are good people and love their dog I would have a hard time with. Have they gotten the dogs back? Assuming not? Clearly they don't care :/

 

[islandgirl82]

Oh wow, they zound like terrible neighbors and people. So sorry. People like that I may have an easier time shooting their dog but people like OrganicFarmWife neighbor who are good people and love their dog I would have a hard time with. Have they gotten the dogs back? Assuming not? Clearly they don't care

Yes they did and I've heard through the grapevine (have to love small towns) they think what happened was funny.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes they did and I've heard through the grapevine (have to love small towns) they think what happened was funny. 

Wow that sucks the shelter didn't follow through with their promise :/ and wow how could one find that funny? Sorry have you considered going to the police?

 

[duluthralphie]

Animals pay the price for neglectful or uncaring owners. That includes dogs that run,

A dog that does not stay home is nothing more than a predator. I try to scare a dog off the first time. It could be an accident, it slipped its collar/kennel or a hunting dog that got lost. 2nd time is not an accident. I would then invoke the three S's.


A power augur is fast and works well to dispose of the evidence.

I am not judging people that cannot kill a dog. I understand it. I love dogs. I grew up on farm, way back when, All the farmers said the same thing back then. A dog that chases and runs is worthless. When I was a kid some dogs came and chased and killed a few sheep. Our dog joined in the fun of sheep chasing, He was the first dog to die for the crime.

My Dad knew two of the other dogs owners. Farmers also. He called them, (party Line so everyone knew I am sure) they took care of their dogs when they got home. A dog that starts chasing and killing livestock (chickens are livestock) are very hard to break from it. And back to my first rule, dog that runs is worthless.

 

[islandgirl82]

I have other neighbors who went above and beyond to make sure that their dogs learned that my chickens are off limits and those dogs have actually come to my house to warn me of an intruder when other careless owners let their dog out to "go find himself some entertainment", which is exactly what they said to me when I tracked them down. They did apologize and made sure to give their dog a refresher to the existing underground fencing that he was already trained to. I have not seen any of them since.

I am happy to work with people who are willing to do the same. It's those who don't care or worse, find it entertaining that are so infuriating. I admittedly had hoped that they wouldn't bother to get their puppy back. She deserves a better life with people who actually care.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have other neighbors who went above and beyond to make sure that their dogs learned that my chickens are off limits and those dogs have actually come to my house to warn me of an intruder when other careless owners let their dog out to "go find himself some entertainment", which is exactly what they said to me when I tracked them down. They did apologize and made sure to give their dog a refresher to the existing underground fencing that he was already trained to. I have not seen any of them since.

I am happy to work with people who are willing to do the same. It's those who don't care or worse, find it entertaining that are so infuriating. I admittedly had hoped that they wouldn't bother to get their puppy back. She deserves a better life with people who actually care.

On that I bet we all agree.

 

[Tikkijane]

I don't know, maybe it's from being raised in a town and central location and not in the country or maybe it's just me personally, or that I love dogs, I don't know, but I personally don't think I could ever just shoot a dog. Even if it was a stray. Even if it was going after my chickens. Well, maybe if it was attacking my chickens it might be different but even then I don't think so. I'd probably just be like island girl and go chase the dog (s) off or physically drag them away. If me simply going out there wasn't enough then I'd start making tons of noise and acting scary. If that still wasn't enough or they turned aggressive I might get a broom or shovel or something (or my foot) and scare them some more, maybe injure them, but I don't think I could kill them. And especially with the stray thing, you don't know for sure that it's a stray. It could have simply slipped it's collar and that's why it's not wearing one or even if it's dirty and skinny maybe it's just a lost pet that's been missing a while or isn't from the area. Of course being skinny and dirty usually is a pretty good sign it's been abandoned but still. And if you know it's not a stray then I don't know, to me that's somebody's pet and even if it was attacking my chickens it's still a pet. Heck, there's people who may shoot for it just being in the yard. Not saying any of you but I've heard of people like that. That's not right to me, attacking is one thing but just being there nope for me. The way I look at it is that if my dog got loose (which he used to a lot when younger but we found a way to contain him) and somebody shot and killed him I would be devastated. Any good owner would probably be. Now, that said, you don't know if they're a good owner cause some people who's dogs get loose keep them in the backyard and don't care about them but you never know if they're that owner and a loving owner. And some owners will even feel bad their dog caused damages and offer to pay for the birds and damage! Don't know unless you ask. Heck, knowing me I'd probably even try rescuing the dogs haha dog rescues and chickens may not exactly go well together but i do wanna try it one time.

And sorry, i realize this may come off as me trying to say youre a bad person for shooting dogs or whatever but I'm not saying that at all nor am I trying to. I completely understand wanting to protect your flock. I'm just saying that for me personally I don't think I could ever shoot a dog. And then I rambled because I tend to do that haha sorry. Another reason for me is most dogs can be trained out of bad behavior and also most dogd chase and attack cause it's a big fun game. Of course some are hungry or have prey instincts but i know it's not the dogs fault i guess is what i am saying. Of course I'm not saying I'd train the dog, no way, but I'd just bring him back to his owner or the shelter and tell them to contain him better or train him. If he kept coming back I probably would jist take him to the shelter.

Anyway, i dont even think i could shoot a fox or coyote lol

I can PROMISE you- when you get a stray or some other predator tearing your babies to pieces and you hear them scream- your mindset will change. It becomes very clear where your priorities are.

And- if you are not willing to protect them free ranging, please, please rethink free ranging. If you are in the country and want to have farm animals, please rethink it entirely. I'd shoot a predator going after my cats/dogs, too. Had a stray pit bull nearly kill one of my other dogs. It took a bullet whizzing by his head to stop so we could get my dog away. Swear to the big man in the sky, that pit was trying to chew the testicles off the other dog.

I believe that when we commit to having an animal that is dependant on us in some way, that it us our duty to protect them from harm the best we can. And out in the country where I live, that includes lead. {I have kids to protect, too.}