keeping dogs at bay

[arabookworm]

Hi everyone
I was reading a thread regarding dogs killing someone's chickens, and that made me realize that when I (finally) get my chickens, they will be in some danger.
many of our neighbors have dogs, including the ones across the road who have five dogs who they let out regularly to play. they are very friendly, but who knows what they would do to some chickens. but the biggest problem is another dog whose owners can't control at all. it has on many occasions attempted to bite neighborhood children, and I was told that he once bit a little boy before I moved here, and when the owners were told they should get rid of the dog, their reply was "I don't think this is any of your business."

how can I make sure the dogs can't get to the chicken coop? is chicken wire enough, or would something stronger be better?

any tips on how to keep my soon-to-be babies safe would be appreciated.

marwa

 

[ChickenTender63]

invest in a .22 and be ready for when the neighbors unruly beast comes around.

If there was someone living close to me in that situation that wouldn't contain his animal, then he won't have to worry about him anymore. Sorry, I know thats not what your looking for, but it is reality.

Maybe thats why I have 12 acres instead of being in a neighborhood as well. I just don't do well with predators killing my animals or biting children and being told it's none of my concern.

Good luck to ya

 

[houndit]

Depending on how much they want in they could tear up chicken wire. You might try using cattle pannels and attaching chicken wire to it. The cattle pannels are preety expensive, but they are sturdy enough to keep out most predators. If you c ring or j clip the wire to the cattle pannels the chickens will stay in. If it is not a portable pen you might try constructing it so the fence goes a ways into the ground so they can not dig under. We had dogs kill our rabbits when they were in a portable pen. Portable is always healthier for the chicken, but if you are concerned about dogs you might have to do it differently. Once the dogs do it they just will not stop.

 

[buckeye lady]

Can't be said enough-GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS!!!!
If at all possible fence your yard. It will pay off in the long run.

Chicken wire will slow a determined dog down but they can chew through the stuff.
After 2 incidents with my own deliquent pit mix I have now re- inforced the run with rabbit fence. It comes in rolls 10-50 feet with various heights availablen12-"48" -It's pricy. The openings are 1"x2".
Another alternative is hardware cloth.
Whatever you use secure it well. My best investment was a pneumatic stapler. It works off the air compressor and it can drive a heavy 1" staple flush with the wood. When you think you have enough staples placed go back and double the amount.
.22 should be kept in reserve. Things can really get out of hand when this is used as first line of defense--You shoot neighbors dog, neighbor poisons your dog, shoots your cat, punctures your tires, etc..etc... Always try (I said try)to make nice with your neighbors-They live next door!

 

[amazondoc]

I would not use chicken wire OR hardware cloth. Get 1/2" x 1" welded wire. It is expensive, but strong. Don't use dinky little staples to fasten it to wooden posts, either -- use washers and screws.

Good luck!

 

[Chirpy]

Large dogs can easily get through chicken wire and even chain link fencing... my own dog has done both. As they say: chicken wire is only to keep chickens in, not to keep predators out.

The absolute best wire is hardware cloth but it's also very expensive.

I highly suggest welded wire or woven wire fencing to keep predators out. The bottom 2 ft will need to be wrapped with 1" chicken wire or hardware cloth so raccoons or cats can't reach in and grab a chicken and so the chickens don't stick their heads out and get taken by a dog or whatever. You should also bury the wire at least 15 inches down into the ground to stop diggers.

Electric wire can be very effective also.

A paintball gun is a great 'weapon' that doesn't kill or seriously hurt a dog but definitely gives them something to think about.

 

[horsejody]

Shoot the dogs or catch them and take them to a humane society in a different county.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I like 1/2" hardware cloth and in at least a few places, anchor it with wood screws going through a washer. The type sold where I live is a sturdy gage.

What you don't want a dog to be able to do is tear a lightweight wire, get his jaws around widely spaced wire and bite it to break welds or to pull wire off a frame that was put on with small, smooth staples.

Also, I'd think about putting some anti-digging system in place. This can be buried wire or an attached apron of wire on top of the ground. Some people like an electric fence for both of these issues, but I've never used one.

When I first came to this house, we fenced in the back yard to keep our dogs in. We ended up fencing the front yard, to keep other dogs out. It's been really nice. A lot of protective things you do take time and/or money, but they're such a great long term investment. They make life so much easier and more pleasant, for a long time afterward. Even if you remove one dog, there'll always be more. Plus, getting rid of a dog after it's killed my chickens, would still leave me with dead chickens. So, I like to go the prevention route.