Lost 8, EIGHT hens yesterday...

[Andaloosa]

I haven't out and out told the neighbor, "your dog killed 8 (and more) of our chickens" because we don't have any real proof. The facts we have just points to their dog.
We live on 6 acres and only have 4 other neighbors (can only see one other house from our house). We've had the chickens for years and have been able to let them out to free range with never a problem during the day until that dog moved into the area. It belongs to the neighbor's daughter, but won't stay at the daughter's house (about a mile away), so now it lives where it wants to (at the parent's house). The parents don't have a fence to keep their dogs in (they have another, older one, who never bothered our chickens).
Months ago, my husband was outside with our 2 year old daughter and he heard a chicken screaming from down our hill. He brought our daughter back up to the house and tried to follow where he heard the noise. The noise was gone, but this Border Collie cross was coming up from the area where he heard the noise, cutting through our horse pasture and making a beeline for the chickens. Once she saw my husband, she ran away. She's never gotten within 30 feet of us.
The other neighbors have small, yappy dogs and invisible fences.
I haven't seen any other dogs roaming around for a few years.

Our current plan is to get a trap and trap whatever might have done this. If it's wild, call animal control or game & fish and let them take care of it. If it's domestic, take it to a no-kill shelter that isn't the one in town.

The neighbor (with the wandering dog) keeps telling me how she's seen a red hawk flying around, but a red hawk wouldn't have taken 8 in one day and also wouldn't have left corpses.

Where should I buy a trap from?

 

[Andaloosa]

I called the area game warden and he said it could have easily been a fox or coyote, except that it wasn't during dawn or dusk (we had our chickens locked up at that time).

He's giving my info to a government trapper who is supposed to contact us about coming out to set up a trap. I let the neighbor know what I found out and asked her if they happened to have a plan of action if their dog is the culprit. I figure that gives them a chance to say they will fix it and give me reason to let them have their dog back instead of taking it to a non-local no kill shelter.

 

[joebryant]

I'll never figure out people like your neighbor. How can anyone know full well that their dog did something and deny any and all responsibility. I wouldn't waste my time talking to her (about anything).

 

[Andaloosa]

All they keep saying is, "Oh, Jade couldn't do something like that. She tries to mother everything! She's currently mothering 2 kittens we have as barn cats and she once brought a fawn home and tried to mother it!"
and
"We saw a red hawk yesterday and it was very bold, perching close to us."

They definitely are not animal people and have been cruel out of plain stubbornness and stupidity.

If only there was a way to give a dose of ipecac to the predator through a live chicken, without harming the chicken!

 

[chick-george]

I'm so sorry about your chickens. I lost my favorite pullet to my own dogs. The chirping and squeaking must have been too much to resist, too much like the pet store chew toys.
In all fairness, they may truly not think the dog can be responsible. The fact that your neighbors are not "animal people" most likely means they are just ignorant about what animals can and will do. I think the large trap is a great idea, its not confrontational, but it would be proof positive. A newly enlightened neighbor is better than a hostile one.

 

[theFox]

Sorry posted to wrong tab ....

 

[RedfogsFlock]

The only times I've ever lost more than one chicken in a day there was a dog involved. The first time our poodle got loose & into the coop wiped out 4 of the 6.

The second time we lost like 8 chickens, a turkey, & a duck, it was a dog.

Another time we lost 2 chickens but one was left dead in the coop, she looked like she just laid over & died. That was a cat, she left a pile of feathers no bird.

Owls leave a pile of feathers, but so do cats. They usually eat the birds though and don't leave carcasses. A hawk, well it'll look like your bird just vanished into thin air.

All attacks were during the day while we were at work.

 

[Stevo]

I wouldnt be too fast at blaming the dog. A coon will kill many chickens and not eat them. A coyote or fox will take one then leave. I have killed coyotes in the middle of the day trying to catch one of my chickens. Once they realise they can't get to them at night they will come during the day. A dog almost never eats the chicken. It just kills it.

Hope this helps and good luck

Steve

 

[EELover]

I definitely think that you should set traps and cams but also make sure that you seal up that one little spot in the hen house. Another way to protect from dog like creatures (domestic, fox, coyotes) would be to put a 2 foot plywood base under the fence and bury it. Dogs like to dig to get what they want. If you want to be overly protective put an electric fence around your run. It will only take one shock to have them learn not to go near your chickens again. Remember predators like to go for the easy kill.

 

[akmcclure]

definitely the dog. most predators will get their meal and get out. my dad had a black lab that got out and killed 20 peacocks just to do it. cost him $3,000.00 to settle w/ neighbor. they were hybrid birds. poor guys yard looked like viet nam.