my dogs and other predators

[SpottedCrow]

I've clipped my Leghorn's wings because they'd go over the fence after the neighbour's yummy fresh grass seed.

It's not unnatural to make sure that you birds stay where they're supposed to.

I stopped doing it because Obelisk didn't leave the yard after I ran replacement volleyball nets over the top of the fence...even that couple of feet kept her in, and not having her wings clipped even saved her life.

Penny was in being broody. Obelisk was in the back yard which is fenced. I was at the computer in the dining room when I saw a black bird fly past the window..I was like I've never seen a crow that close to the house..." Then the light dawned that it was MY CHICKEN!!! Buddy the neighbour's GSP got into the yard and got ahold of Obelisk...she got away and flew over the 6 foot stockade fence and 100 yards down the road without hitting the ground...
If I had her wings clipped the SOB would've killed her.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
I'm sorry, I just saw this! Best laugh today and I've needed one!

 

[yoonymoony]

I have read up on clipping wings...I haven't done it ever before. So, I just cut the ten flight feathers on one wing, right? And I can use and old scissors? How far from the skin do I cut from?
Thanks.

 

[Beekissed]

My sister raises doxies and they are blood thirsty in a pack situation, very sweet by theirselves. The kennels are open at the top and she keeps continual feeders available, but that doesn't keep them from killing and eating....yes, eating any cat she has ever owned. The cats would sneak into the kennels after dark to eat the dog's feed...all they would find in the morning was fur. When these dogs got out of the pen they killed all her chickens and ducks and even her baby goats! I have another sister who raises them and one of hers is fostering a baby pig right now...maybe you have seen him online...his name is Pink! He now weighs 2 lbs...his siblings weigh over 30 lbs! Pink is for sale to the highest bidder, I do believe...he will never be able to live with other pigs and he is house trained to poop and pee in his cage only! He is sooooo cute!

I have another sister who believes that no dog can be left alone and trusted with chickens. Her dogs kill her hens each time they are unsupervised. But then, she has never tried to train them. She gave me some chickens the other day and I have a Lab mix pup only a year old and she bet me that he would kill the chickens when I wasn't around. Well, when we brought them home, he started with an aggressive posture and moved toward them, so I tackled him, growled at him, put him in a submissive role on his back and shook him by the skin on his throat. I did this each time he moved toward the chickens, about 3 times. Then I caught a chicken and let him smell it and lick it all he wanted...then I turned the hen around and she pecked his nose real hard!!! Funny! I have not had one ounce of trouble since and even left for 4 days with the chickens free ranging in the yard. The chickens eat along side of the dogs when I put out scraps in the garden. Now, this same dog has killed a coon, a groundhog, a large river rat and numerous moles, mice and even a songbird! He has a very strong prey drive but has left the chickens strictly alone. I think even a doxie could be trained in this manner if given the time and effort. The rooster takes care of my cat who makes some short dashes towards the hens....the rooster will take it for a little while but then he chases the cat away!

I would have to disagree with the gentleman who said that doxies have had the prey drive bred out of them....I would hesitate to leave a small child or baby unattended around a pack of my sister's dogs! They are just so sweet one on one, but put them with another doxie and they are ravenous wolves!