My dogs brought home a chicken...

[speckledhen]

Having just spoken to a crying friend who had six or seven roosters and hen killed by a rottweiler today, who literally went into the coop, plus several others injured (dog habitually roams, sometimes with others), some of those birds came from my flock, you're not going to like my opinion about this. You have a dog, you fence it or you don't have it, period. It's your responsibility, no if's, and's or but's. If you don't, you have nothing to say if someone shoots it while harassing livestock.

That friend happened to be speaking to a deputy sheriff on her property when the dog ran by with one of the roosters in its mouth. She yelled to him, "Drop it! It's not my dog" and he shot the dog dead, then returned the dog to its owner, who went ballistic until the deputy told him that he was the one who shot the dog caught in the act, dead to rights. That dog owner is being presented for a hefty bill for all the dead birds. Thank God she has a couple of fabulous roosters who fought for the lives of their hens and got away with injuries only, but several other brave ones died today.

If your dog happened to come onto my property where my chickens are free ranging inside the perimeter fence (2 of the over 5 acres have livestock fencing, plus a driveway gate, but that must sometimes be opened for a delivery and stinking dogs must have "gate radar"), that dog would be dropped in his tracks. I've had dogs for many years. Every place I moved, we put up a fence for those dogs because that's what responsible dog owners do. Pretty darn simple. I'm furious tonight and sick over the loss of those birds, birds I hatched, raised up and gave to my friend, so you're getting both barrels from me on this issue.

If you value your dogs, contain them 24/7.

 

[grammaC]

... so you're getting both barrels from me on this issue.

Sorry I missed your post. I was out shooting all the animals that aren't mine on my 11 acres . Better safe than sorry. That'll teach those **** barn cats to rile up my dogs.

 

[speckledhen]

You understood EXACTLY what I was saying. No need for smart alec replies. Dogs kill chickens. Yours brought home a chicken carcass that they may or may not have had anything to do with... this time. No dog should roam off the owner's property, for the dog's protection. There are people who are frightened of dogs. Dogs "pack up" and do things with other dogs they'd never do by themselves. It's not safe for the dog to be allowed to roam. If you value your dog, you need to contain it on your own property.

I'm weary of owners saying "My dog wouldn't do such and such" when I saw their dog do exactly what they swear it wouldn't, like my neighbor's Boston Terrier. It has squeezed through my drive gate and run at the pens, scaring my birds. She swears the dog won't hurt a chicken. I know that woman lives in La La Land. If you want to keep your dog safe, you need to contain it. I want to keep my chickens safe-at least they are on their own property.

You said you don't have chickens yet. Maybe you should put yourself in the shoes of the person who has found their birds ripped apart by someone's roaming dog and think about their pain and anguish; don't just think about how you feel about your dog.

 

[JenellYB]

speckledhen you go girl go! Tell it!

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:

Sorry I missed your post. I was out shooting all the animals that aren't mine on my 11 acres . Better safe than sorry. That'll teach those **** barn cats to rile up my dogs.

No one here has said "shoot every animal that comes on your property"

It's about animals KILLING or trying to kill your animals, or DESTROYING your property

If you think it's humorous, just continue to let your dogs run free.
Just don't be surprised when they don't come home one day

It won't affect me at all

 

[JenellYB]

If you can in any way see some barn cats riling up your dogs as something even remotely similar to dogs killing chickens and other livestock, you got a serious problem!

So YOU are going to go out and shoot all the animals that aren't yours on YOUR 11 acres???? Hey, isn't this about YOUR dog running at large and that has already brought home a DEAD CHICKEN????

Sorry I missed your post. I was out shooting all the animals that aren't mine on my 11 acres . Better safe than sorry. That'll teach those **** barn cats to rile up my dogs.

 

[Cetawin]

In support of Speckledhen's position... I AM THAT CRYING FRIEND! For months, I have chased this Rottie, her pals the two beagles and the latest addition to their little pack...a golden retriever OFF MY PROPERTY. I have talked to the owners, asked politely, begged, pleaded and asked again to keep them at HOME...just recently they were on a neighbor's property chasing his barn cats and a pregnant cow about to calve and we chased them away and do you know what the owner said when approached....take a flippin guess "Oh my dog would never do that" Well, his dog went inside my coop and killed 1 white rock hen, 3 silkie hens, 1 silkie rooster ., 2 orp roosters, injured a silkie rooster, an orp cross and my Lancelot (my avatar) It left my coop with a beautiful orp cockerel that Speckledhen gave me hanging from its ****** mouth with my two injured roos chasing it even a couple of my hens were in the fray attacking the dog. And yes I told the cop to shoot the ****** dog because believe me whoever you are, man or woman, I would have shot the SOB myself! Your dog is worth absolutely nothing, not one red cent compared to one of my birds....wanna know why? It is a predator and therefore no better that a stinking coon, possum or other rodent and if it comes here, hurts my birds or tries it WILL DIE got it? So if you care about your mutt be thankful it brought home someone else's bird because if it were my bird your dog would never make it home.

Shoot first? Ask questions later? Are you kidding me? Sorry if I did not run up to the Rottie and pull my bird from its mouth and say "Oh hi stupid dog that is not mine but on my property, in my coop, killing my birds....why did you do that? Does your mama abuse you? Were you taken from mama too young? What was your relationship with your father like?" Are you nuts? Who would you like us to question? I am not going to psychoanalyze the dog or its irresponsible owner. On my property after my birds and it gets shot....

Oh and have a nice day!

 

[Squawkbox]

Agreed!! Put them in a run, tie them up, put them inside, put up a fence or just train them. Plain and simple.

If you value your dogs, contain them 24/7.

 

[dainerra]

I must say to the OP that on any of my dog forums, groups, or among dog friends, you won't find an ounce of sympathy. They are the biggest advocates for not letting dogs roam. One habitual roaming dog makes a bad impression and lasting ill-will in the community. Then, when a usually responsible owner has a gate left open or a toddler opens the screen door, it's not "oh someone's dog accidentally got out" The farmer down the street says "Oh another freaking dog" and shoots it.

The problem is you know how your dogs act at HOME. Dogs know their own "pack" They know the animals you own. What they don't know is just because you don't want them to bother your cats or birds, that all the other cats/birds/livestock aren't to be bothered either.
It's not even a matter of killing the livestock. Cow is in pasture. Dog runs though, cow spooks and breaks leg. Dead cow, lost calf, lost milk production, lost income for the farmer. Dog sees chickens fluttering in pen. Barks and birds flutter around in a panic. Instinct for the birds is not safe = don't lay. It can be a couple days or even a week + before the birds lay again. The more frequently it happens, the longer before the birds will return to normal.
Dog runs into road. Motorist swerves and winds up in the ditch. YOU are responsible for their damages in most places.

 

[NovaAman]

I do not suggest you get chickens.