My dogs killed my chickens!

[G Wiz Ranch]

Sorry about your flock. I don't know how popuar this answer will be but, it worked for my mom when we were kids in the early 80's. My dad brought home a champion bloodline German Shorthair puppy that was a gift from a close friend. When he turned 1 year old, he decided to take out one of the chickens. My Mom was very mad. The next time the dog killed a chicken my dad was gone for the week at work so she took a pair of used pantyhose and tied the dead chicken arround the dogs neck. It stayed there for several days. After that, my dads "bird" dog wouldn't even look at birds. He NEVER killed again after that and he lived to be 16 and we had chickens the whole time.

 

[rizq]

EWWW! ROFL!! If it works, that is definitely better than shooting the dog though.

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

I totally understand your plight, with seven dogs myself, it can be very trying. Sorry for your loss.

The electric fence idea is a good idea, be sure to put one strand fairly close to the ground to detour the diggers. A shock collor will work also if you use it properly. Good Luck

 

[Degas2Delawares]

I am so sorry, it's heart breaking. I face the same threat daily. I love my dogs but dogs will be dogs, they are just doing what their instincts tell them. I have very few predator problems because of the dogs but if they get out of their dog yard they will wipe out several chickens before you have time to blink. I have a Rhodes Island Red hen that survived two dog attacks. She has only one wing, but continues to be friendly and lay well. I have two small rescue dogs that stay on the chicken side and have learned to leave them alone, but I worked with them as puppies. Even though they haven't killed a chicken, I don't fully trust them. If you want dogs and chickens, which I do, you have to be vigilant about having good fencing and keeping gates and coops closed, etc. Have signs reminding everyone to keep certain gates closed at all times. Hope this helps. Good luck with your new flock.

 

[CA Bean]

Oh I am so sorry. You put a lot of time and energy into each and every one of those chickens I am sure. Hugs to you!

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
That's an old farm cure. A friends farm dog got that treatment from the grandfather. It worked. They needed the dog to bring in the cows, and Grandpa wasn't going to fence the chickens... forget why but he flat wasn't, so that chicken hung around the dog's neck till it rotted off. The cows sure hated that dog, and she was miserable the whole time. She walked a LOOONNNNNGGG way around the yard the coop was in for the rest of her life. I hesitated to tell it here though, there's some sensitive souls here after all. >.>

 

[CalicoFarm]

Quote:
I have heard this advice before and that it really works. I have 3 dogs that want to play with the chicks, right now the electric fence is stopping that from happening. If they ever do get to them I am going to try this.

 

[TammyTX]

ugh, so heart sinking. I'm sorry.

G Wiz is right.

30+ years ago my uncle told me he wired the feet together of a dead Guinea around his German Shepherd's neck and let it stay there until it rotted off; cured him. But God, I can't imagine the smell! Whew!!

 

[rooster0209]

I trained my dog to stop chasing the guinea's using a shock collar. The lab part of Freddie turns his ears off when he was chasing them. I couldnt get him to stop. One evening and two small shocks and he no longer chases the guineas and he leaves the chickens alone.

Now the BC part of Freddie (who is mostly in charge)

helps me with the birds. Will circle around and lay down to watch them., bring them to the coop if told.

 

[mybelle5]

My heart goes out to you and loss of the chickens..

This is one of my biggest fears too.. Every morning when our dogs go outside I hear them pouncing off the coop run wire. I've doubled the wire and that has seems to help. I'm going to purchase a cow prode and zap their butts when they get to close to the coop. Maybe this will slow them down from charging the coop run..