Neighbor dogs

[Andyup1]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I've never owned chickens before. I've been wanting to build a chicken coop and run for about a year now, I've been researching what needs to be done, and collecting salvaged materials to build it . I think I'm ready .

I live in a subdivision, neighbors all around my home. They all have dogs. I don't expect any of them to be an issue except for my rear neighbors, which is where the chickens will be. She owns 7 dogs, and every single one of them yaps and barks nonstop if I go outside, until their owner comed out and calls them inside. Now, if they go nuts over me, they're bound to irritate chickens. The fence between them is chain link, and the coop is very well designed (it's a drawing on my computer) and strong. I don't expect any break ins, but I'm worried about my hypothetical chickens. Won't the barking disrupt egg laying, or stress them out?

I thought about making a visual barrier so they can't see each other, I'm just not sure that will keep them from barking. City code says she can only have 4 dogs, but I just can't bring myself to call the cops on her.

Is a visual barrier enough? Do chickens even care in the first place?

 

[chickens really]

Barking won't bother them. I'm in a subdivision too and the people closest to use have extremely yappy Dogs and my Chickens don't care.

 

[townchicks]

They will get used to the barking, but I strongly recommend a visual barrier. If the dogs can see the chickens, they will likely charge the fence, and that will freak out the chickens, which will further excite the dogs.

 

[1cock2hens]

they will grow accustomed to the barking, it will just be another sound after awhile.

 

[N F C]

They will get used to the barking, but I strongly recommend a visual barrier. If the dogs can see the chickens, they will likely charge the fence, and that will freak out the chickens, which will further excite the dogs.

x2!

How annoying to have to listen to that all the time.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Agree on the visual barrier, but to keep the dogs from seeing them. Chickens are pretty adaptable.

 

[DobieLover]

I agree that the barking won't bother the chickens. But seeing 7 dogs charging at them will.
I would put up a visual barrier between that entire side of your coop and run.
Do you own the chain link fence? If you do, you can install those privacy slats that weave through the links.
And welcome to BYC.
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[centrarchid]

Chickens do care. Even the noise can be stressful. Odds are the dogs will adjust to chickens and loose interest in barking at them. You will likely still be an issue if they only see you once in a while.

Make certain your coop is tough enough to resist dog trying to get into coop if dog is able to get past fence.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

They will get used to the barking, but I strongly recommend a visual barrier. If the dogs can see the chickens, they will likely charge the fence, and that will freak out the chickens, which will further excite the dogs.

My cat used to do that just because she could get a reaction out of them. They would get nervous and move away whenever she came around. Then she lost interest, and now they pretty much ignore her.

 

[Cjs123]

We live in an agriculturally zoned neighborhood. I also have 7 Dachshunds. Next door they have a dog kennel boardering our property as well as rabbit hutches. My dogs went nuts until they put up a visual barrier. Even though Dachshunds are scent dogs, the barrier was a great help.
Now, if they would only come up with a breed of chicken that would fight off predators like the Red Fox. I want some Giant Jerseys in the worst way to free range on our 2 acre.