Neighbors dog killed my chickens

[MurseDrew]

So this is my first experience raising chickens. My wife and I had 4 chick's we got easter weekend. They were in a fully enclosed coop and run..I get home from work and find a weiner dog stuck in my run and all my chickens dead. He dug a tunnel to get in... I wanted nothing more than to kill this dog..but I let it out. I believe it belongs to a house two doors down. We live in Alabama, what, if anything can we do?

 

[bobbi-j]

Sorry your first post has to be about dead chickens... If you're asking what you can do about the dog, your best resource would be local law enforcement. I'm in MN, in a rural area. We are our own "animal control" and if a neighbor's dog killed my chickens, I'd give the dog a pass the first time. After all, things happen, dogs get loose, whatever. (Bear in mind, my nearest neighbors are 1/2 mile away and I know their dog.) I'm not sure what I'd do a second time with the same dog, but the third time it wouldn't go home. As far as your coop security, you can secure your run a couple of ways. You can make an L shape with hardware cloth, woven wire, something like that, with the horizontal part of the wire extending about 2' out from your run, covered with dirt. Your diggers generally can't figure out that all they have to do is back up a couple of feet to get around the fence. Another option would be a few strands of electric fence around the perimiter of your coop and run. Start out a couple of inches off the ground, another strand a few inhces up from that, etc. Electric fences are a great deterrent for dogs, raccoons, skunks, whatever else may be sniffing around.

 

[MurseDrew]

Thanks for the advice on additional coop security. We will definitely be doing that prior to getting more chickens. I will be talking with the neighbor tomorrow as well.

 

[BrushyHillGuide]

You are much nicer than I would be if a neighbor's dog dug it's way into my coop and killed my birds. During the course of your conversation with them, I would make it clear that your kindness was a one-shot deal; and, if they care about the dog, they better prevent a 2nd time! In TX, once a dog crosses into your property, you are entitled to dispatch that dog - in the country, anyway.

Sorry for your loss! Hope you find a solution.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Gray Farms]

I'd of shot the dog for sure. In Missouri your legally allowed to kill anything "but a bald eagle of course" that's threatening livestock. I've had lots of trouble with dogs "of several different neighbors" over the years. Some I've called and they said "shoot the dog". And some I've called and told them their dog isn't coming home, and they understood. Kinda depends on you state/area/neighbors. But I agree whatever you do OVER secure you coop and run. Even if you don't have trouble, and especially if you do.

 

[bigoledude]

I've still never heard of a rural jurisdiction where it illegal to shoot a dog that is killing or harassing your stock. Here again, I've never heard of a jurisdiction that does not consider chickens stock.

I have been cursed about as low as a man can tolerate, just for telling a neighbor he needed to keep his dog off of my property. In another incident, I complained about a neighbors dog on my place. No confrontation, pretty civil. A week later the dog got killed in the road. I was suspect number 1 till that old man died.

I have resolved to no longer approach the neighbor. Might give the dog 1 pass. And, that depends on how much damage he causes. Kills abunch of my chickens, it's gonna be SSS shoot shovel and shut up.

Once he experiences the adrenalin rush from the kill frenzy, he's coming back for some more of that action!

 

[Gray Farms]

Couldn't agree more. A dog that kills once will very likely kill again.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Law enforcement is not always a good way to go. Talking it out with neighbor is better in my opinion. It works for many reasons. First and foremost you get to know their stance on things so shooting the dog later when it's on your property is easier if the owner takes no response or shows no remorse. Also law enforcement can slap fines on the person or take the dog but you don't see that money and what do you care about the dog as long as it's contained? You'd have to go to a small claims court and cost of four young birds is not worth the cost and time for that. With law enforcement or court you've effectively severed any relation with that neighbor in future. Talking it out goes a long way. You get to know how to deal with future interaction, they may be willing to compensate and you get the cash right away without fuss and is generally the neighborly way to deal with first time conflict. Best case scenario is they are apologetic and give you $20 with promise of leashing/kenneling the dog to their property. Worse case is you know they are jerks and have to shoot the dog next time it's in your yard. If you don't want to shoot it then take it's color off and bring it to the pound as a stray.

A dig proof apron or electric is an excellent idea. Even if in town there are skunks and what not that will dig under and kill a bird or all. Poorly maintained dogs are your biggest worry but not the only one.

On a side note as your new to chickens and it's never talked about until people have problems is rodent control. Devise a plan to deter and/or kill rodents before they become a problem It's a nightmare when your overrun and if close neighbors will be their problem too. I use tamper proof bait boxes and chunx poison. Decide what you want to do and implement it right from the start.

I had a cock bird get loose, neighbor's young adult son kicked it and broke it's leg. I would have dealt with the indifferent neighbors in morning when cooled down but partner at time dealt with "authorities" for any little situation. So cops came and neighbor went to court and paid a $300 fine. I was left with neighbors that were no longer indifferent but hated us now. Wow, that made everything better.