Neighbors Dogs killing chickens

[fancbrd4me02]

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You are just waiting around for the dogs to cross onto your property so you can shoot them? Nothing in your post indicates that the dogs have harmed your stock. Executing a dog for not knowing where a boundry line is?

 

[highcountrychickens]

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This has been a really hot potato topic here for a long time. Great topic to search here on BYC, with a LOT of information about state laws regarding this topic.

Laws are generally very strongly worded on the side of a property/poultry owner - most times giving full right of the land owner to shoot any dog that is harrassing/chasing livestock or poultry - It is the dog owner's responsibility to contain and control the dog, the dog owner's responsibility to make restitution. There are several calculators here to estimate the loss of a chicken financially, but the emotional loss sure is tough to measure.

I would google "(your state) statutes dogs harrassing and killing poultry" - a few sites will come up that outline your specific laws.

What I did was to print out these laws (they generally state that the dog may be shot without recourse) and hand them with a letter to all of your neighbors with dogs stating that you have chickens that are often out, and firmly STATE that all dogs are to be kept off of your property by whatever means necessary - even if you like the neighbors, - the problem is very grave, and words should not be minced. Generally they will see that this is serious stuff, and do what they must to obey the law and be right as your neighbor. I haven't had problem one after delivering these letters and statutes...
If it happens again, I would call your local animal control and sherriff's department so to have it on record - and often a visit from one of them will be a better bridge for sending home the seriousness of the matter than you can. (and have animal control haul the dog off so to instigate a bit of checkbook and authority therapy) It seems passive aggressive, but if you made the statement with a hand delivered letter and statutes, and it happened again - it needs to be addressed with a more serious hand.
It isn't your responsibility to have to fence dogs out - (though it may eventually and sadly be advisable) it is the responsibility of the dog owner to control their dog - or make right the property it has destroyed... including the friendship and neighborliness

I'm so, so sorry about this. It's traumatic and difficult - and sadly a part of keeping poultry that very many of us have had to face down.

Do a search here- there is a lot of information (especially posts by Horsejody - she went through the wringer and really knows the laws)

Good luck

 

[highcountrychickens]

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SillyChicken, the dog isn't the one who has lost here... the Poultry lost, and the Owner of the poultry lost... the rest has to be recourse of the laws protecting those two from this very thing. Those laws exist because dogs that are accepted with the responsibility of knowledge that they are predators, and as domesticates of that truth, owners either follow the ethic and control it through restraint and training - or they dont. The don't column is the one that produces the serious problems against which laws must be made. Indeed the laws exist because there are holes in the acceptance and complete compliance to that responsibility.

Perhaps as a breeder and rescuer, and now a poultry enthusiast, you may find yourself in a really great position to educate. Check out the laws about this in the state where you breed and rescue, and educate your clients - the more responsible and informed dog owners there are out there, the better everyone will be.

A landowner shouldn't have to put up a fence because of someone else's lack of responsibility. It is their right to have whatever the law allows to roam free on their own property without constant fear of this sort of thing happening. It is NOT the right of dogs or dog owners to be allowed to run free and wreak havoc on all that happens to find itself in whatever unchecked path it takes. Sometimes consequences by law or by right are the only deterrent.

 

[rufus]

First, fence your property. You owe it to your hens to provide as much protection as possible and reasonable.

Second, shooting the dog will just cause more problems. Your kids probably have to go to school with their kids. You don't want them to suffer the "dog killer" penalty.

Shooting and admitting to the act will get you legal problems and retribution.

When we had problems with dogs, we used to put our a very dead animal. Skunk seems to be the best option. Dogs cannot resist rolling in these carcasses. After Rover enjoys himself with this a couple of times, his owner will keep him home.

Rufus

 

[#1California Chick]

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What a plan!!

I love it!!

 

[carondesign]

Sorry to hear about your chickens being killed by neighbors dogs. My neighbor is the police officer here where I live and his dogs killed one of my hens several weeks ago. It was awful because I felt like they had killed my kid almost..... I noticed one of my hens was missing so I went everywhere searching. I have 8 acres . I finally put 2 and 2 together because I catch his dogs on my property some times. So I asked him if he had seen a red hen and he said OH yeah my dogs brought it to me. GREATTTTTT What can I do he is the police officer in our small texas town. Do I file a complaint with him about him??? I had to let it go and now I protect my property from his dogs kinda like defensive driving I call it...

 

[Miltonchix]

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First: Not everyone has a pocket full of money to buy enough fencing to surround their property.
Second: YOU'RE DARN RIGHT WE KILLED YOUR DOG!! YOU'RE A CHICKEN KILLER!! Sticks and stones................, kids are pretty smart and know whats up.
The only legal problems will be the stupid neighbors!! The law is on your side if you have to resort to killing a livestock killer. As for retribution.........you can only be pushed around IF you let someone push you around.
Now as for the dead skunk............GREAT IDEA! Unless you have a dog yourself. He'll probably be first in line to roll in it.

 

[Miltonchix]

posted twice

 

[PineappleMama]

*blush* Sorry John. Didn't mean to imply YOU were doing things one way or another... just saying how I would react... if I was in your shoes... or if I was in theirs... sometimes it really bites the boot to be able to see both sides... especially when it's YOU that got the short end of the stick. Sorry if I came across as cranky, or judgey. I do get on a ramble. Hope you'll forgive any offense.

Oh, and I don't even want to THINK about pools right now *shiver*

 

[Miltonchix]

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He of all people should take care of his responsibility. If he balks, or gives you ANY indication he's immune from the law, you have to call his boss. (mayor, county commisioner, whatever they're called in you area). He's SWORN to uphold the law. All of them.