New dog is an egg thief...

[Sharedspirit]

We have a new dog that we got as a puppy. He's about 6 months old now and he won't stop stealing eggs. Our chickens are free range and so is the dog...well, he was! He goes right in the chicken coop and steals the eggs out of the nesting boxes. I gather eggs several times a day but he always manages to get there before I do. Most of the hens are good about going back into the coop to lay but some lay in the barn. One is determined that her nesting box is the roof of the rabbit pen. I think he got started by finding an egg in the barn and figured out where the jackpot was in the coop. I can't make the coop door for the chickens any smaller or the rooster won't be able to get in and out.

We've tried to discourage him by tying up when he gets caught but he has no self control. As soon as he's lose again, he goes right for the chicken coop. I'm afraid he's going to go after a chicken next. The dog is getting plenty of dog food so it's not that he's hungry.

I hate having a dog on the farm that has to be tied up. Any suggestions as to how to break him of this? Otherwise, he's really a pretty good boy so far.

 

[Sillystunt]

he needs to know the wrath he will get if he touches them eggs!

 

[Sharedspirit]

I thought tying him up would be enough but he just doesn't see to get it. I was thinking maybe hot pepper on an egg left in the barn for him to find?

 

[cassie]

I was once given a small flock of hens by a friend because "they weren't laying". I got plenty of eggs. My friend was mystified. Then she got some more hens. I almost got those too, but unfortunately for me, friend's DH just happened to look out the window and see the family dog creep out of the hen house.

 

[DianeB]

Maybe, your chickens will be like mine and tell the dog who is boss. My little Shirley got into it with my grandfather's daschound and won. (Fortunately, no blood was shed.) She stood her ground and lunged at him when he barked and growled at her. She showed him how to behave around chickens. Now, he gives them at least two feet of breathing room when outside.

In all seriousness, some dogs are just thieves. Our dog use to love to steal fruits and vegetables right out of my garden. Usually, locking them out of the area or giving them another object of interest will work. Your dog will probably change his behavior after about 2 years. Puppies can be little troublemakers.

 

[DianeB]

I should also add that is your very, very diligent you can change his behavior in less than a year. I caution against yelling, hitting or other negetive behavior. This will backfire. Either your dog will become more aggressive, excesively shy or continue the negetative behavior insecently. (I am pretty sure you don't do any of this. But for arguement sake, I stated it.) A constant, gentle reminder and a quick change to another activity may do the trick. Also, see if there is another object of obsession you can get your dog to focus on instead of eggs. Perhaps, a nice garden with lovely tomatoes or frisbies. Your dog seems like it is an intelligent, curious animal that needs to focus his energy elsewhere.

 

[mistyfeather]

Quote:
dogs love raw egg! its like crack to them! they will eat it even if they are stuffed to bursting point

not to smart on their part. go to walmart or any pet suply place or farm and ranch place and a bottle of NO CHEW SPRAY . its usualy made from bitter root or bitter apple and other NASTY tasting stuff . its harmless but spray a few eggs and leave them in the nest for him to find one taste is usualy all it takes but keep doing it and he wont ever take another egg again!!! they make it even strong enough to stop horses from eating young saplings and other plants you dont want them eating. just dont do what i did by accident (spray it when a wind picks up unexpectedly)

 

[CoyoteMagic]

What about spraying some eggs with some of that bitter orange or sour apple spray?

 

[nzpouter]

put a small hole on one end of the egg, fill it with pepper... after that all you need to do is sprinkle a bit of pepper on the bottom of your nest box every now and then.

 

[Cara]

We lost all faith in the 'no chew' spray when our puppy Maggie stole the whole bottle and chewed it up.