New neighbors dog killed 3 of our flock

[Bambitracks]

I would love to know if you resolved this. I love being out in the country. I live in a very established old "neighborhood" families do no move. Generations inherite and stay. So people just adopt common curtsy "laws". Most have cats and dogs goats horses and chickens. However unfortunately we have two houses that have fallen in rather deplorable shape. Opening up the gates for rift raft. We had some problems at first and they didn't end well. I love my chickens. We have a large fenced in yard for our dogs, even thou we have acres for them to roam, I know they can get into trouble when left to roam all day.

This is the kinda "laws" I was talking about.
Anywho. These people had a couple of dogs that ran wild. Terrozied the neighborhood. They kept coming in my yard and fought with my dogs through the fence and took a couple of birds. Luckily this batch of hens I wasn't particularly bounded with like all of my other girls. But it still was a huge bother. So I kindly warned them. Many times. Until one day one those dogs grabbed one of my girls. He was shot and killed, unintentionally of course. But it was him or her and well my hen lived. after all it was her home. I took the dog up to their house and handed it to them. Better care has been taken since then and I haven't had a problem. But I know if my dogs ever did that to someone's animals they would suffer the same fate most likely. The dogs where aggressive towards my family as well. It was unfortunate and sad taking a life. It's also saddening that the people didn't care enough to contain their pet.

 

[Suz13]

@Suz13 I had a couple of thoughts I wanted to share if you don't mind.

I was gonna say with my (ugly) livestock type fencing that the chickens seemed to only go over where the gate was solid. But one had to prove me wrong and land on the fence anyways.

The other thing I wanted to express was that, even if you do have to confine your birds for their safety doesn't in any way mean they are suffering. Especially when compared to the pain your family suffered from the previous loss.

I am sorry for that again. Birds can be happy in their coop. Mine hang out in theirs many times even when the weather is perfect and with an acre of lushness to forage. I even go in there and do chores while they are there just to spend time. They actually perch in different locations than where they roost. I know you will do everything you can to make them comfortable and safe. My point here is to be encouraging!

Because even if it may be nice to range, not everyone has the same situation. For me the outrage about not being able to range your animals is more about the impact you neighbors' behavior has on you. Frustrates me when the innocent pay the consequences of the guilty and OUR rights are threatened!

I both wish I had but am thankful I don't... 10 acres. That is a lot of maintenance and cost. And my dreams WAY over ride my wallet and energy level. But congratulations to you! Bad neighbor experience aside, I hope you enjoy living there and making the property work to fit the needs and desires of you and your family.

Best wishes!

Hello EggSighted4Life

Thanks for the note! I do feel guilty about confining them. I try to make sure they have happy things like a few treats and various things to perch on. They were really restless the first week but seem fine now and they are very safe in there. I go out there several times a day and my kids like to go pet them and feed them from their hands. We still have some "teenager" hens in a separate area of the coop and this hens jump all over the kids and sit on their heads - the kids like that.

About the 10 acres - it has been our dream for a long time and we worked hard for it but I must admit you are right that it is a lot more to manage then we imagined both with upkeep and costs. We are not so young anymore - it is a lot of work! It is a good problem to have.... I think (we have only been here about 10 months ask me again in a few years). We really do love it so far and I grew up in the country and wanted the same for my kids. We didn't own a lot of property when I was a kid but we were surrounded by a lot of open land, woods, and farms. I spent a lot of time outdoors as a kid.

I miss my ducks a lot but I will get over it and would HATE to see them injured again and would be so angry with the neighbor it is best not to have them for now. We all lose pets for the first time and I think we remember that - my daughter will prob always remember losing her pet duck do that darn dog as it bleed to death in her arms as she sobbed and sobbed She will be okay I remember losing my first pet as well. I am still frustrated over all that has happened but I need to get over that as well. All in good time. I want to have a decent relationship with my neighbors and do not want to waste time and energy being bitter.

Thanks for the note. Have a great weekend.

Suz

 

[EggSighted4Life]

@Bambitracks Hi, welcome to BYC!

Sounds like a nice neighborhood. MOST of my neighbors here practice common courtesy law as well.

When we lived in the city, 2 years back, we had squatters move into one of the empty houses and the law did nothing to these people who were dumping their trash in my alley, pepper sprayed my dog in the eyes behind his own fence, let their dog run loose until it was ran over and died with another neighbor tending it.... until child protective services took those unfortunate 4 kids. I sold my house while they lived there for more than 18 months, collecting welfare on the kids and not paying a stitch of rent. Had the sprinkler stolen off my lawn twice, hitch stolen out of the receiver on my truck, and my TRASH CAN STOLEN ON MY BIRTHDAY (which the city only replaced after I paid $75 for another can)!

I literally kept doors locked and double armed myself 24 hours a day even in my back yard. Plus got 3 dogs so they could back each other and me up, always left 2 at home if 1 went with us. My dogs could hold them off while I shoot my way back to the "big guns".

I am thankful not to live like that anymore. Part of the problem is I hate to see injustice and I see lot's of stuff which requires me to be vigilant for all of my neighbors. Ahh... the new joy of small town (7000) country life, I love it here! My guard isn't completely down so I don't have a false sense of security.... I still keep my car and house doors locked but although firearms are close by I don't feel concerned enough to have it on person except when hiking in the redwoods or other densely forested areas.

@Suz13 I am glad that you won't waste your time being bitter, as it doesn't hurt them but could eat you alive. I see people suffering from their hatred way to often. While I understand those feelings I know that forgiveness in your heart heals YOU not them. ( I had to get over my childhood that way).

Another thing is, I believe that loosing child hood pets is a way of helping us learn how to deal with the deaths of our loved ones as we get older. That's what I tell myself anyways.

Seeing your daughter go through that must have been very difficult (lump in my throat for you). I bet ducks are pretty cool. Are you going to be able to see the one you were able to save? Even though THEY say "time heals all wounds" to me some are very deep and leave huge scars so you can never forget. Often uncomfortable to touch those scars for years. While they do change our lives, as we grow they get smaller and less painful even if they never go completely away. Sorry if my analogy doesn't make sense to you. What I mean is I know you will heal because YOUR heart is in the right place!

I still remember the days I lost... too many pets, some I was very attached to. As an adult I still sob like a baby when I need to! And it's often not the day of loss that make me cry, but remembering the good times we had that won't happen again. Oh, that missing feeling... I truly understand!

I am very encouraged by your demeanor and willingness to recover, when you are ready. Wish I could do something special to help your family heal from their ordeal... But, THEY GOT YOU!

 

[Bambitracks]

If only we could just have a community made just for chicken people

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If only we could just have a community made just for chicken people

Thing is.... Chicken people ARE dog people to....

 

[speckledhen]

Thing is.... Chicken people ARE dog people to....

Yes, they are. I grew up with dogs. My family bred AKC Dobermans when I was a kid. We've adopted three "pound puppies" since we married. I adore dogs. I simply demand dogs be under control of their owners at all times and not on my property.

 

[noel1asn]

Your neighbor has a legal obligation to maintain control of his dog at all times. He also owes you the replacement costs for the animals you lost, that is also the law. The fact that they are new to the neighborhood and make no effort to contain their animal has already shown you what life is going to be like living next to them. Explain to the neighbor that you expect payment for the losses and for them to keep the dog put up. Let them know the next time you see it out you will call animal control and the local sheriff's department...and then follow through. Unfortunately, I have been there and done this before

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Your neighbor has a legal obligation to maintain control of his dog at all times. He also owes you the replacement costs for the animals you lost, that is also the law. The fact that they are new to the neighborhood and make no effort to contain their animal has already shown you what life is going to be like living next to them. Explain to the neighbor that you expect payment for the losses and for them to keep the dog put up. Let them know the next time you see it out you will call animal control and the local sheriff's department...and then follow through. Unfortunately, I have been there and done this before

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I believe the OP has already resolved the issue to the best of their ability and have chosen to move forward and pursue their life as safely as possibly within their own means without regard to their irresponsible neighbor's problem.

As much as I wish she had taken compensation plus taxed his *****... I respect that she chose not to become the feuding Hatfield's and Mc Coys! And save her family any extra grief in addition to the trauma they've suffered already. It stinks to have to be the one to bow out when you were wronged. But living at peace when you know your neighbors aren't going to change or move is a personal choice that anyone can make.

Let me be clear that I agree with you 100%, think you offered good suggestions as well. I was only sharing that they are already trying to recover. Didn't mean to speak for them either, so sorry if I stepped on any one's toes...

We all wanted better for this family!

Surprisingly, I even was able to live at peace with the squatters across the street in our old neighborhood. But in NO WAY does that mean I EVER let my guard down! It wasn't the kids fault they lived with dopers who were able to outsmart the law by working the system for nearly 2 years. Lived LEGALLY as squatters for too long! Welcome to the nightmare of crappy laws in CA! The kids enjoyed the small pool I had sitting around when it was 100+ degrees and they had no power. I wished I could say foster care was any better!

I've been there, it's not!!!

But my current neighbor who has back issues and is angry all the time (understandable if you ever woke up in pain many days in a row), fights with every neighbor in the hood.... except me! I kill them with kindness.

Express empathy and don't get sucked into pettiness just because he doesn't approach in the tone of voice I THINK he should. I become the adult when people are still acting like children and keep my calm. You might be surprised (or not), but anger and violence lead to more anger and violence.

Anyways, thanks for sharing and letting me share. I hope you enjoy being a part of this BYC community!

Best wishes!