New Neighbors = pit bull = dead chickens

[enola]

I have not read all of the posts on this thread, so I hope I am not out of line here......

BUT, if I catch any predator in my chickens, they will be shot then and there.

If I miss and the predator is a dog or cat, you can bet the owner will be advised to keep the animal home. I will explain very carefully if the animal/pet comes back to my property, he WILL NOT be coming back home. PERIOD

 

[roosterjerry]

I had the same happen two weeks ago but I only lost 2 hens. My neighbor paid me for my loss. I'm not sure if that will ever be enough for me . I got two new hens that are laying but it took me the better part of two weeks to get them into my flock loosing one more hen in the process. From the seven hens I had before I was getting four to six eggs a day now I am lucky to get two.

 

[Ugly Cowboy]

Quote:
I completely disagree with you. EVERY dog should be penned on the owner's property, period. The breed does not matter. If the economy is so hard on someone that they cannot properly contain the dog, then they should not get a dog because obviously, they cannot afford it. No exceptions. Fencing is not that expensive; a dog run is not that expensive.

Domesticated dogs are not wild animals that need to run free. If a dog is attacking my chickens, I do not care one whit that it is someone's pet who got out one time. I will remove the threat to my birds, one way or another, before one is killed, hopefully.

And someone's dog killing someone's birds is a heck of a way for a new neighbor to move into a neighborhood. Doesn't make a great impression. I cannot make someone contain their dogs; I can only deal with them when they enter my property. And there is usually no time to assess why the dog is there.

Exactly!!! Very well put Speckledhen!

 

[bumpershoot]

Quote:
I object to this fear mongering. Killing an animal does not equal killing a human. Otherwise, we had better get rid of all our working dogs and our cats. My cat has been eying my chickens. Should I sleep with one eye open? My Boston Terrier would eat one of my chickens in a heartbeat AND she's the hardest to keep confined (and I am all about keeping dogs confined). Should I worry about a sneak attack? Perhaps, I should also wonder about the young man that brings me elk and venison on occasion. He does have guns and uses them after all...

As far as I can see, the real issue with the killing of the chickens is MANAGEMENT. The owners of the dogs are responsible for containing them and responsible for their behavior. Around here it doesn't matter if the dog is a Pomeranian or a Pit Bull - if it's after my livestock I will eliminate the problem.

To the OP, I am truly sorry that your sons Chickens have been killed. As parents we hurt when our kids hurt.

 

[DiVon80]

Quote:
I agree with you.

 

[Fredster]

Threads like this always make me angry.

I'm afraid if what happened in the first post happened to me I would be in jail now, because I would make sure the dog ended up dead, even if I had to follow it back home to kill it.

I live in a country area and wandering dogs are a BIG problem, not only because people let their dogs roam (I'm thinking of one neighbor in particular who's too dang scary to go confront, who lets his two dogs run all over) but because plenty of people come out here to dump off unwanted pets.

I haven't shot any yet, but I won't hesitate if I feel it's necessary. Yesterday was the closest I've come. A big white dog that looked like a Great Pyr --- except it had a longer, more fox-like face --- barreled out of the brush and confronted my two Great Pyrs, barking and snarling. The worst part is, I was out there with them in the fence (our chicken yard is two fenced acres patrolled by sibling Pyrs) and had no way to get out because I was unarmed.

Ultimately I got back to the house and fetched the .22, which I used to scare the dog off. For about 20 minutes. It came back, I fired into the ground again and it left. I decided the third time was the charm, and waited, but it didn't come back.

I have a very short fuse when it comes to protecting / defending my animals and family.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I am so sorry for your son's loss. We are new to chickens and only have 14 pullets that we got March 5 but if we were closer I would be more than happy to allow your son to come pick out a few to help him get started again. I know this wouldn't make the pain go away but it might help him.
I would like to encourage anyone who can to help this young man out. Maybe you live close enough to help him with some birds or maybe we could all pitch in so he could go buy some.

As for the dogs. The way I have handled this in the past with other stock is I talk to the dog owner (start very civilized and calm). I tell them what has happened and see what thier response is. No matter what the owner says I always tell them that since thier animal has already done damage I will shoot it if it enters my property.
I do not believe in letting dogs run free but I also don 't believe a dog should have to spend it's life on a chain or in a kennel. I teach my dogs where the property line is and they will not cross it. My dogs even understand the boundry of our camp site when we go camping and don't cross it.
Please all dog owners for the good of your pet yourself and all around you teach your dogs to stay home!
NOW LETS SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP THIS LITTLE GUY OUT. If the OP would supply me with the address I will start it off with the first donation!
Rob

 

[Z_chicken]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

In my opinion, being a former pit owner... own a pit = build a wall.

Also, I'd tell my neighbors about my gun, and hit them up for a wall, if possible, because so long as that pit is alive and focused on your chickens, neither you or your neighbors will rest easy.

If it were me who owned that pit, I would build a wall knowing about your gun.

 

[Boyd]

Quote:
My son was put on probation for shooting a Rotriler that killed their Yorkie in their own yard. I also live in the Gaines Mi. area.

Ijon, Do you live in town?

Holy cow, small world!!!! I live out in the country and in actuality I only have 1 person next door. Sometimes there are 2 different dogs that do come on the property, but I don't worry, they couldn't get out of their own way, let alone hurt any pets or livestock. In my situation, for the next few days I am setting in a ground blind trying to get either a pack of coyote's or wild dogs that have pretty much decimated my small flock of chickens.

 

[AHappychick]

havent read all posts but it was not like these dogs just wandered in, they broke through 2 fences. I would report that dog if I was you because that is very aggressive behavior. Yes it is in a dogs nature to attack chooks but this dog really went to extremes more so than your average dog would. I would not be surprised if later we heard it attacked a child. I would shoot on site if and when it comes back.