Not that we would do this but as a last resort....

[brandislee]

Quote:
Interesting idea. But it could also backfire, and they could just start keeping the dogs outside 24/7.

But I guess we're lucky. We have lots of roaming dogs around here- I live in the country, but there are lots of close neighbors and pretty much everyone (except the house behind me- he has kenneled dogs that bark all. day. long.) lets their dogs run. Mine stays in our yard, but we get "visitors" all the time. None mess with my kids, and most of them run from my dog (the 27 lb. weinie border collie) when she runs up wanting to play with them. Of course, I don't have chickens outside yet because they're still tiny and I haven't built the yard yet, so we'll see how they all do then. Needless to say, my run will be pretty secure, between all the roaming dogs, the hawks that already like to hang out in the huge pines right by the coop, and the raccoons that lived under the coop before it was the coop...

 

[fishman65]

Kim...no problem here. Thanks for reply.

 

[kemclaughlin]

So it sounds like you have gotten a lot of good advice, but I just wanted to point something out. The dogs may not be bitting or attacking, but a jumping dog can knock a child over. Children are head-heavy. It only takes one really good smack on the ground for a serious head injury to take place. In addition to that, sometimes dogs that start out with annoying behavior do become dangerous. Dogs who are not socialized properly tend to have escalating behavioral problems. If all else fails, you can file legal paperwork to take action and force these people to keep their dogs off your property. Like everyone has pointed out though, I would start with the things most likely to teach the dogs to stay away in order to avoid retaliation problems from your neighbors.

 

[hennyannie]

Sometimes firecrackers can scare them bad enough that they will stay away for a long time. Here it is legal to shoot animals that harrass livestock, and just letting people know this is enough to stop the owner from turning them loose.

 

[amynbrent]

Quote:
Thank you, and thank you everyone. I didnt want anyone to think I put our chickens first. We are animal lovers...my daughter saves every mouse, mole, frog, bird, etc. she can. She has a grave yard with headstones and names for all the ones that didnt make it. We wanted to give the dogs and owners a chance before we did anything major. The dogs are out of hand. I talked to another person on our street that have sheep and the dogs are harassing them too so between the two of us we can get something done!

 

[zengrrl]

I rather like the idea of the paintball gun. I was considering something like that for the raccoons since I don't have a lethal gun of any kind.

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Heh - not my dog. He's a hunting dog. We have to lock him up when we shoot fireworks or he comes running and tries to fetch them!

To the OP - Awhile back, someone on here said that they had caught a dog that was harrassing their chickens and painted a bull's eye on its side. Never saw the dog again.

 

[Mattemma]

I would get rid of the dogs. Either take them to a distant shelter or SSS.They will get new dogs,but you just keep repeating the rehome or SSS. I would not talk to AC or the neighbors again,because they will just be after you when a pet comes up missing(whether it was you or not who did it).

Roaming pets disappear.

 

[Mattemma]

Skunking them sounds like a good first step!

 

[rhs7111]

Wow. This thread is seriously disturbing. Take a step back.... I sincerely hope you won't shoot, kill, harm, maim a dog (or a cat, for that matter). The SSS concept thoroughly disgusts me. OF COURSE this is not your fault, it is an enormous imposition upon you and you SHOULDN'T have to deal with it....but it is happening. Now the point is to keep your chickens safe and the CIVIL method of doing so under these circumstances is to increase your security, i.e. keep your chickens penned in safe, dog-proof fencing, runs and coops.
Let's be kind to all animals, shall we? Not just to chickens...