OK, i have to vent...

[meriruka]

pips&peeps :

I would take that nice puppy for a ride to one of the animal hospitals (on your way to work) that you don't frequent and take care of the bill for her including disposal. Tell them, "I love this dog so much, but he keeps killing the neighbors chickens, he must be put down."

Please don't do the above, it's stealing and you could get in serious trouble for it.


I would tell your neighbor that you will shoot the dog if it happens again. Offer her the option of whether or not she wants the body back or if she would rather not be told....​

 

[tiffanyh]

I didnt read all the posts and maybe someone already suggested this--but what about an electrocfence around the outside--like a horse one. You can even get solar power ones....

That might stop them.

 

[speckledhen]

Marcus, I also could supply you with some hatching eggs to replace your lost flock; well, they can't be replaced actually. I know mine cant, but to rebuild, let's say. I could supply pure Barred Rocks and some Barred Rock over RIR, Buff Orp and Blue Ameraucana, possibly a Blue Orp purebred or two, depending on what week you wanted them. I like to help school and 4H and when people lose their flocks to sad circumstances like this one. Just let me know if you have any interest in those particular eggs. Sorry for your troubles.

 

[Buster]

Quote:
Please don't do the above, it's stealing and you could get in serious trouble for it.


I would tell your neighbor that you will shoot the dog if it happens again. Offer her the option of whether or not she wants the body back or if she would rather not be told....

That is a good idea meriruka, especially since he already has an open dialogue with his neighbor about the issue. Sounds like the neighbor would rather it get shot than take care of it and keep paying for dead chickens anyway, but I would definitely bill her for any and all dead chickens that the dog (and the owner) was responsible for. I would much rather put down a problem dog than take it and give it to a shelter. I would consider someone taking my dog to a shelter stealing it, whereas if they shot it for getting into trouble, they were just protecting their livestock like I would.

 

[marcuscarr]

I agree. Taking the dog would be theft. At this point I really have two options..

1. Passive - build a structure that the dog cannot possibly get into.

2. Aggressive - Shoot the dog

I will most likely do both.

 

[Nick]

Marcus,
I feel you are being very understanding toward your neighbor. Way more then I would be.

I have a question however: How far is your coop from any inhabited structures?
Make sure you can discharge a firearm in the vicinity of your coop.
Just my

 

[marcuscarr]

I live in the middle of a 10 acre, treed plot. Shooting the dog won't be a problem legally or practically.

 

[Josie]

I am sorry about your loss, I know I would be mad if I were in your shoes.

Don't think of it as passive and aggressive approaches...
think of it as constructive and nonconstructive.
I would recommend taking some of the money and investing it into your coop. That way you have protected future chickens not only from predators (her dog may not be the only one later on), but you maintain peace with the neighbors.
You never know when you will need her help or cooperation, not to mention you might be living next to her for the rest of your life. Many counties require neighbors to sign off on construction projects, and if you ever want to create more than one parcel on your land.

 

[chicknmania]

Do you have a shotgun and some rock salt? If you can have someone be around the next time the dog gets out, you might want to try that, once you re-establish your flock. Or firecrackers. When we first got our dog she was harassing the neighbor's sheep. One blast from a shotgun, and she never went over there again. They didn't shoot HER with anything; it was just the experience she couldn't stand. And I didn't blame them one bit. Otherwise, if I were you, I would be talking to an animal control officer...that might help. She can't just keep on letting her dog get out and destroy your property. Sorry for your losses...that must've been horrible.

 

[ksacres]

She paid you $900 ?? I think that's more than fair. As always, I'm the only one in a crowd with a differing opinion.

26 hens, assorted roosters, unless they are winning show-stock money wise, you came out ahead. That works out to $34.61 per hen. You would be hard pressed to get that for a chicken around here.

Yes, they are your pets, and yes, you could have been selling eggs, but you have to deduct expenses like feed and electric before you claim profit.

It is terrible that she can't keep her dog penned up, and I don't buy the "single mom" sob story. Being a single mom doesn't mean you can shirk responsibility.

Have a real discussion with her, without asking for more monetary compensation. Tell her that her dog will be killed should he get off her property again. If she's smart, she'll rehome the dog before more tragedy occurs.