predator or neighbor taking my chickens?

[dekel18042]

I'm very nervous about the husky next door

I would be very nervous, too. Don't want anyone to see this as breed bashing, but I'm in the dog world and huskies have a reputation for harassing and killing livestock.
I haven't known one that could be trusted with chickens yet. Ages ago my husband got a husky (What was he thinking?) and the dog was a Houdini to put it mildly. She could open doors. The gate had three different fasteners and she could work her way through each She also was excellent at escaping from inside the house, and while being walked on a leash. She was very smart and trainable but not biddable.
Someone who raised huskies and participated in sled dog races made the comment to me he could not believe she didn't kill our cats in our home.
With every escape she killed a chicken and she was extremely sneaky about it. (just like the foxes of today). We were unable to break her then got another trainer who was also unsuccessful so we rehomed her to a more appropriate home, one in an area with no livestock or chickens. She was great with people, even kids, just not on a farm. The only way we could contain her was a concrete floored covered run, but that is no way for a dog to live She could have passed her CD test inside a fenced enclosure. In everything else she was well trained. So she left (I was singing "Thank God and greyhound she's gone.) and I got my sanity back.
And every dog we've had since then has been excellent with poultry and smaller pets and protective of them.

 

[shortgrass]

Just a suggestion..... And FYI in Colorado we have the same laws as Texas evidently... If any animal, person, thing...were to come on my property, and if I felt the least bit threatened...even if it's a cat...I can shoot it. And I would. And I have.

OK but after catching a stray cat in a coon trap...(I felt awful lol), I started pegging them with the BB gun instead if the 12 gauge.... I don't want to hurt someone's pet and sometimes they just don't KNOW any better, especially when it's a neglected animal that runs loose.... It works on the cats lol, I don't see them near the coop but I do see them in the field detouring AROUND my aim And then you're not trying to kill it but I bet a couple bbs in its backside might make it think twice

PS: hope your hen is OK, albeit slightly traumatized.

 

[mc3681]

   I would be very nervous, too.  Don't want anyone to see this as breed bashing, but I'm in the dog world and huskies have a reputation for harassing and killing livestock.
    I haven't known one that could be trusted with chickens yet.  Ages ago my husband got a husky (What was he thinking?) and the dog was a Houdini to put it mildly.  She could open doors.  The gate had three different fasteners and she could work her way through each  She also was excellent at escaping from inside the house, and while being walked on a leash.  She was very smart and trainable but not biddable. 
     Someone who raised huskies and participated in sled dog races made the comment to me he could not believe she didn't kill our cats in our home.
      With every escape she killed a chicken and she was extremely sneaky about it. (just like the foxes of today).  We were unable to break her then got another trainer who was also unsuccessful so we rehomed her to a more appropriate home, one in an area with no livestock or chickens.  She was great with people, even kids, just not on a farm. The only way we could contain her was a concrete floored covered run, but that is no way for a dog to live She could have passed her CD test inside a fenced enclosure.   In everything else she was well trained.  So she left (I was singing "Thank God and greyhound she's gone.) and I got my sanity back.
      And every dog we've had since then has been excellent with poultry and smaller pets and protective of them.

I know, that's why I'm nervous lol! I love huskies but they are notorious for escaping AND killing smaller pets. The neighbors have a 4' fence but that's nothing for a husky, I had one that climbed a 6' fence.

 

[funnyfarmmom]

Just a suggestion..... And FYI in Colorado we have the same laws as Texas evidently... If any animal, person, thing...were to come on my property, and if I felt the least bit threatened...even if it's a cat...I can shoot it. And I would. And I have.

OK but after catching a stray cat in a coon trap...(I felt awful lol), I started pegging them with the BB gun instead if the 12 gauge.... I don't want to hurt someone's pet and sometimes they just don't KNOW any better, especially when it's a neglected animal that runs loose.... It works on the cats lol, I don't see them near the coop but I do see them in the field detouring AROUND my aim And then you're not trying to kill it but I bet a couple bbs in its backside might make it think twice

PS: hope your hen is OK, albeit slightly traumatized.

Thank you. The hen seems fine today. She hid in the coop for awhile yesterday, then ended up refusing to go up to rooat last night. I figured her wing hurt too bad to flap it. But today she is back to normal, flapping her wings and clucking and digging for bugs .

 

[dekel18042]

I know, that's why I'm nervous lol! I love huskies but they are notorious for escaping AND killing smaller pets. The neighbors have a 4' fence but that's nothing for a husky, I had one that climbed a 6' fence.

If you and your neighbors are on friendly terms perhaps you could talk to them about hot wiring the top of the fence and bottom (A six foot fence with hot wire would be better.)
I've heard of at least one husky rescue that won't let you have a dog unless you do the hot wire routine.
How often does the dog get out now?
And electric fencing or hot wiring or electric netting around your own birds wouldn't hurt., either.

 

[mc3681]

   If you and your neighbors are on friendly terms perhaps you could talk to them about hot wiring the top of the fence and bottom (A six foot fence with hot wire would be better.)
      I've heard of at least one husky rescue that won't let you have a dog unless you do the hot wire routine.
      How often does the dog get out now?
       And electric fencing or hot wiring or electric netting around your own birds wouldn't hurt., either.

She hasn't got out (yet), she's just a puppy, only 4 months old. They've only had her a month. I'm waiting...lol. she WILL get out. My run and coop are pretty secure (I hope) but no hot wire. They bought her from a breeder so no rescue rules unfortunately.

 

[funnyfarmmom]

The dog was back this morning. She was trying to dig under the pen my meat chickens are in, which is directly outside my sliding door. Apparently she found out she couldnt dig through the apron we installed around the layers' run. She cowered when I went outside but I had my teenager bring me a hot dog and she came to me. Hubby had taken the rifle with him this morning because a co-worker has a skunk in a trap in his pickup (I didnt even ask). So I tied the dog up to my clothesline pole so she couldnt get any of my chickens and gave her food and water. But she's so dang sweet! The whole time I was hanging laundry she was licking my leg. If I hadnt caught her in the act I never would have believed she was killing my chickens. So now I dont know what to do with her. Can a dog be trained not to attack livestock after it already has? I know its not my dog to train but I hate to see her destroyed. Hubby talked to a sheriffs deputy and he said thats what they do with animals that kill livestock here.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

The dog was back this morning. She was trying to dig under the pen my meat chickens are in, which is directly outside my sliding door. Apparently she found out she couldnt dig through the apron we installed around the layers' run. She cowered when I went outside but I had my teenager bring me a hot dog and she came to me. Hubby had taken the rifle with him this morning because a co-worker has a skunk in a trap in his pickup (I didnt even ask). So I tied the dog up to my clothesline pole so she couldnt get any of my chickens and gave her food and water. But she's so dang sweet! The whole time I was hanging laundry she was licking my leg. If I hadnt caught her in the act I never would have believed she was killing my chickens. So now I dont know what to do with her. Can a dog be trained not to attack livestock after it already has? I know its not my dog to train but I hate to see her destroyed. Hubby talked to a sheriffs deputy and he said thats what they do with animals that kill livestock here.

Just call AC and report her as a stray - have them pick her up and she'll go into the county shelter system -- her owner can either reclaim her or, better yet, she can be placed in a good home with a family that takes actual responsibility for her.

 

[chiques chicks]

She cowered when I went outside but I had my teenager bring me a hot dog and she came to me. Hubby had taken the rifle with him this morning because a co-worker has a skunk in a trap in his pickup (I didnt even ask).

Why do I love this part of the story?

 

[aart]

Quote: Agrees to call AC.

That dog might be able to be trained.....but it would take a LOT of attention and time.

Just because a dog kills chickens, doesn't make it a 'bad' dog in general.