Puppies killed my chickens!

[Firefighter Chick]

i'm so sorry!

I would personally deliver the neighbor an invoice of the cost of the chickens and the damage to the coop. And if you can, attach some pictures of the damage done. I would call the police and file a report so the event is on records and maybe ask them what you can legally do. Ask perhaps if you had loose animals on the property if you could deliver them to the pound yourself. Keep records of everything you've done. Perhaps invest in an electric fence?

 

[Jerseycoop]

Aww that's horrible! I'm so sorry that you needlessly had to go through this. I keep a shovel need my coop "just in case"

I need to defend the coop. I hope your neighbor compensates you although it doesn't bring bring the ones you'd lost back it would help you to replace them. I would still file a complaint. Your neighbor is responsible for her pets staying on her property and not roaming onto yours. What did she say to this tradegy? I'm sorry for you

 

[TrystInn]

There should be an animal control for your county, call the sheriff's office and get their number!

 

[tomingreeneco]

A 12 gauge double barrel will take care of most problems like this. Something kills my animals, I kill it. SSS

 

[LuvnMyFeatheredBabies]

Those stupid puppies were back again today, no more chickens left for them to kill, but they got themselves stuck in the coop. I just wish my mother in law had woke me up to tell me they were there, they would have been promptly REMOVED, put in my car and delivered to the pound. She had to chase the same four out of the yard 3 additional times. The neighbors are never home, or I would have already been over there. The husband drives a truck, and the wife works odd hours. They have both had trouble with the law, supposedly he is abusive, so I don't know how hopeful I could be at getting compensated.

 

[drumstick diva]

These people are never gonna pony up and pay for the damage. Just forget that. The husband sounds like the kind that would retaliate. I would just "collect" the dogs in your empty coop, give them something to eat to get them to cooperate and load them into the car to take to some/any dog pound. If you could get the mother to join them - even better. If you don't she'll be having more litters of puppies destroying your flock. Then just don't say anything. You don't know where their dogs are.They aren't your responsibility.

 

[Boudicea Farms]

Get a great pyrnee, not only are they great a protecting livestock if gotten as a pup and aclimated to chickens will protect them also, I know big dogs but they are not pets they prefer to stay out doors in all kinds of weather and will protect everything on your property including your family, ours sleeps with the baby goats and the chickens steal food out of his bowl the most they get out of him is an annoyed look. Your neighbor dogs won't be a problem as well as raccoons or any other predator around.

 

[Nitrostreak]

SO sorry for your loss D:

I'd say the best thing to do would be to catch them up and take them to the pound. I HATE that as an option, as I'm VERY MUCH against shelters that kill, but you have to protect your chickens

PLEASE don't shoot them... It's your right, certainly, but the pups clearly have irresponsible owners and don't know their doing bad.

Hey, if they're purebred, perhaps you could collect them and sell them for some small compensation. Doesn't bring back your chickens, of course, but it can help mitigate the loss a bit.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

First and foremost I am sorry for your losses

its terrible.

I live in the country, and my neighbors own hound dogs (theres about 10 beagles (rabbit dogs) and 20 + walker and coon dogs between 3 neighbors) - all live right by me.

Me and my neighbors have an understanding. If one of the dogs is loose and not causing issues with my dogs or by the chicken pens (my coops are locked tight at night so i don't worry about dogs getting to them except 1 who refuses to sleep in a coop) I let them be, but if the dog (or sometimes dogs) are still around in the AM when I go to let the chickens out - I will fire off a warning shot at the dogs to send them home if they go near my pens. If the neighbors don't come get the dog then its going to wind up dead. Simple. Since we came to this understanding I have only fired 2 warning shots at the dogs - haven't killed any of them.....yet. My oldest neighbor told me he's done the same - his boys live beside me, and he's shot one of their walker hounds for raiding his coop, he owns chickens, guineas, and turkeys. He won't stand for a chicken killer.

My advice : make sure your mom wakes you up next time. If they are in the pen, if they are friendly - you got 2 options : Take them to the pound, or pain X's on their hips/butts and send them home. However since the neighbors seem to be unlawful irresponsible citizens I'd just take the dogs to the pound. Or if you want to try scare tactics, if you have a gun, when the dogs are in your hard pop off a few shots near them into the ground to scare the devil out of them.

But honestly getting rid of them by taking them to the pound or SSS (shoot, shovel, shut-up) is going to be your best bet. If they do leave for now, they'll be back later on and again and again and again. These dogs haven't had rabies shots so who is to say they don't tangle with a rabied raccoon and then come into your yard - and bite you or one of your family ??


Good luck

 

[WooingWyandotte]

I'm really sorry

I hate it when I hear of dogs that aren't taken care of and raid our chicken coops. I think that if you get gutsy you could shoot them, or shoot one send the rest home, next time they come over shoot another send the rest home...etc. I have NO idea what your neighbors would do, so the safest bet would be the pound. They'd probably get adopted, you mentioned their pure, (or was that someone elses post??) or you could somehow rig up some electric deal around the coop so the pups'll get shocked next time they touch your coop fence. Just some ides.

I wish you well with your chickens.

WW