Putting a "Property Damage" Price on Layers

[downriverchicks]

What the owners should do is put a shock fence up, if he crosses the line, he'll be shocked until return. Like I said earlier, purchase a cheap airsoft rifle, they aren't deadly and won't puncture skin, every predator (wild or domestic) that invades my yard gets rattled by mine and never comes back.

I'll recommend a shock fence to the owners - they have downright asked us what to do, which is good on one hand and frustrating on another. However, I do think Snatch might be one of those dogs who could run right past it and out of transponder range without being phased. He is a hard-headed thing.

I am willing to try an airsoft rifle at this point for a little behavioral modification. I really hadn't wanted to do it. He is a very sweet dog in any non-chicken-related situation. But he's figured out that there are fun times to be had here, and I guess I do need to work to make it a more unfun place to be.

Have you threatened the owners about contacting animal control? If you do, they probably will do something in fear of losing their pet.

My chill-dude partner has been the one to talk to them every time, because I have been to full of righteous fury to be nice (I just bring them handfuls of ripped-out feathers and look menacing). He is not a threatener. I think that I am going to go have a serious conversation with them when we are not immediately post-attack, which are the only times we've met these people. I'm not sure how upset they would be about losing their pet. They love him, but they have also half-heartedly tried to find him a new home. They might welcome him being taken. Maybe I just need to find someone to adopt their dog, but that seems like way more than my share of responsibility for having my livestock attacked. Siiiiiigh.

 

[birdwrangler057]

Desperate times come with desperate measure. Have you threatened animal control on them? That dog may be sweet, but he's destroying property and income ($). You spend countless hours working on your flock, is that dog's sweetness really worth all that?

 

[birdwrangler057]

I bet that if we weren't in modern times, that dog would already be six feet under.

 

[bobbi-j]

While I get that this was meant to be helpful, I have to say, I take a little umbridge to this response to my situation.

I protect my birds. My 40 chickens are in a fenced pasture in the middle of my 7 acres. They're checked upwards of 4 times a day. Their pasture is 350 sq ft of 4ft galvanized fencing, and I wouldn't put them in smaller space because they would lack access to appropriate forage. I have not had wild predator issues. Their pasture has good cover and we've managed to deter the coyotes with wolf urine spray treatments. My chickens have a dog for protection, but she is smaller and less aggressive than the appropriately-named Snatch, killer of chickens. We're getting a Great Pyrenees when we have the opportunity. I have exclusively had issues with this dog, who has both managed to get into the fence and managed to spook birds out by relentlessly running around the outside of the pasture until they flap-flap-startle over. 

The dog in question has the ability to climb an 8 ft fence, as he has to reach our neighbor's chickens. The dog in question has torn hardware cloth off the side of coops with his teeth to reach chickens. A lot of people have threatened to shoot the dog. No one has. I'm glad. He's a very loved street rescue with an under-educated and underprepared owner. He deserves his life. I don't live in an area that's very sheriff/authority friendly, which probably explains why no one has been called before (secret woods weed patches might be discovered). But we will likely be coordinating with animal control in the event that this occurs again. 

I don't see this as a failure on my part, at all. 

Maybe a few strands of electric fence on the outside of your perimeter fence would help deter Snatch. My point was, if my flock had been attacked "several times", I'd be looking to try to secure them even more rather than wait for it to happen again.

 

[downriverchicks]

Maybe a few strands of electric fence on the outside of your perimeter fence would help deter Snatch. My point was, if my flock had been attacked "several times", I'd be looking to try to secure them even more rather than wait for it to happen again.

It's great that you have the time and money to do enhancements to your pasture like that at the drop of a hat. If I had the time or money to put up an electric fence before Snatch is likely to attack again, that's what I'd be asking about. I don't. It's not.

 

[birdwrangler057]

I agree, shock fence costs a lot and is very time consuming.

 

[bobbi-j]

It's great that you have the time and money to do enhancements to your pasture like that at the drop of a hat. If I had the time or money to put up an electric fence before Snatch is likely to attack again, that's what I'd be asking about. I don't. It's not. 

You already have a fence. It must have posts that you could attach insulators to. A roll of wire and fencer I suppose could run up to a couple hundred dollars. (Maybe less expensive than losing expensive birds?) Those aren't "enhancements" to my pasture, they are my pasture. But my pasture contains horses, not chickens.

My chickens free range, are cooped at night. I do, however, have runs attached to my coops so they can be secured when we have predators lurking about or family comes to visit with their dogs. Understand, I'm just describing my setup, not comparing. What works for me doesn't for you. No judgement here.

I agree, shock fence costs a lot and is very time consuming.

Depending on size of area, it could probably be done for less than $200 and in a day or less.

 

[trudyg]

Could you possibly trap the dog so the owner must come and get him? Then you'd have them in a position to talk. If they don't come get him, you'd have him ready for animal control to pick him up. I'd give them one or two chances, then take care of it myself.

 

[birdwrangler057]

That's a good idea.

 

[JanetMarie]

Maybe a few strands of electric fence on the outside of your perimeter fence would help deter Snatch. My point was, if my flock had been attacked "several times", I'd be looking to try to secure them even more rather than wait for it to happen again.

If the steps are not taken to stop the dog's behavior, this is the best option, and yes it costs money.