Putting a "Property Damage" Price on Layers

[George Michael]

Last year I had one of my bantam chickens eaten by a stray cat I counted nearly ten of them and I think it is the nearby inn owners that feeds most of them with the left overs. It simply disappeared leaving only few feathers behind. Now I always keep them locked in their small coop (ex rabbit hutch). Fortunately I only have two of them. Not really much value.

 

[jschoff]

Why don't you just shoot that dog? Most towns have leash laws and a dog running wild and killing livestock should be shot.

 

[tohbi]

actually, the breed of dog is a consideration. in some places, pit bull ownership is illegal. even in places where one can own this breed, courts usually find the owners guilty for damages simply because this animal is bred to fight and kill. they aren't considered pets.

 

[pthor]

I recently met my new neighbor through the (then) 5 foot fence, he was coming quickly through a small group of trees that divides our yards to retrieve his little pit bull that was licking his chops when I came out to check my girls.. The dog began to growl at me, so, I yelled at him to "GIT" !

I asked him if the dog would jump the fence, his reply "I hope not" Really....? Well, I like pit bulls but, I LOVE my chickens ! I explained that to him with a look of seriousness that made it clear what would happen if his dog hurt one of my girls ~ He understood.

He said he would install a barrier fence but, I wasn't waiting, so, the next day I added a roll of thick wire to the fence, extending it another 2.5 feet. So far, so good.

I am not the type to take an incident like that in stride, I take care of my animals and they are my responsibility, if my dog were to kill someone's flock then, well, I feel I'd have to accept whatever the owner did to protect them...

 

[StevenW]

If the owner won't do anything about his dog...call animal control everytime its found on your property. The fines alone should discourage him from letting his chicken killer "free range". If that doesn't work......I would end that dog.

 

[shortgrass]

The advantage of investing the time, money and effort in adding a few strands of electric fencing is that you address not just *this* situation, but also addressing future issues that may well arise with other predators --- addressing just this dog is short-sighted.

Yep. Dogs are only one predator. Fixing this ASAP will only help more in the long run, when there are coons, coyotes, foxes, cats, skunks, opossums.....etc etc etc. Predator proofing means ALL predators...

That is why I advocate filing a formal report if there are damages.  These irresponsible owners can allow their animals to run the neighborhood, killing as they go, and unless there is some legal documentation, the owners can continue to claim "it never happened".  When there is legal documentation, the strikes mount up until the owner is forced to take action.

Yep. Documentation. Nobody wants a lawsuit, but it sounds like this guy is going to get one eventually. Best to have documentation or you can forget ever getting " compensated ".

A dog kept on it's own property is pet, but when it comes onto your property stalking and killing, it is a predator.

See above. Predators are predators, nice dog or not. No nice doggie kills the neighbors chickens. That's a predator and should be treated as such.



On that note, its good that it's not in my yard. Colorado still allows us to shoot first, ask questions later. Unfortunately, my DH takes his farm very seriously, and the nice dog would be six feet under by now, for sure. I've talked him out of shooting lost stray dogs before, but if it killed any if our birds, all bets would be off.

We also have fencing and a strand of electric wire above that. Free ranging happens here too, and those losses are all on us, knowing full well we have delicious birds that we are calling all predators to come taste.

So, all in all, there are no reasonable ways to charge someone else for damage from a stray dog, when we leave some of our birds out as targets. Predators happen, its life with livestock. I can't charge anyone when a coon gets them either. It's my own responsibility to protect my investments.

 

[lazy gardener]

If the owner won't do anything about his dog...call animal control everytime its found on your property. The fines alone should discourage him from letting his chicken killer "free range". If that doesn't work......I would end that dog.

Ditto that. Simply by inconveniencing the ACO every time that stray shows up, that will put more pressure on the irresponsible owner. We all know the ACO does not want to be called away from his Sunday afternoon foot ball game to deal with Mr. Doe's dog AGAIN!!!! My ACO is a soft touch when it comes to dogs and livestock. But, he knows that I know my rights and will exercise them, if he does not do his job regarding wandering predators who happen to be wearing collars. I have his phone number circled in the telephone book, and have used it plenty often enough.

 

[Dave from Maine]

This dog and his owners have been given enough chances. Anyone's dog can get loose once in a while. It's going to happen. This dog's owners have let it happen repeatedly and it has harmed to several neighbors birds and other property. That dog would get what we call the three "S" treatment around here. Shoot, shovel, shut up.

 

[1cock2hens]

actually, the breed of dog is a consideration. in some places, pit bull ownership is illegal. even in places where one can own this breed, courts usually find the owners guilty for damages simply because this animal is bred to fight and kill. they aren't considered pets.

false, pure ignorance is the reason bully breed dogs are banned in some places, pitbulls are not the problem, poorly bred pitbull mixes are... pitbulls for the most part haven't been bred to fight for the past century.. it's poor breeding and bad owners, blame the deed not the breed.. the deaths that are contributed to pitbulls are more often than not a miss-id'd mutts or other bully breeds/ most people can't even point out a real pitbull in a line up of bullybreed dogs//if you look up the stats they dont even have pitbull pics next to the stories an overwhelming majority of the dogs shown in those stories are American bullies..

I would have killed the dog first time it stepped on my property,then again it wouldn't have dared go on my property with my 3 pitbulls and my bulldog keeping guard

 

[TwoCrows]

I think this thread has run it's course. There is no need to on continue here.

Thank you to all who participated in this thread and your understanding, the curtain is now closed.

-BYC Staff