Sweetest, favorite chicken killed today by dog

[shoregirl68]

Well we've had a sad few months here but today was the worst ever!!! Our favorite Pekin went missing at dusk a few days before thanksgiving. We never figured out what happened to her so we were gradually able to adjust to her absence. Our 3 mallards decided it was their time to find mates and took off...which is not a bad thing, just a we miss you thing.

Anyway on to the chickens....I admittedly was happy the ducks had realized their wild calling and happily made the transition to pairing with a drake. I also decided I was done with ducks...love them so much but really chickens are much easier to care for. Our chickens were the best...we nicknamed them the zombies b/c we had to hide from them sometimes b/c whenever they saw was they came running over....I'm sure it was just a food thing but 2 of our girls Hazel (BO) and Lucy (New Hampshire Red) came running to us every chance they got. Hazel was my absolute favorite, so sweet, always wanted to be picked up and never, ever was mean (pecked her girlfriends) like her mean BO counterpart, Basil.

Tragedy stuck at about 4pm...my hubbie called in a panic...the neighbors dog who killed a pekin and barred rock last spring struck again. My 7 year old witnessed the whole thing. I've been asking the neighbor nicely to please keep his lab mix out of my yard for 2 years had my favorite chicken, Hazel, in his mouth and per my child dropped her on the ground near our swing set when she stopped moving. (We had 3 inches of snow last night so the chickens had not strayed far from the coop all day.) It was beginning to get dark and my husband was only able to find the New Hampshire red, one barred rock and the other BO.

I literally lost it when I got home. Hazel was most favorite, favorite girl. So, so sweet. I can't stop crying, I know most would say, "it's just a chicken," but she was my love bug.

My neighbor offered to buy me new birds and I felt like saying, "how about if we shoot your dog in the head and but you a new one."

I want his dog dead...I know that is awful but it has tried to kill both of my cats and know has killed at least 3 of my birds. I could have dealt with the loss of a rock (not very friendly, skittish)...but Lucy and especially my girl Hazel meant the world to me. I am sooooo sad right now. I feel like I lost a family member.

How can I get thru to my neighbor his dog in my yard that THIS IS NOT OK!!

Snow picture (Lucy and Hazel) taken today; my girl with my girl Hazel-yesteray

**edited by Staff**

 

[bobbi-j]

Is your yard fenced to keep out the dog? That might be a place to start. You've asked the neighbor for two years to keep the dog out, but what are you doing to prevent it from coming in your yard? I'm not saying that the neighbor was in the right. He most certainly wasn't, and you have every right to shoot that dog. But if your yard is unprotected, there will be another dog, or a coyote or fox or some other critter coming into your yard for chicken dinner. Before you follow others' advice and buy a gun to shoot whatever comes into your yard, make sure it's legal to do so where you live. In many places it's illegal to discharge a firearm in a residential area. Another option is law enforcement or animal control. I am sorry for your loss.

 

[bobbi-j]

No, I'm not kidding. It should be your right to be able to enjoy your yard without fear of the dog coming onto your property, but if you truly feel that the dog is a threat to your chickens and - more importantly - your child, it's your responsibility to do what you need to protect them. Yes, your neighbor should be responsible for his dog. He's not. That means you have to pick up the slack and take care of things on your side of the line. Maybe talk to your neighbor about paying for 1/2 the fence, telling him that if the dog comes over again it will not be going home again. Of course, this means you'd have to be willing to follow through. Another thing to consider - if this dog can wander onto your property because there are no barriers, so can any other stray that comes along.

 

[D Kluck]

It is legal for you to protect your property. I have not found a state that has laws to prevent otherwise.

We have went to great expense to have fully fenced and secured 2 acre predator proof chicken yard. BUT that is not 100% protection from a predator.

A couple months ago my visiting grandson open the gate and 3 chickens escaped without us knowing it... and a neighbors dog somehow found an opening in our property perimeter fencing and killed 2 chickens.. the was the first chicken attack we had in over a year and half. I keep a gun handy at all times and i killed the dog. We have a simple rule here on our ranch, a chicken or livestock is killed by a dog or any predator,,,the dog/predator will also be killed...no matter what. . All of our property is equiped with security cameras that records all movement.. we alwys have video proof of any attacks...

We all have zero tolerance for predators killing farm animals.. People who live out here on large acreage all live by the exact same rules..

if one my dogs kill someone elses farm animal it is understood by all of us that the dog will also be killed.

 

[bobbi-j]

Good plan if you are home 24/7 and constantly armed. What about when you're at work for the day, and a dog (fox, coyote, coon or mink) gets into your coop? Or when you're sleeping at night?

I agree that people "shouldn't have to" pay to put up a fence that they consider an eyesore (although put enough plants around it and it could help) to keep animals out of their yard. But if you're not going to take the measures needed to protect your chickens (and children) then you really shouldn't get to complain when an animal - whether it's the neighbor's dog or some wild critter - gets into your coop and kills your birds or seriously injures your child while she's swinging on her swing set. Personally, I don't have fences around my yard because I don't need them. Neighbors and their dogs are not an issue here. But my chickens do free range, and I did lose some to a predator this summer. You know what? It was MY fault that it happened, and while I'm not happy that it did, I'm not whining about it either because that's the chance I chose to take.

ETA - Not everyone lives in an area where they can shoot stray dogs on their property. It's illegal in most residential areas.

 

[Pyxis]

Buy a gun. Actually shoot the dog. This may sound harsh, but I have been where you are. I had a neighbor who did this. He had a black lab mix that came into my yard multiple times. No matter how many times I told the neighbor to keep their dog out of my yard, they didn't and wouldn't take me seriously. That dog also killed my favorite hen. Once I had my hands on the dog and was about to haul him off for a one way trip to the vet, being at my wit's end and not having a gun, but the neighbor had heard me screaming at him when he came down and was about to grab my remaining favorite hen. She came over, asked "Did he get any?" and then went on to tell me that they were "working on a shock collar." No regard for my chickens. No care. They were never going to change and I knew it. Finally, I caught the dog in my yard on camera with dead birds. I live in an area geared toward agriculture, and they take dogs killing livestock seriously. I called the dog warden exactly once. My town put down the dog. Neighbors moved away.

My point is, people like this don't care. They never will. To them, they're just birds, they're not important like their dog is, and why should they have to inconvenience themselves because their dog is killing your birds? It's just a bird. You can get a new one. The chance you will ever get through to this neighbor is slim. You will lose more and more birds, the dog will be back over and over, even if it seems like the neighbor changes, wait long enough and the dog will be back. Really, I mean this sincerely, shoot the dog. Do yourself a favor.

 

[LRH97]

Over the last two years we've "taken care of" two foxes, one very large cat that was after my chicks, and one dog. Around here and probably other places if an animal is threatening your livestock, in this case your pets, you have every right to protect them. The way I look at it, if you wanna let your dog run loose, you accept the risk that it might screw with the wrong person, and not come home. Like Pyxis said, buy a gun and be prepared. Careless situations like this infuriate me.

 

[Muffinburgler]

You legally have the right to shoot the dog if it comes onto your property again. It's attacked your livestock and there's the threat it may attack your child. Or, if you're a bleeding heart like me, you can call the shelter or the police or whoever in your area picks up dangerous dogs.

 

[HeaVenSFeaTheRs]

Awe!!! This is so sad! I, too, have witnessed a dog in my yard who killed my pets. Many years ago. I have a 6ft high privacy fence around my yard and still a neighbors dog was able to get in when the back gate was left unlocked. I was heartbroken and still could cry just thinking about it. I lost a very precious Black Silky Rooster that day. I am so sorry you too have had to go through this and no words can bring back your precious Hen. Now, I no longer leave my small flock free range unless I am out there to enjoy a book to watch each of them. Even then I am edgy because lately we have had an increase of Cooper Hawks in the area and I have had to chase one with my small hen in it's talons. Yes, I was able to save my hen, but now my flock is in a run that makes even Fort Knox look bad.

When I was younger in my 20's, 30's and early 40's I would take my chances. Now at 54 going on 55 ... my heart cannot tolerate losses like this. I would rather know my chickens died of old age or some disease I was unable to control. Keeping them safe is something I CAN CONTROL. {{hugs}} to you. Terrible experience for a child to witness.

 

[blucoondawg]

Shoot the dog, there may be laws against discharging guns in certain areas however if it were me I would shoot it anyways, I believe those laws are there to prevent hunting and target shooting to minimize the risk of stray bullets in residential areas, I don't believe this law applies to those who are protecting themselves or their property, if that was the case everyone who uses a gun in self defense would likely be acting illegally.

edited by staff