Trapped a Neighbor's Dog on My Deck....Got an Earful

[ClareScifi]

My friend had a pit bull, and she was a nice dog, but she scared me to death, due to her strength. When she would bound up to greet me, she'd knock me flat.

A woman offered to give me two of her adult chickens last fall when I wanted some because she said her dog, who had been on friendly terms with her chickens for 3 years, suddenly started killing them.

How often does this happen, that a friendly pet dog turns against the chickens and kills them? Is it unusual, or fairly common?

 

[speckledhen]

I'd say it can happen anytime, if something triggers it. I had to keep my boxer/retriever mix away from my chickens due to his high prey drive. He died a few years ago. My old pointer/lab girl is afraid of the roosters crowing near her, but I'd say if she had no barrier between them and they ran from her, she might give chase, even at her advanced age. She sure caught a possum a few months ago when she was let into the back yard early in the morning. She was fast as lightning, too! So, I don't trust her around the chickens because of that. Best to avoid the situation, even if she might be semi-trusted around them now.

 

[ClareScifi]

I agree totally, speckledhen!

 

[seminolewind]

I gotta keep up with this thread!

 

[speckledhen]

I hope there isn't a too exciting installment, to tell the truth. I really, really don't want to revoke that dog's birth certificate, but my birds will be protected to the best of our ability. I have quite a few birds older than that stupid mutt, that mean as much or more to me than that dog does to him. He may not understand that, but many of you good folks do.

 

[laura877]

I had a broody hen hatch 3 chicks way high up in the hay loft. I came into the barn one morning and one had falen down and was running around chirping. I was trying to get to it but my yorkie beat me to it. She grabbed that little chick, it squeaked just like her squeaky toy, and off she ran. I'm yelling and running after her and at 61 yrs old, thats not too fast. She finally put it down when she saw me trip and fall but she never looked back. She got out of there so fast. And I'm just trying to get to the chick but it was too late. She bite right into the lungs and it died in my hands.

I'm glad no one got in on video. It was probably kinda funny to watch.

 

[speckledhen]

Little dogs are really fast, too. It happens, dog grabs chick that escapes from where it should be. I know my own elderly dog would probably snap one up if it ran by her, too.

 

[JiJis hens]

I have a 3.5lbs yorkie that would love to bite my chicks tail. Never unsupervised and when I open there coop I always lock the doggy door and tell my boys not to open the back door. I always laugh when I see my chicks stroll around their run, fluffing their feathers almost teasing my dogs. And my dogs just licking their mouth.

 

[seminolewind]

My 2 dogs (one's a Boston Terrier) have a well fenced in area separate from the chickens. My neighbor's chickens frequently get thru the fence and roam the dogs' yard. We have to watch before we leg the dogs go. But a hen decided to lay an egg at the corner of our side of the fence. Of course my dog shook the hen like a play thing. I actually buried the hen for him. But his hens jump the fence now and then still do.

I hope he's not expecting my hubby to reinforce his fence. My dogs are contained.
When another neighbor moved in on the other side, first thing I told him was that my mule is very territorial and WILL kill any animal that comes into the yard, so be careful with his dog.

You could tell your neighbor that racoons have forced you to put down leg traps on your property, and are concerned about their dog having his leg crushed. It might work.

 

[ClareScifi]

Oooh, I like that leg traps white lie idea!