Venting (kinda, sorta)

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Not even sure what to say. Well, we have a dog and Farmer Anthony's plan has been to put the dog on chain and leash during the day when chickens free range and at night when they are in coop allow her to patrol the property. I on the other hand have been advocating for getting rid of the dog (like my chickens better). His plan is also to replace Snuffy Smith with a blue healer (or is it heeler)?

So, yesterday I am outside planting and the dog is all up in my face (ugghhh, I can't stand her any more) and I'm like, Farmerrrr Anthonyyyy, come get yo dog. So, he chains her up (big chain too). Oh, wait, I digress, when we put the chickens out in the coop on Friday she walks around the coop-can't get in. And I'm like, she is stressing out my chickens verbally and in my head.

You have nothing to worry about except maybe today and tomorrow you will have a few less eggs. The problem would be if they were getting stressed often over a few days or weeks. (a previous post amongst many here).

So, guess what, I asked if he let her off chain in the night and he says when he gets back in, "Oh, she got loose on her own". I'm NOT letting my chickens free range until SHE IS GONE!

I want to show him all the comments about chickens and stress; though I have stated it before. Think I'm gonna go on in there now and say it though I think a waste of my breath. No, let me think positively. Ughhhh. I mean, I can only imagine if I lived in a cage and a giant was pacing the grounds right outside of my enclosure.

Was venting is all (I think).

 

[dennisma1]

Dogs are good to protect hens but I always got them as puppies. A full grown dog with a prey instinct sounds like a problem. I'd be pissed too if my spouse did this with out me.

 

[sourland]

Which came first - the dog or the birds?

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Is she walking around the run or running around and acting like she wants to go through the fence at them? You could always try hot wire fence around the chicken run. One zap and she may just leave it alone. But again, I have seen dogs go right through the hot wire too. It might slow it down though. If he doesn’t want to rehome her maybe he will consider putting a hot wire fence around the run. Or he could build a dog kennel but even then they will dig so it would have to be on concrete or have the fence dug into the ground.

If you go with the heeler, you want to go with a puppy. A puppy will be excited over them but would be easily trained. The lady I bought ducks from has runner ducks and chickens all roaming her property with 2 dogs. And they pay the dogs no mind. It is possible to do it.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Which came first - the dog or the birds?

Dog, Snuffy Smith.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Is she walking around the run or running around and acting like she wants to go through the fence at them? You could always try hot wire fence around the chicken run. One zap and she may just leave it alone. But again, I have seen dogs go right through the hot wire too. It might slow it down though. If he doesn’t want to rehome her maybe he will consider putting a hot wire fence around the run. Or he could build a dog kennel but even then they will dig so it would have to be on concrete or have the fence dug into the ground.

If you go with the heeler, you want to go with a puppy. A puppy will be excited over them but would be easily trained. The lady I bought ducks from has runner ducks and chickens all roaming her property with 2 dogs. And they pay the dogs no mind. It is possible to do it.

Yes they are puppies. Thanks. The messed up thing IF she hurts any chicks Farmer A will kill the dog.

 

[Geena]

Yes they are puppies. Thanks. The messed up thing IF she hurts any chicks Farmer A will kill the dog.

Why not just fence in separate areas for dog and chickens?
Replacing your current dog for a heeler is unlikely to work out any better, ACD have a lot of prey drive. Maybe it would be best if you just don't have a dog at all if you are that concerned about it, and plan to kill the dog if it goes after a chicken. Dogs and chickens seldom mix well without monitoring and training

 

[FBMcrazy8]

Yes they are puppies. Thanks. The messed up thing IF she hurts any chicks Farmer A will kill the dog.

And that would be why we rehomed our Husky. She killed all 12 ducks and 6 chicks. Even ate a could chicks and ducklings. Chewing on a ducks head. I wouldn’t want my husband to kill her and I couldn’t look at her the same. I knew I couldn’t love her the same. We had to rehome her not only for our remaining chickens but for any future ducks we would get, but also for our neighbors. Our neighbors closest to us has chickens. If she got ahold of their chickens they WOULD put a bullet in her head. I thought it best to rehome her before that happened. I still loved her and I would hate myself for her getting ahold of someone else’s chickens and getting killed. She was becoming the escape artist, which is how she got ahold of the ducks and chicks. I do hope that you are able to rehome your dog like we discussed prior. And get the blue heeler. I have read that they are good farm dogs and might be better for you all.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Why not just fence in separate areas for dog and chickens?
Replacing your current dog for a heeler is unlikely to work out any better, ACD have a lot of prey drive. Maybe it would be best if you just don't have a dog at all if you are that concerned about it, and plan to kill the dog if it goes after a chicken. Dogs and chickens seldom mix well without monitoring and training

That would be my wish; but I don't live alone.

 

[Geena]

That would be my wish; but I don't live alone.

Gotcha. Well, it seems to me if you are conceding to the dog, then he should be able to compromise on how it's kept, right?
Really, chained up dogs become very bored and frustrated and are even more likely to get into trouble once let loose. I don't think a separate fenced in area is too much for you to ask for. Best of luck!