Vicious dogs ruined my wind breaks

[lildarlinshine]

This is my first year of having chickens, and I have really been loving the whole thing. I have 3 hens. We love one another, we have such a beautiful relationship, they come to me to be petted and picked up, they sit on me when I come into the run and put my chair in there or I sit on the ground, they love cuddles and I love cuddling them, and taking care of them. I often sit outside and just hang out with them in the run. Before winter hit I wrapped the entire run in 6Mil plastic. The run is 10' wide and about 30' long. Yesterday I went out to feed, water and hang out, everything was fine. I was out there about 2 hours just doing some cleaning and hanging out, I went in the house to get a cabbage half for them and when I come back out, the entire pen wind break was destroyed. Two dogs that we've had issues with before tried to kill my girls. They luckily were unharmed other than being upset, all was good with them. The dogs viciously torn down the plastic and tried to dig under the pen. We have the wiring 2 foot out of the pen with paver stones set on it. They only pulled stones out and dug a bit of the dirt. I am devastated about these dogs so much that I want to make sure they stop terrorizing for good now. Back in the summer I had to be taken to the ER because one of them knocked me down before I could mace him, I was running from them and fell again, it was vicious, they had been after the barn cat and tore up our boat to get to her, the police did nothing, nor did animal control. I was told I would have to have video of the dogs doing this in order to lodge complaints. There are stray dogs and owned dogs that terrorize our neighborhood for years now, the owners may get a slap on the wrist but nothing is ever done truly to stop this behavior. Dogs get out, I get that but this has gotten old now. we have huge holes, dug by these same dogs, like 2 foot holes and deeper from dogs chasing rabbits, we've found them chasing deer down and killing them, in our backyard. Animal control brings a pen to catch them, we've never caught them, even with steak in the pen, we only ever caught raccoons or possums, not the dogs. They are quick to tell us of the laws about defending property, they say to just shoot them, if they are destroying property or attacking us, we've even had them attack our small schnauzer when he was on a leash, they came out of no where and grabbed him while we had him in our own yard. This yesterday was devastatingly huge for me, I love my girls and now I fear for them. I live on a fixed income and the plastic I put around that run was pretty expensive, I saved to buy it and to have it torn down in minutes like this has truly been hurtful. It's awful to have to walk around outside with a gun to have to protect human life and property from dogs that have irresponsible owners.

 

[Ecarroll]

This is my first year of having chickens, and I have really been loving the whole thing. I have 3 hens. We love one another, we have such a beautiful relationship, they come to me to be petted and picked up, they sit on me when I come into the run and put my chair in there or I sit on the ground, they love cuddles and I love cuddling them, and taking care of them. I often sit outside and just hang out with them in the run. Before winter hit I wrapped the entire run in 6Mil plastic. The run is 10' wide and about 30' long. Yesterday I went out to feed, water and hang out, everything was fine. I was out there about 2 hours just doing some cleaning and hanging out, I went in the house to get a cabbage half for them and when I come back out, the entire pen wind break was destroyed. Two dogs that we've had issues with before tried to kill my girls. They luckily were unharmed other than being upset, all was good with them. The dogs viciously torn down the plastic and tried to dig under the pen. We have the wiring 2 foot out of the pen with paver stones set on it. They only pulled stones out and dug a bit of the dirt. I am devastated about these dogs so much that I want to make sure they stop terrorizing for good now. Back in the summer I had to be taken to the ER because one of them knocked me down before I could mace him, I was running from them and fell again, it was vicious, they had been after the barn cat and tore up our boat to get to her, the police did nothing, nor did animal control. I was told I would have to have video of the dogs doing this in order to lodge complaints. There are stray dogs and owned dogs that terrorize our neighborhood for years now, the owners may get a slap on the wrist but nothing is ever done truly to stop this behavior. Dogs get out, I get that but this has gotten old now. we have huge holes, dug by these same dogs, like 2 foot holes and deeper from dogs chasing rabbits, we've found them chasing deer down and killing them, in our backyard. Animal control brings a pen to catch them, we've never caught them, even with steak in the pen, we only ever caught raccoons or possums, not the dogs. They are quick to tell us of the laws about defending property, they say to just shoot them, if they are destroying property or attacking us, we've even had them attack our small schnauzer when he was on a leash, they came out of no where and grabbed him while we had him in our own yard. This yesterday was devastatingly huge for me, I love my girls and now I fear for them. I live on a fixed income and the plastic I put around that run was pretty expensive, I saved to buy it and to have it torn down in minutes like this has truly been hurtful. It's awful to have to walk around outside with a gun to have to protect human life and property from dogs that have irresponsible owners.

I’m so sorry this is happening to you, I wish your and your animals the best of luck with these dogs. The good news is, I would say you don’t really need to replace that plastic, unless you live in an extremely cold, extremely windy and extremely snowy place, it’s not entirely needed to have plastic guards up like that if they can get shelter in the coop. I live in Massachusetts (in not a very windy area), and have no plastic coverings, just a fence and netting overtop to keep out hawks. Sorry I don’t have any advice for what to do about the dogs, maybe confront there owners directly, or just keep calling police and animal control each time it happens. Again, so sorry this is happening to you, sending love that you get through this.

 

[lildarlinshine]

I’m so sorry this is happening to you, I wish your and your animals the best of luck with these dogs. The good news is, I would say you don’t really need to replace that plastic, unless you live in an extremely cold, extremely windy and extremely snowy place, it’s not entirely needed to have plastic guards up like that if they can get shelter in the coop. I live in Massachusetts (in not a very windy area), and have no plastic coverings, just a fence and netting overtop to keep out hawks. Sorry I don’t have any advice for what to do about the dogs, maybe confront there owners directly, or just keep calling police and animal control each time it happens. Again, so sorry this is happening to you, sending love that you get through this.

I live in Ga. We have snow at the moment with a significant amount of wind. But this shall pass. They actually won't come out of the coop since yesterday but for a couple mins when I am out there with them. I just came from out there and they are not wanting to venture out of their house. I will run to the HD today and get some small tarps to replace the plastic torn. Thank you for your message and encouragemtn

 

[Penpal]

Put some black pepper around the run. When they sniff it they loose their sense of smell for a little while. Reapply as needed.

I once made a pen out of chain link fencing that I got for 50 bucks from a local store that was redoing their lumber yard. If you can find some used fencing you could create protection from most dogs.

Or, you could use the chainlink pen as a trap for dogs. You'd need some kind of automatic door closer. Once in the trap/pen animal control can pick the dog(s) up. It is possible that animal control might help you with this. If not, the local police might.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I was running from them and fell again,

Sorry for your experience!

According to my current understanding (and also witnessed experiences), running from a predator actually induces an attack.

I wonder if you're able to consider some sort of E- fencing, electrified poultry netting, etc. Some of the chargers and lines can be affordable and easily placed on your current set up, if not around your whole property, to exclude the dogs.. Properly placed (height wise) and possibly baited (a small piece of meat at nose height as an example) for training purposes. Usually once they've met the fence and experienced a shock to the nose they will not likely return. E fencing can be very effective. Otherwise, with no true consequences, they may continue to return.

Best wishes for safety and peace for your flock, your other pets, and your family!

 

[lildarlinshine]

Put some black pepper around the run. When they sniff it they loose their sense of smell for a little while. Reapply as needed.

I once made a pen out of chain link fencing that I got for 50 bucks from a local store that was redoing their lumber yard. If you can find some used fencing you could create protection from most dogs.

Or, you could use the chainlink pen as a trap for dogs. You'd need some kind of automatic door closer. Once in the trap/pen animal control can pick the dog(s) up. It is possible that animal control might help you with this. If not, the local police might.

I called police out the times they chased me and had me fall, unless I know who owns them they will do nothing. Nor will animal control. I am looking at getting some electrical fencing I think. Today I put a gate alert on the outside of the run. I also have the run covered again to keep the wind off of them. Thank you for replying.

 

[lildarlinshine]

Sorry for your experience!

According to my current understanding (and also witnessed experiences), running from a predator actually induces an attack.

I wonder if you're able to consider some sort of E- fencing, electrified poultry netting, etc. Some of the chargers and lines can be affordable and easily placed on your current set up, if not around your whole property, to exclude the dogs.. Properly placed (height wise) and possibly baited (a small piece of meat at nose height as an example) for training purposes. Usually once they've met the fence and experienced a shock to the nose they will not likely return. E fencing can be very effective. Otherwise, with no true consequences, they may continue to return.

Best wishes for safety and peace for your flock, your other pets, and your family!

Thank you. I sprayed the one dog with mace, last summer, thats when he came after me, he was trying to kill a cat in our boat. I sprayed him and he lunged and I could think of nothing but running. He is a big headed pit bull mix of some sort, about 70 pounds

 

[AGeese]

I am also very sorry to hear of your situation. It's a shame. Although I think as suggested hotwire is your best option here unless you can get your own dogs.

Also get some cheap trail cameras to put up around the property and catch them on cam which you can turn over to the authorities which may help with ID.

 

[Glory to His name]

Very sorry to hear about this situation!

I might have a different opinion than most.. but if you’re not capable of shooting the dogs yourselves, do you have someone that can handle it for you?

We live in an extremely rural area, and sadly see so many dogs dumped. Our policy is shoot on sight. We have young children playing outside and are not willing to take any risk of having unknown dogs around. It’s a shame people don’t take better care of their animals and make it someone else’s problem, but like you’ve been told, it is your right to protect yourself and your property.

 

[lildarlinshine]

I am also very sorry to hear of your situation. It's a shame. Although I think as suggested hotwire is your best option here unless you can get your own dogs.

Also get some cheap trail cameras to put up around the property and catch them on cam which you can turn over to the authorities which may help with ID.

I have trail cams up, I turned the photos in both times the dogs have attacked. Animal control nor the police will do anything until I know who the owners are. The sheriffs office brought me papers with the law depicting how its permissible to shoot the dogs as they are on the property. I will be investing in electric wire tho