"we lost our hen Lucy today"

[Glenbogel06]

Quote:
Personally, I don't trust any dogs (even my own dogs or cats) around my chickens. A number of years ago, my small shih-tzu got a hold of one of my girls and there were feathers everywhere. Luckily I was there when it happened and was able to intervene before she got hurt, but it was not fun!

I think the prey instinct is very strong and can come up in a flash. But I have heard many other people say that their dog is fine around their chickens. I just don't want to chance it.

 

[oesdog]

Sorry you lost Lucy - how sad

I would NEVER EVER trust either of my Dogs or my cat with any of my birds EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oesdog

 

[GoldenCometLover]

Thanks very much, maybe I will put her on a leash when the girls are out at least for now....she is a beagle/pitt mix - sounds funny, but she's gorgeous and very sweet....I usually find her a spot and make her sit while the girls are out...she only moves when they start chasing each other around...

 

[GoldenCometLover]

Here's molly

 

[Tartannik]

So sorry to hear about Lucy, such a shame that people can't keep their animals under control, as at the end of the day its not the dogs fault!
My two terriers are scared of my hens, they turn their head and pretend they are not there.
My Roo JimBob chased a lab out the garden that someone had let off the lead, decided to chase the hens, came across JimBob and ran never looking back!!

 

[Sueg4332]

Last month I had dogs or dog come in and kill 22 chickens. They were fine at 5 am and dead at 6 am when I went out to feed. There was know blood at all. I did a autopsy on them Yes they were dog killed. They just enjoyed killing.
I went to all my neighbor let them know what was going on. I was hoping there would be feathers in the yard of someone. could find feathers. I let them know there was a bad dog some where. and that my gun was loaded and if it happen again and I saw the dogs They were not coming home. I have not had any trouble..
Years ago when I had 7 white shepherds (very well trained and never ran free by there selves) at 6 am had a nieghbor call me and asked if my dogs were home Yes they are Kenneled but let me check. and yes they were all where they should be. A white shepherd and a black shepherd had kill 1 of there goats. My reply was shoot them, and even if it had been my dog the reply was the same. The gentleman reply was I dont to shoot one of your dogs!!! I told him better you than me doing the shooting.... A bad dog is a bad dog. Even if they keep the dog penned the frist time it gets out it will go hunting again. I knew where the white dog lived let the goat owner . they bury the goat . the dogs came back that next morning and unburied the goat. one didn't go home the pound got the other one and he got paid for the goat....
In my case of chicken killing dogs must have got the word out. and my shot gun remains loaded and in a safe place. Please keep guns away from small children.

sorry I am from the old school there is good dogs and bad. Bad should be shot.

 

[Rockin' Reds]

So sorry about your Lucy.

 

[Lbrad7]

So sorry for your loss. I am in constant conflict over this subject due to the fact that I love both chickens and dogs. I also live in an area where people let their dogs run loose and others dump them and leave them to starve. I now have three strays that I have adopted and still have a neighborhood full homeless dogs. I can't take them all in but still can't allow them to kill my birds. It is a horrible catch 22. Good luck to you...I hope you find a solution to your problem and dont lose anymore of your girls.

 

[KIDDSBANTAMS]

As far as trusting your dog around the chickens, if it was me, I would not. If it is a beagle mix then beagles are bred to hurt and that you can not stop. Of course I will not comment on what pitt bulls are bred to do, just my opinion. I do have 2 cats and they are scared of the chickens. But my chickens were inside a 5 ft fence with barbed wire aroung the top and bottom. The dog was a small terrior and she was able to kill one and cause lots of feather loss on the others. And within 15 minutes the dog and her puppies were back at my fence trying to get back in to kill the others. I will do what I have to do to protect them and if dog owners do not pay I will call the sheriff.