What do I do?

[BlazeJester]

It seems to be a simple solution: in SC at least, a 6' high 10'x10' dog run is $100-200. Maybe the stepson should buy it since it seems to have been his actions (and his dog?) that caused the loss.

Contain the dog, contain the chickens, teach the kid a lesson the only way kids learn - saving your allowance to buy new chickens and a dog run when you would rather go to the movies is pretty steep motivation to double check the next time.

 

[skunknchatter]

Does anyone tie a dead chicken around an offending dogs neck anymore? My dad did that with our dog as kids. I don't remember him killing anymore birds. BUT he had also only killed one not 20. Seems like that dog has found a "fun new trick". I agree that it's not the dogs fault. We have hunting (pheasant) dogs on the same property with our chickens and everyone knows to make sure one is contained before letting the other out. It's a tough way to learn but I'm guessing everyone in your house learned it all at once. Good luck. No sense in starting a fight in a marriage over a child's innocent mistake IMO.

Also, I can't say that I'm not guilty of letting the dogs out without checking. Lost a few birds that way myself.

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

We have dogs that kill chickens (among other things) and chickens and have learned how to manage them so we can have both. Have had the dogs (2 of them) longer than we have had kids or chickens so getting rid of them is not an option and too old to retrain We free range chickens during a big part of the day and dog that is able to catch chickens is always secured when we are not out there (he is deathly afraid of us catching him looking at the chickens if we are out there but happy to kill when we are not out there)
When our older dogs pass on we will make sure to train puppies from the start on how to behave with chickens. Untill then just making sure that everyone knows our rules works for us.

Sorry about your loss and best of luck finding something that works for your family.

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

Quote:
Yes I remember when I was younger and lived in CO that was suppose to cure a dog from killing. We had heeler that killed a baby goat and I don't think it worked well as a deterant.

Wish my parents were alive so I could ask them about it. Hadn't thought about that in forever.
Has anyone else had experience with that?

 

[ChickChickChicky]

My grandpa used to beat the dog with the chicken it had killed then tie the carcass around the dog's neck. It always worked (I'm told). I don't think I could beat a dog with a dead chicken, but I would sure wumpf him upside the head with the carcass while telling him very sternly "NO". Even just grabbing the dog's collar and shoving the dead bird in his face while repeating the "NO" command several times should do the trick. That said, unless a dog had been raised around chickens I don't think I'd ever trust him out alone with the chickens.... those squawking, flapping, running morsels would be pretty hard for most dogs to ignore, I'd think their prey drive would just kick in unless they're well-conditioned.

 

[GhostRider65]

Quote:
Too Old to train................ dogs are never too old to train!!! I have A Pit bull/ Mastiff cross who has killed every animal that ever entered my yard, birds cats, coon, possums, squirrels.... you name it, it's in her breed and her blood, she was 13 years old when I got my chickens it took me a month and a couple good whacks and some hollering, and she won't touch them no matter what, she does however eat chicken poohhhhhhhhhhh yuckkkkkkk. so even old dogs can learn new tricks.........
Training any dog takes consistent training and time. I agree children are harder to train. Kim

 

[AZ_HenHouse]

Quote:
Too Old to train................ dogs are never too old to train!!! I have A Pit bull/ Mastiff cross who has killed every animal that ever entered my yard, birds cats, coon, possums, squirrels.... you name it, it's in her breed and her blood, she was 13 years old when I got my chickens it took me a month and a couple good whacks and some hollering, and she won't touch them no matter what, she does however eat chicken poohhhhhhhhhhh yuckkkkkkk. so even old dogs can learn new tricks.........
Training any dog takes consistent training and time. I agree children are harder to train. Kim

I agree that old dogs can be trained--just our old girl is 16 years and she is my husbands baby. She is to slow to really catch the chickens but has no problem eating one when the younger dog caught one. Our other dog is 3 legged 14 year old and is struggling with getting around so formal training is kinda out for her too (although she has gotten better about staying on porch when hens are freeranging). We are working with the youngster (8 years old) and he is getting better-just not totally trustworthy if someone is not out when hens are freeranging (they have no concept of be scared of dog). I am sure he will continue to get better as we continue to work with him.

 

[cameron]

Quote:
Can't hit em anymore like we used to! They done lost their fear of us!

 

[GhostRider65]

Quote:
Can't hit em anymore like we used to! They done lost their fear of us!

LOLOLOL nope they now have the state to cry too, so we can't discipline them at all................. OMG don't get me started We have 4 children and I have only had to threaten 1 that I was going to drop him off on the welfares steps if he thought foster care was so great he was free to use the system to protect himself...from his pover demanding mother who threatened to beat him senseless if he ever brought Dope into my house again.!!!!..... he was my devil at 15/16 about drove me to the nut house

 

[Cindilou]

Quote:
I'm not sure where you are located but there are various web sites to check like http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com craigslist.org may have links to breeders in your area in the farm and garden section. (Then you can just pick up some birds-no shipping costs!) Look in the chickenstock section of the index here at BYC. There could be an upcoming event near you where you not only find great birds but meet people interested in chickens as well. Good luck to you!