What kinds of Predators have taken your birds?

[ConPollos]

I had a neighbors 2 German shepherds come on my farm. They were chasing the cattle and chickens. I blew one Rifle shot (.270) in the air  over their heads and they haven't been back since. 

For pellets, use the ones that are somewhat pointed. Copper BB's wont do much.

That's right! It's so easy to scare a dog off by firing over it's head or shooting the ground a few feet away from the dog, they tuck their tails and run like hell, so there is no need to shoot the dog 99% of the time.

I have scared so many dogs out of my yard just by shouting at them, clapping my hands, stomping my feet, maybe charging towards them while yelling and brandishing a rake, throwing a rock, and they tuck their tales and run like hell and usually don't ever come back...or only come back a couple times more then never again.

Sling shots, pellet guns, loud noises, your own trained protection dog, a jenny or llama...there are so many ways to scare dogs off even if they're eating your trash or trying to pick a fight with your dog.

Also, this idea that it's a choice between the dog's life or your livestock's life is nonsense, since dog proof fencing is easy to make with hot wire. But, people want to have a neighborhood pissing contest and they feel powerful when they shoot someone's dog for coming on their "holy ground." According to my sheriff, most of the time when a dog is shot people lie about why and how they shot it, and they should've tried to work it out with the dog's owner.

What I'm hearing people say is that their neighbors should all have 100% dog proof fences, but they're not going to bother to put up a dog proof fence to protect their own livestock. I guess it's cheaper, easier, and more psychologically "rewarding" for them to shoot a dog.

If I can keep all the neighborhood dogs, including the pit bulls, out of my yard without shooting them anyone can do it...I'm small and not scary looking, but I can run any dog out of my yard.

If I ever catch a dog in the act of killing my chickens I will KNOW I messed up by not protecting my own livestock with a dog proof perimiter of hot wire, and after running the dog off I will head over to the farm supply for better fencing and will work with the dog's owner, if possible, to help prevent future problems.

I do not need to shoot a dog to make myself feel like "Queen Shizzle."

Funny how nobody shoots their OWN dogs and cats for killing their chickens, only their neighbor's dogs.

In my grandparents days of farming, people did not need to shoot each other's dogs and it was rare, but now it's the younger generation that is generally misguided about what it means to be "Mr. Macho."

My grandparents never would have tolerated factory farming either, and they would not have called it "farming," they were kind to their livestock and so was almost everybody back then.

 

[chynasparks]

I agree with Only Orps. I was devastated when I lost all my chickens. No it wasn't dogs but it doesn't matter. We're going to trap and get rid of anything that threatens my new little flock. I'm raising them from babies (again). Call me crazy, what ever you want but mine is mine and yours cans shred mine to pieces.

 

[WildfireSmitty]

That's right! It's so easy to scare a dog off by firing over it's head or shooting the ground a few feet away from the dog, they tuck their tails and run like hell, so there is no need to shoot the dog 99% of the time.

I have scared so many dogs out of my yard just by shouting at them, clapping my hands, stomping my feet, maybe charging towards them while yelling and brandishing a rake, throwing a rock, and they tuck their tales and run like hell and usually don't ever come back...or only come back a couple times more then never again.

Sling shots, pellet guns, loud noises, your own trained protection dog, a jenny or llama...there are so many ways to scare dogs off even if they're eating your trash or trying to pick a fight with your dog.

Also, this idea that it's a choice between the dog's life or your livestock's life is nonsense, since dog proof fencing is easy to make with hot wire. But, people want to have a neighborhood pissing contest and they feel powerful when they shoot someone's dog for coming on their "holy ground." According to my sheriff, most of the time when a dog is shot people lie about why and how they shot it, and they should've tried to work it out with the dog's owner.

What I'm hearing people say is that their neighbors should all have 100% dog proof fences, but they're not going to bother to put up a dog proof fence to protect their own livestock. I guess it's cheaper, easier, and more psychologically "rewarding" for them to shoot a dog.

If I can keep all the neighborhood dogs, including the pit bulls, out of my yard without shooting them anyone can do it...I'm small and not scary looking, but I can run any dog out of my yard.

If I ever catch a dog in the act of killing my chickens I will KNOW I messed up by not protecting my own livestock with a dog proof perimiter of hot wire, and after running the dog off I will head over to the farm supply for better fencing and will work with the dog's owner, if possible, to help prevent future problems.

I do not need to shoot a dog to make myself feel like "Queen Shizzle."

Funny how nobody shoots their OWN dogs and cats for killing their chickens, only their neighbor's dogs.

In my grandparents days of farming, people did not need to shoot each other's dogs and it was rare, but now it's the younger generation that is generally misguided about what it means to be "Mr. Macho."

My grandparents never would have tolerated factory farming either, and they would not have called it "farming," they were kind to their livestock and so was almost everybody back then.

You hit it right on the button. You couldn't have said it any better.

I had a llama and a jenny, it's funny. They died to bad hay that was purchased. As soon as they were gone, the dogs showed up.

 

[OnlyOrps]

I agree with Only Orps. I was devastated when I lost all my chickens. No it wasn't dogs but it doesn't matter. We're going to trap and get rid of anything that threatens my new little flock. I'm raising them from babies (again). Call me crazy, what ever you want but mine is mine and yours cans shred mine to pieces.

A predator is a predator. If it were my own dog or anyone elses, a threat to my birds is a threat and it will be eliminated permanently. I have my land perimeter fenced but all it takes is a dog who digs or jumps or a gate left open and a stray can wipe out a whole flock of valuable birds. I will always be a supporter of SSS.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

What I'm hearing people say is that their neighbors should all have 100% dog proof fences, but they're not going to bother to put up a dog proof fence to protect their own livestock. I guess it's cheaper, easier, and more psychologically "rewarding" for them to shoot a dog.

State law is very explicit about livestock fences where I live regarding number and spacing of wires, posts, etc, and my fences do not have to be dog proof.
Being allowed to shoot a dog is not a loophole in the law; it is the law. I am not required to use llamas, donkeys, rakes or sticks to protect my animals.
It's the dog's owner responsiblity to have a dog proof fence.

 

[enola]

Shoot-shovel-shut up

 

[swamperkk]

anybody heard of a hot wire around your chicken pen? i understand about dogs,cats,and other predators,chickens fly and run,dogs likes to chase and eat,simple as that,my birds are free ranging i have dogs,my neighbors has dogs and cats,their dog kill two of my chickens,and he willing paid for it,u cant keep a dog lockup all the time it will get out somehow,by mistake,thats the way it goes,so put a hot wire around your chicken pen at night when they go to roost,if you want to keep your chickens safe

 

[WildfireSmitty]

anybody heard of a hot wire around your chicken pen? i understand about dogs,cats,and other predators,chickens fly and run,dogs likes to chase and eat,simple as that,my birds are free ranging i have dogs,my neighbors has dogs and cats,their dog kill two of my chickens,and he willing paid for it,u cant keep a dog lockup all the time it will get out somehow,by mistake,thats the way it goes,so put a hot wire around your chicken pen at night when they go to roost,if you want to keep your chickens safe

You would need actual "hot" chicken fencing. A single hot wire won't be enough to keep them completely safe. Hot wires are usually to keep something in, not keep a hungry animal out. Hungry enough they will find a way. Especially from an area where the winters were harsh, this time of year is always the worst for preds.

Better yet, you would need a heat sensing robot with lasers to zap unwanted preds programmed in it's database. <----- I actually had a dream that I had one of these.

 

[swamperkk]

Quote:
my hot wire is very close to the ground,and its good enough to keep racoons,dogs or any 4 legged predator away,getting shocked he or she will run with a howl,saw it in action already,and its not a weak shock,but i like your idea about the laser,lol mine turns off at daylight and goes on about a halfhour after the sun goes down and the chichens and turkeys are at roost,try it,better yet touch the wire then you will know

 

[Bennyshenhouse]

Birds of prey are in my opinion real vermin! Why the d*** things are protected I'll never know! A good strong fence or pen with a top and a coop, possibly with electric fence too, will keep out most land-based predators, but how do you prevent aerial attacks? Where birds of prey are a real problem, such as along major coastal flyways, your flock size will be pretty much limited to how big a pen with a top your are capable of building or can afford to build. An open pen with an 8 foot high fence and artificial or natural cover (trees, bushes) works to some extent but still isn't fool-proof.

I
I installed small sqare wire over the top of my 24x24 chicken run. That stopped the hawks.