Yet another dog attack! I am not looking for simpathy

[Duppydo]

Sorry for your loss. Your idea is a good one, however some people just don't care and will keep letting there dogs run loose. I agree with those who suggest creating a paper trail, police reports and proof. At least one of this persons dogs has attacked and killed your birds twice..
I'm all for forgiving to a point, but if it were me, strike three and that dog is dead meat.
Sadly, this kind of a response to attacking dogs is all that some dog owners understand. You have a right to have chickens, you have a right to protect your chickens/pets..I consider my chickens as pets as well, some also jump on my lap while i'm sitting, giving treats. I'm sorry, but i'd be seeing red if some dog was ripping my chickens to peices...! I'd likely grab the closest thing i could and clobber the intruder...!

 

[speckledhen]

I'm really sorry you're having this ongoing trouble. Sure, you can fence and fence and fence, but dogs who are really determined can dig under or climb/jump over, so a fence is not 100% effective every time. I have a perimeter fence of the livestock fencing with the graduated opening sizes, but I know that a dog who wants to and is unattended for a long period, can dig and dig till he can squeeze under. Nothing is foolproof; well, if dog owners would keep their dogs penned like I always have, then others wouldnt have to suffer these losses.
Personally, I'm of the mind that if a dog owner has had a warning, then allows that dog loose just once more to come onto my property and harrass my birds, then SSS comes into play. I dont have the time in my life to waste pleading with idiots to be responsible. Too bad the dogs have to suffer for their owners.

 

[Southernbelle]

Some of my neighbors did let their dogs run loose. We live off the beaten track, but not really rural and there are leash laws in our area.

I did try to set boundaries with the neighbors. The day before I picked up my chickens I just placed a friendly call to all my neighbors with dogs - paticularly to the ones who let theirs run loose - to let them know I was getting chickens and that these were going to be family pets and I would be very upset if something happened to them. I went on to say I have a reasonably secure set-up for them, but right now, none of the neighborhood dogs know about them and I'd like to keep it that way, so could they please keep their dogs close to home? Once a dog finds out they're there, it'll be much harder to keep them safe and animal control told me I was allowed to shoot an animal found harming my livestock and I would like to avoid that from ever happening. I was very polite and friendly and every person I talked to was very understanding. So far, I haven't had any problems with the neighbors dogs.

We have a new neighbor who lets her dogs roam. I've seen them in my backyard, but they weren't at all interested in the chickens. I need to talk to her about her dogs and set some boundaries, but I'm not really looking forward to it.

 

[TexasVet]

Frankly, trying to preempt attacks by talking to neighbors is a total waste of time. I live in a rural subdivision where everyone has at least 5 acres of land. For God knows what reason, people around here think dogs should have the right to roam where ever they choose.

While I was a member of the board for the Property Owners' Association, the number 1 complaint we got was about dogs. Dogs turning over trash cans, menacing children in their yards, killing cats and chickens, chasing walkers and people on horseback. We wrote some very good (and positive) articles about dog behavior, the need to protect your dog (keep it from being shot) by keeping it confined to your property, and the fines/jail time that could be incurred if your dog seriously injured someone. These were placed in newsletters that were mailed to every single property owner, posted on the mailbox kiosk bulletin board, and on the website... for TWO YEARS.

Did it make a difference? NO! The same dogs (at least those that haven't been killed) still run free and still cause problems. I think that irresponsible animal owners will always be so... at least until they're sued, fined, jailed, or the animals are removed from their care.

Kathy in Texas

 

[Weasleymum]

I think your idea of a letter is a good one. My situation is a bit different, since I'm in a densely populated neighborhood (1/8th or 1/16-acre lots and busy streets) in which dogs should just not be loose at all, period, but that's what I would do if I were out in "the country".

My DH has suggested that if we ever catch the dogs that got our chickens on our property again, we tuck a rather threatening note under the collar for the owner to read. We're also looking into electrifying our fencing, to make the dogs *really* not like our yard.

 

[basicliving]

I'm so sorry you are going through this.

Quote:
Greyfields came up with a good starting point in this thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=100334

Best of luck,
Penny

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Hey Friends thanks for your replies. In a short summary I think I see here a basic plan. Fence first But no fence is perfect, so communicate with the neighbors, and create the paper trail. When that fails shoot the dog. At this point I will already shoot any dog on my property that is not under direct comand of an owner. They make good fertilizer. At this time I am down to 6 chickens and 3 of them are wounded. My goal is to have a good relationship with my neighbors. Not loose any more chickens. And to not have to shoot any dogs. I am hoping that communications and some tighter fencing will help me there. Any one care to suggest what it costs to buy one chick and raize it to egg laying? As soon as I have a letter put togehter for this neighbor I am going to post it here for review. Have a great day all!

 

[deerman]

Cost of day old sexed pullet around 2.50 in small lots. Plus cost of 30 lbs of feed at least 7.00 = 9.50 little cheaper for light breed. So 8.00 to 10.00 to 20 weeks

Lot depend on how many you buy and cost of feed

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Sometimes in the real world a person can't build the perfect fence due to cost, zoning, permits, etc. No, it's not a perfect world, but I will keep my animals on my property, and I expext others to keep their animals on their property. A determined dog can get through just about anything, except a bullet.

 

[bandm]

I have 4 dogs and raise chickens. My dogs never roam around in other peoples property. they are fenced in and are very content in staying in their own yard and kennels. My chickens are right in back where the dogs are. They never even bother with the chickens and my dogs are German shorthair pointers. They hunt pheasant and quail, and they know what a bird is. If someone else's dog came on my property and was killing my livestock, the owners would never see that dog again. Enough said.

My prize bird dog. Huntz

This is what would happen to any dog that tresspasses on my property