View Full Version : Dog attacked my chickens today
spatulagirl
10-06-2010, 04:42 PM
A reddish long haired retriever-type dog attacked my chickens today. A two month old chicken is hurt with a puncture wound and a 6 month old laying chicken is almost dead.
The dog tore down a section of my garden fence to get to my chickens. I came home to see it eating my chicken IN MY GARDEN. I scared it off, it dropped the chicken in the woods.
It took my kids, husband and I several hours to find the rest of our chickens and get them back in the coop. I am 5 months pregnant and *loved* spending several hours crawling on my hands and knees through the brush.
I live on Walters Way, near Shenandoah River Drive. If your dog comes into my yard again, I will kill it. No questions asked. I love animals, have been a vegetarian for almost 20 years but that dog's ass is mine if it sets one foot on my property again.
spatulagirl
10-06-2010, 04:56 PM
Ok, I just inspected my almost dead chicken. I don't know if she is going to make it. Keep your fingers crossed. Most of her feathers are missing and she has four huge pucture wounds from the dog.
Willis
10-06-2010, 05:00 PM
Check with LE, but I believe you can legally kill the dog if it is attacking your livestock-the only issue making it problematic is the proximity of housing and whether that would trump your right to kill with a firearm. A bow and arrow or beating it to death with a bat might be an alternative.
Leprechaun
10-06-2010, 05:08 PM
I've got several UAVs with anti-dog missles if you need them ...
spatulagirl
10-06-2010, 05:37 PM
No firearms here but I will kill it with a bow or a bat. I may be knocked up but I am fast! Should have seen me run after that thing when I pulled up.
Chances are it will be back... they are creatures of habit.
Reporting it as mentioned is also a good idea. Hope the best for your chicken.
We had a dog that was a runner once.
A man callled us up that owned a farm about 4 miles from our house to tell us that he caught our dog in his chicken coop.
I was shocked that the guy did not put the dog down (100% had every right to)... however the man mentioned that it looked like the dog was just trying to play with the chickens (it was... and no chickens were ever hurt). We have always taken our dogs to farms so they hopefully know not to attack farm animals.
BTW, that guy used to catch our dog for us about once a quarter. I think Ludwig liked the bisuits they kept up there.
longleaf
10-06-2010, 06:42 PM
No firearms here but I will kill it with a bow or a bat. I may be knocked up but I am fast! Should have seen me run after that thing when I pulled up.
Spatulas can be deadly too!
Seriously, I'm sorry about your birds, and hoping at least one recovers....and I agree, don't think twice when an animal threatens yours on your property..
spatulagirl
10-06-2010, 07:11 PM
Thank you. I think the baby will be fine. My Crested Polish, I have serious doubts but I have to at least try to save her. If she survives the night, I will give her some aspirin in the water tomorrow for her pain.
I guess that dog will be back. It almost got a fresh free lunch! Just trying to figure out how to get a fence up that it won't be able to knock down again.
My dogs are 100% fine around my chickens, and my chickens are used to them so they probably didn't run until they realized exactly what was happening.
longleaf
10-06-2010, 07:14 PM
Just remember....stress is bad for the baby....breathe.
Let someone else handle this *cough* hubby.
austrianalps
10-06-2010, 07:39 PM
I am so sorry this happened to you spatulagirl :(
I hope the owner of the dog is reading this and will keep it confined from now on. That is why I hate free roaming dogs. I even watched a neighbor pull out his rifle and shoot at a dog when that one was killing his goats. It got a goat pregnant with twins and a baby :(
Very sad that some people don't understand dogs are hunters/predators, especially when left to their own devices. I got a german shepherd and do NOT let her roam. She WILL try to give herself a job.
Anyways, sorry for the ranting on here. Seriously I am sorry for your terrible day. If you need anything let us know.
5 foot high standard 2x4 wire fence seems to work great with regards to keeping my dogs in, and other dogs out..
Although I used round wood post... the metal T post are fast and easy.
catsmom
10-06-2010, 08:32 PM
It may have been a stray and abandoned and hungrey, in which case it will probably be back. People dump them up here thinking we will take them in. The truth is they are not thinking and not caring. Shelters are full usually so the next thing is dump the dog or cat or want a donation for taking the dog. People dump them usually because they can't afford them. I moved here with three cats of my own, they have since died from old age but I have nine which I keep in. The nine were strays that were dumped. I have a cure for those people who dump animals but the authorities would say that it was illigal and get upset if I cured a few of them.
Wormdoc
10-06-2010, 09:31 PM
SpatulaGirl, I'm so sorry! I have chickens, too, and are quite fond of them. Is it possible to put an electrified wire around the outside of the chicken enclosure somehow? Something like that might be a deterent?
spatulagirl
10-06-2010, 10:19 PM
The dog looked healthy and brushed. It also had a collar on. I never liked free roaming dogs before. Now I dislike them even more.
My Crested Polish just died about five minutes ago as I was cleaning her wounds. I probably should have put her down when I found her but I also had to hope I could save her. I am not stressed out but I am upset. I would also like the birds to be able to roam my yard when we are here so they can get fresh greens but that will be out for awhile. I thought they would be safe in the garden but obviously I was wrong. We fixed the fence but it isn't safe there anymore.
My husband sucks when dealing with the animals. They are mine so 100% my responsibility. The kids and I will bury Kentucky tomorrow.
Anyway, I knew this could happen when I brought those chickens home but I don't have to like it. I swear if I see that dog in my yard again I'll shoot it with my son's bow.
Thanks for the support.
kkrapf
10-06-2010, 10:44 PM
I am so sorry to hear that Kentucky didn't make it. :(
Wormdoc
10-07-2010, 07:49 AM
I'm so sorry. I dread having that happen to my girls, too.
My girls are free-roaming during the day when I'm home, too, and we do have some dogs in the neighborhood that have taken folks' chickens. It sounds like this dog was hellbent on getting the chickens. I have a rooster with my hens and he's VERY protective of his little harem. Not that he could fend off a big dog, but he sure could make a fuss and alert me to the problem. He's pretty good at keeping his girls where he can keep an eye on them.
My chickens are in a pretty secure (at least so far) enclosure which also contains their coop when I'm not home, but they're out when I'm home. Would you be able to build them a fenced area with 4 x 4 posts and chicken wire that has about 6 inches sunk into the dirt? Might keep the dog out? Do you know the owner of the dog and do they know their dog is a chicken killer but are they being crummy neighbors and not keeping their dog under control?
KatherineA
10-07-2010, 08:49 AM
I am so sorry this happened to you. It brought back so many memories for me of when I had chickens, ducks, and geese (back in the day). It is just so senseless. I hope your other chick is ok and the rest recover psychologically. Don't laugh people w/o chickens, when a predator gets in they all freak out for awhile.
Just a word about free roaming dogs, mine are notorious, but have been contained pretty well for a long time now, BUT it is Fall and hunting season coming in, I have noticed the instinct for my male to run especially when he thinks we have our eye off him for one minute. I think it is instinctual this time of year (deer season).
Jenniffer
10-07-2010, 09:03 AM
I have chickens, and they have been attacked by various and sundry beasts, including neighbors' dogs. I guess I'm the exception, because I take it as part and parcel of raising the birds, and while it's terribly upsetting, I'd never think of killing a critter for doing what critters do. My husband, on the other hand, likes to leave snares lying around for would-be chicken thieves. He caught a possum that was raiding the coop, and he upped the security of their enclosure and we haven't had any problems since then. I like my own dogs too much to think of killing someone else's :( I guess that's part and parcel of raising a dog, though, if they accidentally get loose or if you choose to let them have free range.
Kensey
10-07-2010, 11:52 AM
I have a rooster with my hens and he's VERY protective of his little harem. Not that he could fend off a big dog, but he sure could make a fuss and alert me to the problem.
He might be better than you think -- there's a reason cockfights exist... Roosters with their dander up can get nasty with their spurs.
Wormdoc
10-07-2010, 12:30 PM
Well, he did traumatize my dear friend (won't say who that was but she's from a really mountainy snowy Mozart'y place)! Poor dear, she'll never be the same!
SpatulaGirl, would you consider having a rooster?
He might be better than you think -- there's a reason cockfights exist... Roosters with their dander up can get nasty with their spurs.
2 roosters in a pen by themselves is one thing... More then 1 rooster in a pen with other chickens is a bad thing.
AA - I know your post is meant to imply that the dog killed a goat with twins... however the way it reads has me wondering/keeping an eye out for the JBF rd doat twins that resulted from that encounter :-)
And yes, I know my verbaige used in text is far from perfect...
That is why I hate free roaming dogs. I even watched a neighbor pull out his rifle and shoot at a dog when that one was killing his goats. It got a goat pregnant with twins and a baby :(
.
Ok, I'm still back on this......are you saying a dog got a goat pregnant?
AA - I know your post is meant to imply that the dog killed a goat with twins... however the way it reads has me wondering/keeping an eye out for the JBF rd doat twins that resulted from that encounter :-)
Whoops, I typed my post before I got to reading LFE's. I read it early this morning but forgot to comment and just got back to it without reading everything else.
Ok, I'm still back on this......are you saying a dog got a goat pregnant?
I'm sorry, but that is very funny :) I can't stop laughing...
I'm sorry to hear about the chickens SpatulaGirl :( Do what you feel is necessary to protect your animals.
spatulagirl
10-07-2010, 01:41 PM
Husband is against roosters. It was part of the deal when I brought home the chickens and added "Building a coop" to his honey-do list.
The coop itself is secure and it has an enclosed run no dog can get into. I just need to figure out how to let them stretch their legs without the worry of being attacked by a chicken killing dog.
Jenniffer, I LOVE dogs and I LOVE my dogs, but I LOVE my chickens too and my cats and my kids and even my daughter's rabbit. I would like to know that every member of of my family is safe in my yard. If they are off roaming the neighbourhood, I would understand but my yard should be a safe place.
I do not know the owner of the dog or s/he would be getting a bill to replace my laying hen that was killed (though you can't really replace her personality) and I would be able to warn them the dog will be killed next time it is around my chicken coop or on my property.
Jenniffer
10-07-2010, 04:50 PM
Jenniffer, I LOVE dogs and I LOVE my dogs, but I LOVE my chickens too and my cats and my kids and even my daughter's rabbit. I would like to know that every member of of my family is safe in my yard. If they are off roaming the neighbourhood, I would understand but my yard should be a safe place.
I understand how you feel. A neighbor's dog got one of my girls and I ran her home and let him know (they're not wandering dogs, just got loose a few times). I'd never hurt his dogs, though, and I know he felt horrible without me adding to it. It was just one of those things. We both felt pretty bad about it.
One idea is to tape a note to the dog's collar and then shoo him home if you ever see him again. I've done that in the past and had people call me when they got the note via carrier pigeon dog :P I do understand how you feel. There were a pair of boxers loose on my road yesterday and it can be scary :(
austrianalps
10-07-2010, 07:04 PM
It, meaning the dog..... :)
Anyways, I have an excuse-not my first language, hehe!
Ohhh and way to go wormie-noooo the hint wasn't at all obvious ;)
Sorry your hen died after trying to nurse her back to health.
hillbilly
10-08-2010, 12:03 PM
Gosh, you guys make me want to get chickens. Maybe a rooster for the alien house to listen to.
Leprechaun
10-14-2010, 09:52 PM
Ok, I'm still back on this......are you saying a dog got a goat pregnant?
I've heard goats are real dog teasers!!! You know, they dress up all hawt and such!
Tucker
11-16-2010, 10:12 AM
Gosh, you guys make me want to get chickens. Maybe a rooster for the alien house to listen to.
I keep my chickens in the freezer, they are very safe! I like the idea of a Rooster for the alien house! ;)
Chutney Daftcraft
11-16-2010, 10:59 AM
Wait for it...
Rooster Rescue.
I always get rid of the roosters when I have them. Maybe you could greet them with 37 roosters every morning.
EVERY. MORNING.
mamaganouche
11-17-2010, 01:03 PM
i live on river haven and has seen this dog in my yard several times in the last few weeks, the dog is very skeedish when i come near it and runs off , i'm sorry for your loss and will keep my eye out for the dog or owner.
spatulagirl
11-19-2010, 10:12 AM
Thank you! It came back with a friend last weekend. We were all in the yard and tried to get it but you are right, it is skittish. It had a black and white smaller dog with it this time.
WVDragonlady
11-19-2010, 12:51 PM
A reddish long haired retriever-type dog attacked my chickens today. A two month old chicken is hurt with a puncture wound and a 6 month old laying chicken is almost dead.
The dog tore down a section of my garden fence to get to my chickens. I came home to see it eating my chicken IN MY GARDEN. I scared it off, it dropped the chicken in the woods.
It took my kids, husband and I several hours to find the rest of our chickens and get them back in the coop. I am 5 months pregnant and *loved* spending several hours crawling on my hands and knees through the brush.
I live on Walters Way, near Shenandoah River Drive. If your dog comes into my yard again, I will kill it. No questions asked. I love animals, have been a vegetarian for almost 20 years but that dog's ass is mine if it sets one foot on my property again.
This is why you have a shotgun. Then, there'd be a dead chicken killer. You have the right to protect your livestock, be they chickens, goats,cows,etc.
No warnings,no excuses. BOOM!
Little Patch on the Lane, in Teays Valley (south of Charleston) was attacked for the second time by the same neighbor's dogs and lost almost her whole flock. She is very popular at the farmers market and now has to start over. http://www.wchstv.com/newsroom/eyewitness/101130_3598.shtml
Chutney Daftcraft
12-01-2010, 11:41 AM
That is horribly sad, June.
shawnc
12-01-2010, 06:13 PM
Something came in my yard on monday when i was out hunting and got 3 of my chickens i found 1 black star that was hollowed out and all i found was feathers for the other 2 hens, im pretty sure it was a fox. SRD drive
spatulagirl
12-08-2010, 08:55 AM
Sorry about your chickens. We just lost four more. Same dog and I have no clue what to do about it. 8 foot tall fence? Can I set a trap? Hubby wants to get a gun and kill it but it never happens when we are sitting next to the coop (obviously).
Chutney Daftcraft
12-08-2010, 09:56 AM
What are you using for an enclosure? Please describe it in detail, if you don't mind...
Pat_13
12-08-2010, 11:36 AM
Sorry about the loss. Have you thought about adding a little electicity to that fence
shawnc
12-08-2010, 03:39 PM
Actually we lost 3 more chickens in the back yard on monday morning it was 2 dogs, one was black and white collie and the other was a big reddish dog, we found the collie looking dog with the chicken still in its mouth and it died later on, i will give the dogs only one chance, next time the dogs will be shot on site, i love dogs but i will not allow anymore chickens to be hurt, srd drive.
I'm not trying to be smart, but don't you have fully enclosed pens?
Actually we lost 3 more chickens in the back yard on monday morning it was 2 dogs, one was black and white collie and the other was a big reddish dog, we found the collie looking dog with the chicken still in its mouth and it died later on, i will give the dogs only one chance, next time the dogs will be shot on site, i love dogs but i will not allow anymore chickens to be hurt, srd drive.
Why do I have this picture in my mind of a mounted dog head hanging on your wall with a chicken in its mouth :-)
- We train our dogs around farms.. but still would not blame my neighbor if they had to shoot one of them to protect there investment.
Jenniffer
12-08-2010, 04:35 PM
If you can grab the dogs and call animal control, they will do a number on the owners of unleashed dogs. Just an FYI.
spatulagirl
12-08-2010, 05:04 PM
ShawnC, those are the exact same dogs that have killed ours. We can't catch them. Looks like they are roaming out area killing every chicken they can come across. So far they have killed five of my chickens.
Our coop is enclosed but sometimes the chickens get out, like when the kids open it up. Or we let them free range when we are home and outside with them. The first time the dogs tore through the fence. This second time my son actually closed up the coop when we left yesterday but didn't realize they all weren't all in there. So the four that were not locked up are all dead. It would be nice to know that THey could roam around in my yard on occasion and not get killed.
So is there anything we can do? We know which dogs are killing the chickens. I really don't think it is ok; What if these same dogs try to hurt my kids?
cindylu
12-08-2010, 07:03 PM
Spatula Girl - Call LE and find out what exactly are your rights--don't go by what you see on this board. No offense to anyone who has replied but talk to the legal guys/gals. Don't do something for something you may be arrested or fined.
They may be able to offer a solution. Just a thought.
spatulagirl
12-08-2010, 07:40 PM
Hubby and I decided we would call animal control and LE tomorrow. Thanks! IF they have owners they owe me about $50.
austrianalps
12-08-2010, 08:54 PM
If it would be mine I wouldn't wait to call. Animal control was pretty good last time I called them after hours. They came out to pick up a dog that later was returned to the owner.
I am really sorry your chickens died.
We have 7 plus free roaming dogs here and I can almost never let my chickens free roam for that reason. We lost one before to a dog as well. I kind of see it as my own fault though, because I let them out into everyones territory. Birds of prey, dogs, bear, raccoons all can get to them if they are not in their inclosure. I have a 10x40foot pen with 6foot fence and criss-cross wire on the top. I also built a shed type building for them that you can walk in and has perches for the night were no raccoon can go into.
I am attaching a picture of our situation. My dad and I used 90 bucks worth of stuff from home depot and a chainsaw to make that coop. I painted it with returned paint for $ 5
7739
shadowplay
12-08-2010, 09:18 PM
People determined enough to raise chickens in this immediate area maybe need to consider some sort of livestock guard dog, if they have the proper resources.
http://www.lgd.org/
austrianalps
12-08-2010, 09:50 PM
People determined enough to raise chickens in this immediate area maybe need to consider some sort of livestock guard dog, if they have the proper resources.
http://www.lgd.org/
Hmmm, with how people are treating their current animals/dogs around here, I don't see that working at all. These dogs need daily attention with positive reinforcement, exercise and mental stimulation so they don't turn on their lifestock or play with them to death. Really am usually not a ney-sayer, but I rescued a one year old border collie from a farmer that wanted him euthanized cause he killed 3 lambs. He left them all unattended. He is now a very, very good house dog at some relatives.
shadowplay
12-08-2010, 10:04 PM
A border collie is hardly a lgd. Herding dogs are a whole different subject. As I said, my suggestion is for those who may have the resources, not the general public.
spatulagirl
12-08-2010, 10:11 PM
Well, we are going to build a bigger better fence on Friday morning but I still don't think it is our fault. I think people should be responsible for their dogs. And if their dogs are roaming the countryside killing other people's animals, they should be held accountable for it.
I would like to warn the owners but can't get close enough to the dogs to catch them. I know if my dogs killed someone's animals, I would want to know. And I would want to make it better.
Chutney Daftcraft
12-08-2010, 10:54 PM
I can't help but say this all frank and blunt-like... Pretend it was wild foxes and protect them accordingly. Just because they are dogs doesn't mean a damn thing. The way the world should be and the way it is are two different concepts, and as long as you're fantasizing about your rights to let chickens run free in a wildlife-rich area, the more that are going to get killed.
You're literally depending on someone else to be responsible. That's fantasy. Reality is that the people who own these dogs don't care about the dogs, much less your chickens.
The only way to prevent it from happening again is to prevent it from happening again. I'm glad to hear you're putting up a better fence. I keep mine on lockdown because I have seen the pack of foxes that roam over here with my own eyes.
as long as you're fantasizing about your rights to let chickens run free in a wildlife-rich area, the more that are going to get killed...sub (pets/chickens) == "... as long as you're fantasizing about your rights to let pets run free in a wildlife-rich area, the more that are going to get killed..."
There is a concept about dogs that once they get the taste of blood they will keep killing (cats, chickens, whatever....). They will keep coming back. I don't think it is right that you have to go to extra measures because of other peoples dogs, I know its a pain. Trust me the owners know what they are doing because more than likely they bring them home their catches, the owners just might not know from where these chickens come from. My dogs used to bring home every dead thing they got, mostly deer carcuses and some of them were whole. It is a prize thing for dogs.
Well, we are going to build a bigger better fence on Friday morning but I still don't think it is our fault. I think people should be responsible for their dogs. And if their dogs are roaming the countryside killing other people's animals, they should be held accountable for it.
I would like to warn the owners but can't get close enough to the dogs to catch them. I know if my dogs killed someone's animals, I would want to know. And I would want to make it better.
My leg hold trap comment was a bit of a joke... however if you don't want to just drop the animals, trapping them for LE might be your best option.
austrianalps
12-09-2010, 09:04 AM
A border collie is hardly a lgd. Herding dogs are a whole different subject.
Thats true, you are right, it is different. My bad.
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