My neighbors dog keeps getting my chickens.?

Question

I raise a small backyard flock of free range chickens. I pen them up at night, and let them roam through my several acres during the day. In return they provide me with the most wonderful eggs you've ever tasted. The problem is, my neighbors dog occasionally visits and either reduces my flock size, or terrorizes my hens if they haven't been let out for the day yet. The first time it happened, my neighbor was apologetic and compensated me for the dead birds. But the dog has been back several times. I don't want to be a jerk neighbor, but I don't want to lose my few remaining birds, either. I don't really feel that it is the dog's fault, either. Its in his nature. But I want to make it known to the dog that he is NOT welcome in my yard. I know that I legally can shoot him for molesting my 'liestock' but this seems way harsh and I wouldn't go that route. Could I unload the shot from a shotshell and shoot him with the wad to scare the bejesus from him?

Answer 1

If your neighbor is already aware of the problem with his dog, then you have to take this situation to the next level. Call your local Sherrif or Police Department and make a Police report for "Destruction of Property". The Police/Sherrif will then have to follow up and investigate your complaint and force your neighbor to restrain his dog or have it taken away by your local Animal Control Agency. Any attempt to shoot or scare away the Dog could have bad results, and you'd be considered the "bad guy" then.Not to mention maybe stuck with a big Vet bill for the Dogs injuries. You are the victim here and your property has a right to be left alone and respected by others. Do this the right way and the legal way. You will find that you get the results you want without risk of law suits from irrate neighbors and your chickens will be safe once more.
After all, this problem has cost you in the past, and you have no obligation to let it continue into the future.

Answer 2

bb guns are effective without being harsh and the owner will get the point too. Paintballs work well, a slingshot too.

Honestly, I would send some light birdshot downrange. It is likely you will only slightly wound if anything (try 7/12 or 9). If you do wound the dog the neighbor will get the point and be more proactive. You shouldn't be required to spend 4k on a fence when the neighbor is at fault.

I am a dog rescuer, I wouldn't give advice here if I didn't think it appropriate. But there are times that you have to solve the problem. Just count how many lives the dog has taken. Is the dogs life somehow worth more???

I think not.

If it were my problem I would unload a hell of a lotta lead in the dogs general direction so that the neighbor could hear. Then call him and explain what will happen next time.

JD IS RIGHT AGAIN. It will cost you less to follow his advice. But from experience, the neighbor is just going to get another dog that will do the same thing if the only consequence he has is that the dog will be taken away.

Answer 3

You've had all the good answers and probably knew already what the options were. So this is more vote than answer, though it's interesting to try to put myself in your shoes.

I'd tell the neighbor what your options are, it's then his choice whether he controls his dog or has to buy a new one or bail that one from the pound.

I don't keep chickens but I've had cats, dogs and horses.

If a neighbor's dog terrorized one of my cats or horses on my land, but did no harm, the neighbor would get a one time warning and I'd be 100% clear on the consequences of a repeat. If he tries this again he's coming home hurt. If he tries it twice he's going to the pound.

If the dog came back to try again I'd nail it with either paintballs (they taste terrible, I've had part of one in the mouth on more than one occasion, so he'd hate cleaning it off) or a small game bolt from a crossbow. BBs can penetrate skin causing lasting damage, rock salt can kill at short range and could cost doggie an eye or two with a bit of questionable aim or luck. Or how about a beanbag or plastic batton round? The site in the link at the end has a whole array of different less-lethal/non-lethal rounds including one that fires a cloud of pepper. Lots of choices.

If a dog harmed one of my horses, dogs or cats, on my land, I would kill it. No warning shots, no rock salt, just a 6.8SPC through the pump.

Have you considered an electric fence? I bet he wouldnt risk a second visit.

But probably best to just tell the neighbor what you are thinking and leave it to him.

If I was the neighbor I'd buy one of those electric proximity collars, leave the yard and get tazered in the neck. That should keep fluffy at home instead of wandering the area causing damage well beyond his worth.

Answer 4

In many states, you may kill any nuisance animal (that includes your neighbor's dog!) that harrasses your livestock.
If it's legal in your state (as you say it is), and your neighbor won't keep his dog contained on his property (and thereby OFF your property), follow the three S rule. Shoot, shovel, shut up.

Since you seem to have an aversion to actually killing the nuisance animal that is killing your livestock, your options are limited:

Build a better pen/fenced area that the dog cannot get into.

Talk with your neighbor. Let him know that you don't want to appear to be a jerk, but it is *your* property and his dog is "visiting" it illegally.

If your chickens were going onto his property and getting killed, that'd be no one's fault but your own. That same logic applies in reverse.

I wonder if you'd have the same reservations about killing a coyote or a fox that was doing the same thing to your chickens. Don't let the fact that it's a dog confuse the facts. It's coming onto your property, and killing your chickens. End of story.

Personally, I would have solved the problem the first time it happened, and I might even demand my neighbor pay the price of the shotgun shell plus the dead birds if he got upset about his dog being shot (while on my property, killing my livestock).

My father-in-law grew up on a farm. He had to put down several of his dogs over the years. Once a dog got into the chicken coop, it had to be put down. They will never stop going back for a free meal, once they learn how easy it is to take a chicken. That's just life on a farm. City-fied folk just don't get it.

Answer 5

responsible for his own dog. If you can't keep track of your own dog and leash it, keep it in your own yard then YOU SHOUDN'T HAVE A FREAKING DOG. There are way too many people that think its fine to let their dogs run loose wherever they please with no care at all to the havoc they cause around other peoples yards, animals etc.. Its ridiculous. I am actually planning on getting chickens here in a few months and theres a neighbors dog that likes to come in OUR yard at 2 am (as its let out all hours of the night) and do as it pleases. The next time that dog is seen in our yard, especially after I get my flock, there just wont be a dog anymore. Let this be a lesson to all of you so called dog owners. Either be responsible for your own pet, or it will be dealt with. Period.

Answer 6

well i can tell from personal expierience that shooting them with a shotshell did no good on my dog. My neighbor doesnt like any dog but his, and he just got annoyed at my dog one day and peppered him form about 100 yards. He has a ball of BB's under his ear and he still goes to my nieghbors alot. Id say confront your neighbor and see what he could do for you and if he cant do anything, whenver you catch his dog close to a chicken peg it with a rock. It will get it away for a bit, but if he comes back, just do it again. Now by peg i dont mean hit it with a 95 mph throw, just throw it considerably hard to tell him you dont belong here. Good luck but i doubt much will work, dogs will be dogs.

Answer 7

If you shoot the dog you need to shoot to kill it. This dog has the taste of chicken in his mouth and until the day it dies it will want to kill chickens. Its a proven fact. I don't care how bad you beat it or "train" it. The animal needs to be destroyed.

If you wound the dog you can and most likely will have a fight on your hands with your neighbor. And he or she will most likely have you arrested for animal cruelty.

Shoot the dog. Kill it cleanly and humanely. Put it in the trunk of your car and take the body to the woods and bury it. Your neighbor will miss that dog but you'll stop losing chickens.

Miketyson26

Answer 8

You have to put the burden of responsibility on the dog's owner. Like many have said, the dog isn't going to stop, once he's gotten used to this chicken chasing/killing game. He's enjoying himself, and you shooting him with rock salt or with bb's or paint balls will mostly just add obstacles for him to overcome (he'll just have to get up and at 'em earlier). You might be able to scare him off for good, but there's also little means for keeping peace between you and your neighbor when you take to shooting at his dog. While legally and morally justified, you might easily become the jerk in his/her eyes. I suggest you let your neighbor know how it pains you to do so, but you will have the dog picked up by animal control or put it down yourself if he's in the act of attacking your chickens again. Follow through on notifying local authorities if your neighbor is unresponsive. If they are unable to do anything about it, your neighbor received due warning. And at that point, when your neighbor has already decided the dog's life is not worth his trouble, break out your gun.

Answer 9

Trap the dog and turn it over to the pound. After a few fines, which range from $35 to $150, depending what state you live in, and some states have progressive fines and higher fines for dogs which destroy poultry or livestock, your neighbor will either abandon the dog to the authorities or he will properly restrain the dog.

Answer 10

Once a dog gets a taste of chasing and killing chickens... Its like heroin. You can beat the hell out of him and hang a dead chicken from his neck for a week, but he will eventually go back to killing. Guaranteed.
Maybe you think that your neighbor's dog killing your chickens isn't "harsh"? My advice is don't bother with the wad. Load that shell with rock salt and give that dog something to think about. He won't die, but he might remember you.