Dog eating chickens

[Chic Rustler]

The neighbor's dog is a husky. Super sweet dog. Good with the kids. Comes over all the time. But he has a habit of killing my chickens. Got the nieghbor over and we took him in the coop. Whipped him for chasing chickens. Hadnt had an issue for weeks with him. Tonight i found him eating a chicken. He devoured it.

So i caught the dog, whipped him, whipped him with what was left of the chicken and told him go home.


Idk what to do here. Hes a good dog but his instinct to hunt is super strong. And the bastard is smart enough to wait until noone is watching. I think im gonna have to kill the dog. Its a shame hes a good dog but idk what else to do. None of us have fences out here.

Idk the old man is a widower and all alone except for the dog. I cant kill the dang thing. But i need to do something to break him of it.

 

[NH Homesteader]

It's a husky, you're not going to break the habit. You need a physical barrier, or underground electric fencing (expensive). He might be a nice old man but its his responsibility to keep his dog away from your chickens.

 

[wyoDreamer]

That dog running loose is going to get into more trouble than just eating your chickens.
My Husky took off on me one weekend. I let her and my 8 month old "pup" out of the fenced yard to go for a walk and I ran into the house for a second or two and poof! they were gone. She came back with a really strong skunk odor - and yellow stained fur two days later. The pup came home about 2 weeks later, I am guessing that he found . I never did get all the skunk stink out of her double coat - every time she got wet she smelled like skunk. That lasted until she shed her summer coat out for winter.
Maybe get some skunk scent that hunters use and put a dab or 2 on the neighbors dog. He may decide to use a tie-out for it then.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

What NH said. He's not such a nice old man if he allows his dog to roam and to repeatedly kill your chickens. If the neighbor can't keep his dog on his own property, then, you are left with no choice but to defend your chickens, or call ACO and let them handle it. I have a feeling that you'd rather handle it yourself than bring a third party in. Have you asked the neighbor what he intends to DO to SOLVE HIS problem????

 

[Beekissed]

Good fences make for good neighbors. If you free range your chickens and if they are truly worth it to you, you might need to invest in electronetting and a solar charger so you can move them around in safety. Even black bears won't brave that netting...YT vids show how well it works on them.

If coop and run it gets much more simple...a good hot wire at two levels to prevent entry and he'll be on the run super quick.

Whipping him after the fact does absolutely NOTHING. Most dogs cannot connect punishment with an act that happened more than even 30 min. previously. All he knows is that now he has to come to your place and eat chickens whenever you aren't around as he gets a beating every time you and the chickens are in the same place.

Good dog or not, he's eating your good money, time and your food supply.

The old man isn't very nice, as was mentioned above, if he abuses his neighbors in this way....he's taking advantage because of his age. If he's aware enough to have a dog, he's aware enough to keep it home.

 

[Chic Rustler]

I talked to the neighbor. Hes has been keeping the dog leashed in the evenings while the chickens are out. All has been well

 

[frustratedearthmother]

He apologizes and pays me for the chickens. Im tellin ya, hes a good guy and the dog is a good dog, good with kids, loves people. He just likes eating chickens.

If it was a crappy dog or the owner was a douche id have no problem shooting it.

Would he be willing to keep the dog on a cable run?

I understand that he's a nice guy and it sounds like ya'll have a good relationship. Good neighbors are hard to come by. He may not have the financial resources to put up a fence, but a cable run isn't terribly expensive. I'm not one to really agree with keeping a dog tied up all the time - not much of a way for a dog to live. Maybe he could keep him on the run during the day and allow him off at night when your chickens are in the coop?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I would never advocate a muzzle that keeps a dogs mouth closed. Amazon has a soft silicone basket muzzle that allows the dog to drink and pant while wearing.

 

[Marianne]

I'm guessing if the neighbor won't/can't take the time to fence a small area for dog, he won't be putting a muzzle on him more than once or twice.
Even a couple fence panels or a ring of 2x4 welded wire hooked to the house would be simple for someone to do.

 

[NH Homesteader]

That's the only solution that even remotely works. I wish I didn't know that! Lol