Chicken harassment

[jeannine]

We live next to a park and there's a terrier that has twice squeezed through the bars of our fence to run round and round the chicken coop, growling and snapping at our girls.

Last time it happened Paul politely asked the owner to keep her dog on the lead in future. Today I had to rush outside barefoot (not the best idea when you've got 16 stitches from a recent operation) and grab the dog by the collar to drag it away from our chooks. Luckily they were safely in the coop but we just got two new ex-battery hens at the weekend and i was worried that the shock wouldn't do them any good.

Could the shock of a dog snapping at them actually do any harm to our girls?

If so, has anyone got any suggestions of ways to keep pesky dogs out of our garden? The bars of our railings are about 14cm apart so this terrier is the only dog that's ever run into our garden (apart from a golden retriever that once ran all the way round and through the gate to have a nice swim in our pond.)

[paula]

Yes chickens can suffer a heart attack through stress, and dogs barking cause stress instantly,
Can you block the entrnace to the garden better ?
Do whatever you can to stop this dog, as despite the fact that the owner and the dog is at fault theya rarely do anything.

[Madasafish]

Next time it happens,photo event, collar terrier, Place on lead. Put in car. Drive to police station . Report it as out of control attacking your chickens.,

Alternatively, pay a solicitor to write a letter to your neighbour and threatening Small Claims Court for distress etc...

Or tell owner that next time, that is what you WILL do.. (and do it..)

[Sue]

Hi Jeannine
Unsightly I know but could you not attach chicken wire to the fence to keep the little blighter out?
I have been reading a case on one of the poultry forums where a man has had sheep killed by dogs owned by a man in his village, he's spoken to this man to no avail, the police say they can't act without proof and now its got so bad fellow farmers are waiting for them to do it again so they can shoot the dogs which legally they are allowed to do if the dogs are caught in the act of worrying animals. So I don't know if the police can or will help.
Hope it gets sorted soon.
best wishes
Sue

[Paul Wagland]

I have thought about improving the fencing, but to be honest the existing railings are quite pretty and I wouldn't want to make them look tatty. They are also maintained by the council, so we'd have to take the chicken wire down every couple of years (when they come round to paint).

I know that farmers can shoot dogs on their land - is this also true of dogs worrying animals on residential property I wonder? Not that I would, but it's useful to be able to suggest it! I like the idea of taking the dog to the police - or at least catching the bugger and pretending to put it in the car for a trip 'downtown'. I bet the owner would control it better if she thought it was her pet, rather than ours, that might end up dead.

It all seems so cruel and pointless - if her dog attacks things she should just keep it on a lead!

[vicky]

We've had a problem dog in our area - it is allowed to run loose and will attack any other dog it comes accross...
If the dog is on private land the council dog warden can't do anything.
The RSPCA are not interested.
The police cannot do anything unless it attacks a person.
It has been suggested to me by both the police and dog warden that if we catch it (!) we can bundle it into our car and take it to the nearest police station. They require the owner to collect it and pay a fine (and have a talking to). Apparently this works quite well and they rarely see the same dog twice...
(Incidently if the dog is not collected it goes to rehoming but is NOT put to sleep.)

Wear gloves?

[hedgie]

Hi Jeannine and Paul
Sorry you are having such hassle - this is something that really gets me on my soap box, 'irresponsible dog owners'
Unfortunately I dont think the police, RSPCA or dog warden will do a thing. One of my dogs, (Who was virtually blind and on a lead) needed 20 stitches after being attacked by an out of control dog. No-one would do a thing as it wasnt a criminal offence - however if the dog had attacked me or my terrified 4yr old daughter, they would have prosecuted.
My advice would be 2 things, a high powered pump action water pistol aimed directly up the dogs nose as it comes to the fence
I realise that means you have to sit there armed, but if you could catch it just once it would probably be enough! Maybe the owner walks at the same time each day? If not could you have a bucket of water to hand and if he's already in the garden throw it at him?
The other suggestion is to tie fishing line across the bars of your fence - it will be invisible to you and the dog, but should stop him.
My only concern with the fishing line is if any wildlife were to get caught in it, esp rabbits. Depends whether you think other animals come thro your garden?
Maybe other grapes could comment on the safety of what I have suggested?
Good luck guys