Dog attack...

[Birdie Wife]

Hi guys, I know I haven't been on the forum in a wee while, but I wanted to share this with you...

I got a call at the office yesterday from hubbie to say that the flock had been attacked. Rushed straight back (only live 5 mins from office) to find half the flock missing and several with chunks taken out of them and more with puncture wounds I took two the the vets where they were put down, another dragged itself back late last night with horrible injuries and I dispatched it straight away, and two died overnight. One cockerel is still missing. The injuries are consisent with a dog 'having a bit of fun', rather than a fox or any other predator

I'm pretty sure I know whose dog did the dirty so I went immediately and invited him to come and look at my hens - he was quite shocked and said he didn't think it would be his dog (a JRT) as "it only chases rabbits" but he's doing some fencing work near my house and the dog runs about while he's working.

Hubbie is really upset and blames himself for not being there... I've told him not to be so daft, there's only one person and his dog to blame...

Compensation-wise, how do I pitch it? I'm not an assertive person. Do I ask for what the birds cost me or what they will cost to replace? They were mostly rare breeds (1 Scots dumpy, 2 SG Dorking, 2 Croad Langshans and a bantam dotte).

[pdblake]

I'm afraid it's not so much how you pitch it, more how you prove it. I wouldn't hold out much hope of compensation.

If they're in the back garden the only answer is to dog proof the place. We have trouble with wandering dogs around here, the main reason the hens are only allowed out under supervision.

[MaureenHall]

Oh that's dreadful!!!! your poor birds having to go through all that trauma! It sounds as if the owner of the dog realises that he's to blame, which is a step in the right direction at least. Compensation-wise, I think you should ask for the birds to be replaced at whatever it may cost him. He might not like it, and replacements may be hard to find. I hope he's got the sense to make sure his dog never has the opportunity to repeat what it's done, because I'm sure it would now that it's got a taste for this new "game". big hugs {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{huggles}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} for you

[matthew2riches]

Dam! What a shame. I know how you feel as I have had all my chooks killed before.

[FionaH]

I think the problem would be proving it was this specific dog that attacked your flock. It does sound likely, it's in a terriers nature to chase and kill, but can you prove it? Best of luck

[bluemoon]

Oh, how heartbreaking for you. I'm so sorry. Unfortunately no amount of money can adequately compensate for the pain and distress to you and your poor birds. I would ask for the cost of replacements at full market POL value, plus vet bills - it might be a shock to him to discover that what he may think of as only chickens have a much higher value than something from a supermarket shelf. It may even mean he's more respectful in future. Find out what a top 'show' breeder would ask for an equivalent bird and charge him that. I've owned a terrier, they're bred to kill rats, their brains are hardwired, bless 'em, everything to them is a rat; a mouse is a small rat, a Labrador is a big rat, a car is a huge, noisy, metal rat. If you own a terrier then you are aware of this and keep control accordingly. Him saying that it only chases rabbits (largish bouncy rats) is at best wishful thinking and I suspect he probably knows better.

[Suechooks]

Really sorry to hear about your poor birds. It must be devastating for you.

[Birdie Wife]

I think the problem would be proving it was this specific dog that attacked your flock. It does sound likely, it's in a terriers nature to chase and kill, but can you prove it? Best of luck

That is the main problem - but the weight of evidence would lean heavily in that direction. There's only one other dog apart from mine that lives on the farm, and he was in the office all day too. The area is so remote that visitors are few and far between - the fencers dog is the only one with 'motive' and opportunity.

"I've owned a terrier, they're bred to kill rats, their brains are hardwired, bless 'em, everything to them is a rat; a mouse is a small rat, a Labrador is a big rat, a car is a huge, noisy, metal rat."

LOL so true I did point out at the time that my mum's very eldery collie, who we had watched in fits of laughter while hens took food out of her bowl as she watched on, then unsupervised for 10 minutes managed to catch and kill two hens... just goes to show, you can never be complacent with dogs and hens.

[HayleyB]

How awful for you and your girls.....

[Hilary B]

Have to admit to laughing at the description of a terrier seeing everything as a rat of some kind. Yes they do!
Point out to the owner that it is quite normal for a terrier to be unable to tell a rabbit from a chicken, apart from rabbits going down holes and chickens trying to fly into trees. Almost ANY dog will chase ANYthing that makes a fuss about running away, and a bunch of chickens are VERY likely to trigger that reaction. The chickens are on their home territory and should have been safe!
A friend of mine had one of her goats killed by a neighbour's dog, but it was the goat which was trespassing on the dog's home ground, so she accepted that the dog was not at fault.

[janeyo]

what a horrible thing to happen - lts hope the dog owner in question shows some decency. I wonder if it like little children and sees them as 'rats' too.

[kevnsue]

Ask the police for their view on the matter.

[Alice]

Nice to see you Birdie Wife.
I'm so sorry about your hens - that's just awful.
I'd put my money on the terrier but it could be impossible to prove.
You could give the owner the bill for the replacement value and see how he reacts. I think in the absence of proof he's liable to say no. Would that then put you on a bad footing with your neighbour and how keen are you to avoid that ?
Or you could have another chat with him and get assurances that his dog will be supervised and NEVER be free to get onto your property for if it was that dog it will be back for more fun.
Are you sure it wasn't a fox. They do all the same stuff - and come back.
Sorry about your chickens and hope, otherwise, all goes well with you.

[tamsin]

You could ask the vet for an opinion in writing eg were the injuries consistent with a dog of that type. It wouldn't be proof though so you're reliant on the owners good will

[lettucegrow!]

So sorry to hear about you poor hens. I think he'd definitely have a shock to find out the cost to replace breeds like that. I'm sure most people think one hen's just like any other. How approachable is he? Even though you can't prove that it was his dog at this stage I would hope he would offer something as it looks highly likely. My sister lives in remote part of Yorkshire and her Jack Russell got at her neigbours hens, could only have been her dog. She had to go and apologise profusely and offer to pay - sadly this is what dogs do. Hope those left are OK.