Trouble with the neighbours dogs.

[Darwin.]

What I thought were fox tracks turns out to be my neighbours dogs using my back garden as a meeting point. The positive is it looks like the foxes aren't coming into the garden. The negative is we've had a huskey, a german shepherd, a labrador and a saint bernard in the garden trying to get at the chickens in the last few days.

I intended planting a hedge in the next few weeks anyway but now I have to put up a fence too. That was meant to be next years job. It's probably going to be €600 or more for it. Chickens are turning out to be expensive.

[Thelma Sanders]

Can you not have a word with the neighbours, surely it's their responsibility to keep their dogs in, rather than you having to keep them out.

[Darwin.]

They're well aware that the dogs are getting out but don't seem to care. We're out in the country and it seems to be accepted that dogs are allowed to run wild.

I'd be more concerned for my daughter than anything, she's only 5. It seems to be the chickens that are attracting them though. The rooster crowing is probably whats causing it.

[Guest]

I don't know how fussed you are and if you want to go down that route with your neighbours but I would contact you local animal welfare group. I don't think it is acceptable to be put in that position regardless of where you live. Accepting cats is one thing but dogs is just not on.

I also have a bugbear about dogs not on leads - I don't care how friendly they are!!! This is made worse as my 4 year old has a fear of dogs (for no reason) why should she be put in a situation of distress unnecessarily!!! Sorry rant over.

[veggiechicken]

A newly planted hedge won't keep dogs out of your garden - even a fence isn't dog/fox proof when there's temptation on the other side. My neighbour lost some of his chooks to a dog that lived several houses away
If the chicken run is secure, the chooks should be safe.

[Darwin.]

My 5 year old is scared of dogs too. I've had words with people before about dogs off leads and spoke to both neighbours about the dogs getting out. You don't want to make enemies of your neighbours bit I guess something has to be done. I'll close off the back and that'll stop them getting in there but they're coming in the front gate now too. I can keep it shut but that's a pain in the ass unless you have electric gates.

[Jungle Jane]

My neighbours fence panel kept falling down,they didn't mind at all. One day me & my daughter were in the lounge lounging around & it was dark outside,my daughter was playing with toys on the carpet,can't remember her age (younger than ten because we didn't have a cat) & then suddenly we had a burst of barking at our patio door,scared the life out of me for a second but I like dogs so I was alright. I wasn't happy about it for my daughters sake so I went round there & told them & they said "oh it's alright he won't hurt anyone" that's not the point is it!! So I just paid for fences to save myself any bother plus it looked tatty & horrible but it all looks nice now

[Thelma Sanders]

They're well aware that the dogs are getting out but don't seem to care. We're out in the country and it seems to be accepted that dogs are allowed to run wild.

Round here the farmers shoot dogs running wild and upsetting farm animals!

[Darwin.]

People say dogs are like a member of the family, well if your kids started meeting up in my garden and scaring my child or animals then I wouldn't be long about telling them where to go.

[veggiechicken]

Darwin, I suggest you stop all talk of snaring and shooting your neighbour's dogs. Having a few chickens does not make you a farmer.
Have a read of https://www.wrighthassall.co.uk/know...d-your-rights/
This thread will be closed if you cannot discuss this issue sensibly.

[Darwin.]

There you go, offending words gone, I didn't realise that wasn't being sensible because that's what I would've seen years ago. I grew up on a farm, both sides of the family still have farms, I know owning chickens doesn't make you a farmer and never claimed it did.

I don't mind if you lock or delete the thread if you think something is out of line, work away.

[veggiechicken]

Of course snaring dogs is wrong and undoubtedly illegal. I can't believe you could even think it, let alone write it on a public forum
The suggestion that farmers shoot dogs is also misleading as its only relevant when they are worrying livestock and causing them harm. Even then it needs to be fully justifiable.
Thread closed.