Chickens at Llama ranch
By savypat
@savypat (20216)
United States
March 31, 2010 2:38pm CST
For those of you who don't know we are a rescue ranch and about 4 months ago we got 30 chickens that needed to be rescued. I was totally against this but was out voted. So the chickens moved in and they were real beauties, we build special houses for them and a small yard. And they were let out to free range. What wonderful eggs we got. But yesterday the trouble started, the neighbor's dog got into them and killed 5 before we could drive him off. This is a awful thing, because once a dogs starts to kill chickens they have so much fun you just can't keep them from trying to continue. This is a ranch dog, his family is in the middle of a death watch and all that comes after that. This caused the dog to get bored and wander off his ranch on to ours with the chicken playground. These people do not need the extra burden of dealing with the future of this dog and we do not want to add to their troubles. But we don't want to loose any more
chickens, they have just started to pay for themselves and we hate to see them killed. I wish I could say I told you so, oh how I wish I could, but I won't everybody is so upset that I just can't get the satisfaction. So now we will have to find a way to control the situation, Hubby says just shoot the dog, and he is only half kidding. I say more cages for chickens are needed that will keep this dog
out. What a headache.
4 responses
@GardenGerty (169439)
• United States
31 Mar 10
I had understood that Llamas were good to keeps dogs and other canids off of properties. Is this not really true? Around here you are told to get a llama to protect your cattle and sheep from dogs. Of course cages, and chicken coops would help as well.
@Christmas2006 (1661)
• United States
1 Apr 10
I had trouble with our neighbors dogs. They came over and killed my cats in the middle of the night. One day I came home and caught them "pulling" our rabbits out of their cage, they killed all of them. Then all of our chickens got mysteriously 'killed'. Our neighbors never did anything about their dog except ask me how I knew it was their dog...I seen the dogs in the first two incidences so I knew it was them, besides that they ran right for their house! I was ready to celebrate when they finally moved. I really don't know how you would protect your chickens. I would confront the neighbors,I know this is easier said then done, but regardless of the circumstances they still need to be responsible for their dog. It should be penned some way on their property.
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
1 Apr 10
dear pat,
am sure it is a headache!
your idea of placing the chickens in cages is fine but what if the dog still come and attack them? 
i guess it is just right that the owner of the dog know of your situation and so they can at least put it in leashes and they could do no more damage.
cheers,
ann
i guess it is just right that the owner of the dog know of your situation and so they can at least put it in leashes and they could do no more damage.
cheers,
ann