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tweetiepie

Dogs attacking Cube

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Yesterday I got back home to find 3 jack russell dogs from the neighboring farm attacking our cube.

 

There were two dogs hanging off the bars on either side of the door by their teeth pulling the cube and they only let go when I tipped some water over them.

 

The chickens were chilled, but the cube is badly damaged where they have stretched it round the door and I think the dogs would have been in if they had had another hour.

 

I have patched it up with the spare green clips the omlet man left, and we are going to patch some of the fencing, but I dont think we will ever block all the possible entry points to the field.

 

Does anyone else have any similar experiences or ideas as to what I can do to protect the cube or even better keep the dogs away (I have had a chat with the dogs owner but they are rather a law unto themselves and I guess if its not them it could be others!). Would the fox deterrents work in the same way?

 

Many thanks!

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How horrible for you. The dog's owner has a responsibility to keep his dogs under control but you will probably get nowhere quoting the law at him. I would tell him you have a fox problem and have bought an air rifle to take pot shots, but oh dear so worried I will get one of your dogs by mistake....

Or you can install stock fencing around your hen enclosure, ask your neighbour to help with the costs as it is his dogs you are trying to keep out.

A tricky problem, hope you find a neighbourly solution. I have no experience of Foxwatch but I'm sure someone will come along soon who has.

Just to add, if the boot were on the other foot any dogs owned by you worrying his livestock would be shot by now.

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Don't know what to say except how awful for you to come home to that, and Thank Goodness you came home when you did! :shock:

 

As for the dogs owner - coming from a farm or not this is not acceptable and I seriously think you should consider reporting him to he police and getting them to pay a visit - he has a duty to control the dogs and make sure they don't come onto other people's property - after all if you had a dog and it went onto his property he could legally shoot it :evil:

 

Also you should be asking him to pay for the repair of the cube - phone Omlet and see if they are able to replace the damaged parts and how much they would cost - then tell the owners of these dogs what the bill is. :evil:

 

I'm afraid if you don't take a stance the next time it could be much worse.

:(

 

Helen

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I absolutely agree with Helen and Lydia, if he's not agreeable to keeping his dogs under control and offering to pay for the repair then I'd report him and get yourself an air rifle. I love dogs but as someone said if you had a dog that was worrying his livestock he'd have shot it. Outrageous and unacceptable behaviour. Really hope you resolve it soon

 

Mrs Bertie

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coming from a farm or not this is not acceptable and I seriously think you should consider reporting him to he police and getting them to pay a visit -

I agree. I don't think there's any point making threats about guns unless you're prepared to go through with them (which I suspect you wouldn't be). It not the dogs' faults it the owner.

 

You must do something - supposing the chickens were out free-ranging ?

 

Act now, H

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Yes, my husband wants to go down the air rifle route, but its complicated by the fact my daughter rides the owner's pony, so its a delicate relationship! The police are already aware of the dogs but I would rather block them out with fencing or foxwatch.

 

Definitely no free ranging now unless one of us is out there keeping watch - what a bore!

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The police are already aware of the dogs but I would rather block them out with fencing or foxwatch.

 

Definitely no free ranging now unless one of us is out there keeping watch - what a bore!

 

But what if next time they attack a small child?

 

By looking at it a a 'delicate issue' you are allowing yourself to be bullied by the dog owners and loose your personal freedom to do as you wish in your own garden!

 

Those dogs should be kept contained - not allowed to roam free if they cannot be trusted.

 

Years ago I was a nanny on a farm. We had two dogs that had the run of the land, Jess a Springer Spaniel - no trouble at all and a Sheepdog who bit a horse and its rider going through the farm.

There was an insurance payout and after that the sheepdog was kept in a kennel or a long chain when not working. The farms responsibilty - as simple as that.

 

Helen

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I would go down the air rifle route...but only after all other possibilities have been explored.

 

What about **one of these ?**

 

You can find them cheaper than the price quoted.

 

we bought one of those on ebay a few years ago to keep the cats out of our garden but even the birds ended up setting it off and it didn't keep the cats out, they just ran past it very fast.

 

Your chooks will also get a drenching if they cross the path of the censor and I doubt it will stop the dogs, it didn't stop the cats in our garden.

 

One day we came home to a flooded garden, the hose had become detached somehow! :evil:

 

Just thought I'd let you know before you part with cash.

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Well various people have reported that Foxwatch affects their dogs, so that might be worth a try - and it would keep the fox away as well.

 

It's a tricky situation but I agree with what others have said above - you should take a point, after all the dogs have damaged an expensive item (not to mention scaring your chooks). Perhaps you could get him to help fence your garden so they can't get in.

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I would go down the air rifle route...but only after all other possibilities have been explored.

 

What about **one of these ?**

 

You can find them cheaper than the price quoted.

 

we bought one of those on ebay a few years ago to keep the cats out of our garden but even the birds ended up setting it off and it didn't keep the cats out, they just ran past it very fast.

 

Your chooks will also get a drenching if they cross the path of the censor and I doubt it will stop the dogs, it didn't stop the cats in our garden.

 

One day we came home to a flooded garden, the hose had become detached somehow! :evil:

 

Just thought I'd let you know before you part with cash.

 

 

Hmmmmmm.........my SIL has got one and swears by it for keeping cats off her garden. :?

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I would definitely bill him for the repair on the cube.

 

His fault his dogs are not under control and im sure if it was the other way around you would have a bill.

 

Im not a fan of JR dogs, MIL has one and it is the most annoying dog, if they have the chance again for sure they will be after your chickens - its instinct to them.

 

Hope it gets resolved soon for you. :)

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Also consider it was three JR if it was three GSD I think you would act differently. Thing is a GSD seems big to us so would seem to do more damage but a JR is the equivelent size to a small child. You need to say something even if it means your daughter losing her riding, better her riding than someone losing more.

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Yes, why are the dogs already known to Police? It's an offence to own a dog and not keep it under proper control, I appreciate your daughter rides his pony but the owner is not showing any kind of responsible dog ownership. Like someone else said, suppose it had got in? What if there HAD been a child there? And even worse, if the dogs were to attack a child in the future how would you feel knowing you didn't push things further this time. I've got a dog and if she got out or pestered someone or, God forbid, attacked someone or something I'd want to know and I'd do something about it. Jack Russels are terriers, it's instinct for them to chase and once they get something you've got a real job to get them off. They can be lovely dogs but now they know your chooks are there I think you could have a real problem. Plus why should you and your chooks have to adapt your way of life to accomodate them? Bet the dog owner wouldn't reciprocate.

 

Think hard before you let the issue go, they could kill someones pet next time, or worse, attack a child.

 

Mrs Bertie

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With an open field, it might not be a bad idea to install a Foxwatch, even if the owner does agree to tie the dogs up. We got one when a fox made a serious attempt on our eglu and haven't had a problem since. Even though there are foxes all round us, they give our garden a wide berth. We have ours on a mains adaptor, so don't need to worry about batteries. Hope you solve your problem.

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My dogs show no reaction to foxwatch either.

 

I def think the owners should pay for the damage to the cube. I know they will probably say that your DD can't then ride their pony. If you don't, then the likelihood is that they will come back, gain entry by trashing your cube and then kill your chickens. How will you feel when your DD sees that?

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I agree with Shirl.

 

Present him with info re the cost of replacing the run and make it clear that you expect him to pay in full.....and report the incident to the police. If these dogs are already notorious, he may well find himself in trouble if they have "attacked" again. Also, it will be useful to have a record, if anything happens again in future.

 

Thank goodness there wasn't a toddler in the vicinity!.

 

There will be other riding schools for your daughter.

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Rather sad update to this. Our neighbour has been great and now muzzles her dogs when they are out in her farm so we have had no more trouble from then.

 

However, a gentle visiting dog escaped from the house while we were in the garden with the hens freeranging and attacked and ultimately killed one (separate post). Just goes to show, even when you are next to your hens you cant always protect them when they are out. V sad.

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Tweetypie, It sounds like you have a good relationship with your neighbour there. Sorry to hear about the other incident, I read that post first and hadn't connected it until you said. We do our best for our chickens, and learn as we go along. This forum is brilliant for advice and support.

Hope you have event free chicken keeping for a good while now.

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