Daphne Posted January 7, 2018 Share Posted January 7, 2018 Here in Portugal we have unfenced garden/land and during last 6 months dog poo has started appearing all over the place. It's all abit complicAted as next doors dog has free run of everywhere and always has and we don't mind and I can cope with her small poo, she is elderly and a sweetie. However, an elderly neighbour walks his 2 large dogs when he is in residence (about 3 months in the year) past both our boundaries, he is 70 something and admits he can't control them. Then there is a large boxer which takes itself for a walk (it lives a km away) and he sometimes comes visiting. I have seen all 3 in the garden at different times, but it is possible that there are other culprits as well. It's a bit odd as we had no bother for 4 years, but it is getting worse now. There is no culture of dogs on leads or owners being responsible for them like the UK. I can poo pick but it's getting more annoying and encroaching on food crops. Are there any products you recommend or tips you have? Fencing is not a realistic option, as we have one third of an acre. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 How annoying Dapne. The only thing I can think of is to lie in wait with a hosepipe and when you see them shout and aim water at them in the hope it startles/ scares them off and they find somewhere else to go.If it has become worse could it be some wild dogs which have moved to your area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Perhaps fence off just the food crop area Daphne, which will keep other things out as well. Ours is fenced off to stop deer getting in. Problem is the scent of one dog attracts others. Here we have a fearsome Manchester Terrier who runs free and is very territorial, so no invading dog problems. It's just the same here though; dogs wander freely and the owners often don't care if they cause problems which is why they now all have to be microchipped by law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted January 8, 2018 Share Posted January 8, 2018 Beantree I didn't know you lived in France. And I am wearing my specs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scary Mary Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 I used to have a problem with cats using my veggie plot as a latrine and I had some success with something called a ScareCrow, which was a motion activated water jet. It was easy to use, just attach a hose with a snap fit connector and angle the sensor to the area you want to protect. Only problem was a soaking when you forget that it is set The one I has is no longer available, but on Amazon there is a "PestBye Jet Spray Repeller Motion Activated Fox Deterrent" which looks very similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 9, 2018 Share Posted January 9, 2018 Me too Ali’s girls. Have you recently moved Beantree? Or did you add area recently? I am nosey/ curious and usually scan profiles and hadn’t noticed the France bit before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 Grandmashazzie and Alis Girls, I moved permanently in August. Bought a lovely small place in the far Southwest with plenty of room for chickens, no passing traffic or near neighbours. Plenty of outbuildings for chicken and gardening 'stuff.' No nuisances either like bad roads, radio masts, stray dogs or hunting. Near a town with plenty of shops just 5 minutes away. Weather is generally great here and just 90 minutes from Spain and the Pyrenees mountains. Chickens are in the front garden at the moment and no-one complains about them or could, because it is unusually classed as agricultural and residential! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 How exciting and brave Beantree. If I was a decade or two younger I would love to relocate to France. Sorry to hijack your thread Daphne. Did you bring your chickens with you? On previous posters I got the impression you had quite a flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 10, 2018 Share Posted January 10, 2018 There's an electronic deterrent - bit like the Foxwatch. I understand that they are very effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted January 10, 2018 Author Share Posted January 10, 2018 Thanks all, OH is keen to try out the electronic deterrent, so I think we will give it a go and fence off the bottom boundary as a temporary thing as well, the land slopes down and we won"t see the Heath Robinson appearance! No worries on hijacking ladies, I am curious too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted January 11, 2018 Share Posted January 11, 2018 The previous owner had an electronic mole deterrent Daphne. It did work but the noise was very irritating and it scared all the wild birds away as well, so we didn't think the chickens would like one at all. The wild birds are now returning. It's been a huge adventure Grandmashazzie and didn't go as originally planned at all, but the essential ingredient of any successful plan is flexibility and everything very happily came together in a rush at the end. We bought some chickens with us, bred some, bought some and rescued one. It's a rather complicated set-up, but we now have 9 small separate flocks which include 6 different pedigree breeds and also 4 cockerels, one of which used to live in a 'small box' 500 miles away (that's a very long story). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
