Dog Hell - an end to my hen keeping :-(

[flamesong]

My hens don't like Christian festivals.

A year ago on Christmas Day, they were attacked by a dog and one was killed another mauled.

On Good Friday, they were attacked by a dog and one of them was gashed so badly I hoped it would die before I had to kill it but it somehow survived.

Yesterday, Boxing Day, my hens were attacked by a dog. One has not been seen since, missing presumed dead. Two others were mauled; one of which later died.

It is the same dog each time and, without going into detail, it seems that there is nothing I can do about it. I can't take it anymore so I have decided to give the three remaining hens away as soon as there is a suitable place for them to go.

They were the happiest of hens (most of the time) and despite what I have been led to believe about hens not laying in the winter, they were laying up until yesterday. I hardly ever eat the eggs but I just liked having them to give to friends.

I am so angry, I feel sick.

 

[Marigold]

I am SO SORRY to hear this dreadful story, and I can understand why you feel you can't go on keeping your hens.
But I don't understand why you can't do anything about the dog. If you know what dog it is, and where it lives, then what have the owners got to say, when presented with the sight of the dead birds? At the very least, they should be made to face up to their responsibilities and pay compensation. And if the dog is roaming out of control, it's dangerous and might attack farm stock, such as sheep, or even people.
I wonder how he gets in to your garden. Sorry to say it, but poultry is only as safe as your fencing allows them to be, and whilst dogs should be kept under control by their owners, many are not, as you have so sadly found. And where a dog can get in, a fox would have no problems at all. It's lovely for hens to be allowed to free range, but maybe they would be happier, or at least still alive, in a really secure weldmesh run. At 2-3 square metres of run space per hen, you could happily house up to 5 in a run of 10 square metres, or your remaining three in a run 6-7 sq. metres, and then let them out when you were there wi them to supervise. And, of course, block up or re-fence wherever the dog/fox is getting in.

 

[flamesong]

Thank you for your reply. I really appreciate what you have said but the situation is quite complicated.

I don't actually have a garden. The henhouse and small 2m x 2m run were inherited from my former neighbour who was the gamekeeper as were the original three hens I had. The hens are free range and are out of the run from before I have my breakfast until they decide to go home and that is perfectly safe for most of the year. There are other dogs around which never bother them as well as two cats and I think I have also seen a fox, there is an abundance of buzzards and other raptors but none threaten or bother the hens. They love being out and the few people who live around here all like to see them out - not least because they like the eggs and they are nice to watch.

The dog in question lives over 450 miles away and belongs to my landlord's daughter who brings it when they come to stay. Unfortunately, despite asking for somebody to let me know when they are visiting, nobody bothers to do so. It has actually gone after sheep which belong to somebody who rents a field.

Because of the miserable weather here for the past few weeks, the run is a quagmire so even though I suspected that they might be visiting at some point, I let them out until I knew for definite that they were coming. Christmas Day came and went but there was no sign so on Boxing Day, I let them out only to see the dog appear about two hours later. I desperately tried to round up the hens but they could have been anywhere and are impossible to coax in unless it's getting dark. But it was already too late because by the time I'd seen the dog, it turned out that they had already been attacked.

I was paid for the previous death and destruction (though not until several months later) with which I bought some replacements but it does not compensate for what it has done to me emotionally - not just dealing with the carnage. And being a tenant doesn't help in a situation like this.

There is no way I would keep them in permanently or just let them out occasionally. They get so excited when they see me coming to let them out in the morning. I'm not sure where they will be going but I think it is best all round if they move away from here.

 

[chrismahon]

A tragic tale Flamesong and one close to my heart. We were in a similar situation a few months ago. Dogs are a massive problem here, both strays and hunting dogs. We had to construct a big enclosure to keep them out which took three months, during which time the chickens were in small runs never intended for continuous confinement. Despite our efforts big hunting dogs still broke in by tearing through the fencing and killed and ate one and blinded another. We were renting and had little control over the situation. Our landlords dogs were the main problem and they refused to keep them under control even after they tried to attack me!

I think you are taking the right course of action. Chickens don't like to be enclosed and once they have tasted freedom will get very stressed in confinement. Perhaps some time in the future you will once again have chickens.

 

[Marigold]

Yes, this does sound a complex and difficult situation for you. The landlord is obviously totally callous and uncaring in not even telling you when his family is due to visit, so you could protect your birds. What a pity, as otherwise it sounds like chicken paradise where you live. Although I can see that the fact of the perpetrator being your landlord's daughter might make it awkward, don't let that stop you from protesting and getting compensation if possible, because she is failing in her legal responsibility to keep the dog under control. Also,whilst you rent his house and land, you are entitled to the free and safe use of the property, without this harassment, never mind whose dog it is. One attack might have been an accident, dogs are hunters as we all know, and can't be blamed for doing what is in their nature, but to let it escalate to three occasions is indefensible on the part of the owner. Especially when you're not asking for her to confine her dog, simply for information about impending visits so you can keep your birds safe and temporarily confined whilst the dog is there. I know you don't keep the hens for their monetary value, but this makes the trauma of these needless and cruel deaths all the worse, and the only way to bring it home to them is via their wallets, I'm afraid.
Whereabouts do you live? If you don't already have a home lined up for them, maybe someone on here might be happy to take them on, then you could keep in touch if you wanted to.

 

[flamesong]

Thanks again for the replies.

I have to defend my landlord, he is generally a fairly decent bloke but I'm afraid that our hugely differing circumstances are probably reflected in differing values. It was actually him who paid for the previous carnage rather than his daughter and only after I spoke to him following another incident with a sibling of the dog in question which also does not live here and which I forgot about.

It is far too awkward to make a fuss. I live virtually next door to my landlord and I'm already finding it uncomfortable because of what happened. I'd prefer not to say where I live because I don't want to draw attention but I should not have too much trouble finding a new home, thanks.