My name is Shell Bell, and my dog is a bird killer (insert foul language here).

Im just about ready to do someting I will regret later. I have dog proofed the chook pen, and there is no way she is getting in. But in my stupidity yesterday I was trying to catch a new flighty bird and ran her up against the fence. Bloody dog got her through the bird wire, well actually bent the wire in her mouth, she hit the fence so hard, and wrapped it around the chooks wing. I had to put the poor girl down.

Did a perimiter check and found a spot where she had been digging, under the house out of sight, trying to get into the pen. Thank the stars it is like concrete down there, left long enough she would have got in.

She is usually terrified of the turkeys, they gang up and fight back. But yesterdays adverture has got her reved up and a lone turkey hen, who was dumb enough to jump the fence, just lost most of her tail feathers. Thankfully there was no other damage.

I have tried numerous ways to stop her, but I really think it is too late now. She has already killed and has the taste for it. The dog is a member of the family, whereas the birds serve another purpose. Im starting to stress out about having her on a large property and not being able to let the birds free range. And Im also worried that she may progress onto larger animals, like goat kids.

I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give the dog up, I really do love her. Somebody give me a hug please.

HUGS FOR SHELL BELL…i use to have this problem with my old dog bonnie she use to watch the chooks one day she bit one.. locked the chooks up etc and then one day a few yrs ago one of our little foals kicked her in the shoulder and head and dad said we had to put her down then we got sandy my little gardening mate he loves the chooks he follows me around and doesnt mind the chooks as well he helps me put them away every night and will look after the chook pen when they are out (he is a cattle dog.

another Hug for shell bell… be happy :)

I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give the dog up, I really do love her. Somebody give me a hug please.
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Oh sweetie…here’s your HUGE….(((HUG)))

I’m not going to tell you what to do…as growing up on a sheep station…if a dog got into the chooks…they took a one way ride out the back of the house paddock:(

I’m not a big one on this hugging business, but as a dog owner I understand your dillema..

I’m sure you’ll make the right choice, which might mean the dog gets rehomed or put down….

Lucky1 said:

I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give the dog up, I really do love her. Somebody give me a hug please.
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Oh sweetie…here’s your HUGE….(((HUG)))

I’m not going to tell you what to do…as growing up on a sheep station…if a dog got into the chooks…they took a one way ride out the back of the house paddock:(

I know, I know, just cant bring myself to do it. Her parents are both great around other animals, but one of her brothers found himself on the loud end of a riflle for killing chooks. He got into the pen and killed fourteen in 3 minutes.

Try seeing if you can find a home for him/her without animals like chooks.

oh how awful for you :(

(((LOTS OF HUGS)))

Lucky1 said:

I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give the dog up, I really do love her. Somebody give me a hug please.
————————————————————————
Oh sweetie…here’s your HUGE….(((HUG)))

I’m not going to tell you what to do…as growing up on a sheep station…if a dog got into the chooks…they took a one way ride out the back of the house paddock:(

Another hug from me too >:D<

Is tying the dog up while chooks are out, completely pout of the question? Either the chooks or the dog needs containing very securely somehow as they are cannot safely share the one space – what a dilemma for you!

cackles said:

Lucky1 said:

I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give the dog up, I really do love her. Somebody give me a hug please.
————————————————————————
Oh sweetie…here’s your HUGE….(((HUG)))

I’m not going to tell you what to do…as growing up on a sheep station…if a dog got into the chooks…they took a one way ride out the back of the house paddock:(

I am going to have to put her on a runner, in a fenced area, with electric fencing and a huge brick wall with security guards, alarms and a search light.

Another hug from me too >:D<

Is tying the dog up while chooks are out, completely pout of the question? Either the chooks or the dog needs containing very securely somehow as they are cannot safely share the one space – what a dilemma for you!

shell bell said:

cackles said:

Lucky1 said:

I just dont know what to do. I dont want to give the dog up, I really do love her. Somebody give me a hug please.
————————————————————————
Oh sweetie…here’s your HUGE….(((HUG)))

I’m not going to tell you what to do…as growing up on a sheep station…if a dog got into the chooks…they took a one way ride out the back of the house paddock:(

I am going to have to put her on a runner, in a fenced area, with electric fencing and a huge brick wall with security guards, alarms and a search light.

Another hug from me too >:D<

Is tying the dog up while chooks are out, completely pout of the question? Either the chooks or the dog needs containing very securely somehow as they are cannot safely share the one space – what a dilemma for you!

(((( More Hugs )))) Poor Shellbell, it certainly is a dilemma. I would be inclined to confine the dog somehow. I don’t like to see dogs tied up, but in this case it might be the solution. Good luck with your decision.

Something needed along the lines of these maybe?

http://www.colwesternsheds.com.au/page/dog_kennels__pens.html

Someone actually posted about them as potentail *poultry” breeding runs. Something ironic in that…

Gone again :)

I have seen dogs cured of this by tying the DEAD chook to their colar and making them wear it for afew days.

cackles said:

Something needed along the lines of these maybe?

http://www.colwesternsheds.com.au/page/dog_kennels__pens.html

Someone actually posted about them as potentail *poultry” breeding runs. Something ironic in that…

Gone again :)

thats funny! – do they breed the poultry to feed the dogs?

Grasshopper said:

I have seen dogs cured of this by tying the DEAD chook to their colar and making them wear it for afew days.

I tried that, she ate it and then just had the leg tied to her. She thought it was an extra special prize.

Maybe ask the vet or that Dr Harry bloke—he seems to be able to slove all this stuff—best of luck—it is a hard one

it is possible that you may be able to retrain her but it would require pretty intesive training I would imagine. Perhaps a consultation with an animal psychologist?

shell bell said:

Grasshopper said:

I have seen dogs cured of this by tying the DEAD chook to their colar and making them wear it for afew days.

I tried that, she ate it and then just had the leg tied to her. She thought it was an extra special prize.

chuckle – there’s no end to your wit shell bell.

pepe said:

shell bell said:

Grasshopper said:

I have seen dogs cured of this by tying the DEAD chook to their colar and making them wear it for afew days.

I tried that, she ate it and then just had the leg tied to her. She thought it was an extra special prize.

chuckle – there’s no end to your wit shell bell.

our dog (from my childhood) like nothing better than to roll in dead chook – the smellier the better! We had an egg farm over the back fence.

bluegreen said:

pepe said:

shell bell said:

Grasshopper said:

I have seen dogs cured of this by tying the DEAD chook to their colar and making them wear it for afew days.

I tried that, she ate it and then just had the leg tied to her. She thought it was an extra special prize.

chuckle – there’s no end to your wit shell bell.

our dog (from my childhood) like nothing better than to roll in dead chook – the smellier the better! We had an egg farm over the back fence.

there’s no doubt that a dog MUST behave or else……
IMHO you have to give it a severe tongue lashing and tie it up for a day if it ever comes near to harming a chook again.
easier said than done.

Is tying the dog up while chooks are out, completely out of the question?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fair question i’d reckon.

Keep the animals apart all the time. Maybe an electric fence outside the chook run. Can’t eat a chook if you can’t get to it. A dogproof fence between the chook run and the house area sounds like the go. Or maybe a bully rooster or drake to fight back!

When you move you’ll probably need a house yard fenced anyway, unless you want assorted livestock eating your garden. Just make sure it’s dog proof.

shell bell said:

Grasshopper said:

I have seen dogs cured of this by tying the DEAD chook to their colar and making them wear it for afew days.

I tried that, she ate it and then just had the leg tied to her. She thought it was an extra special prize.

maybe the dead chook wasn’t tied at the back of the neck and securely.
after a while the dog gets tired of having there and it eventually annoys them.

if that doesn’t work and you have exhausted all efforts, then next time you have a dead chook try and soak a few bottles of tobasco sauce on the dead chook and see if the dog still likes chookies then.
I did that with an old pair of shoes and my tap connections. never been touched since.

hopefully your dog doesn’t like tobasco sauce as I have found some do…….

hmmmm maybe some jalapeno peppers inserted into the chook. I reckon even the Mexican pooches would struggle with that.

let us know how you go

Jase