Post by frankl on Feb 23, 2012 9:31:22 GMT 8
Hi All,
We are having a huge problem with our golden retriever lab cross puppy (he is 10months old) killing chickens.
At first we thought it was a fox and then caught him chewing on an ISA which we thought he might have eaten after a fox killed it. That was when he was about 5 months. Fast forward and there has been a regular decline in numbers since then. Once again we thought that it was foxes.
We went away last weekend and came back to 3 lehorns gone, feathers everywhere and a giveaway very submissive puppy...he crawled up to the car and would not look us in the eyes.
I had to go out for the day yesterday and did not get home until dark..... short story, 7 chickens missing and 3 dead inside a pen. (they were kept in 3 seperate pens...) It looks like a fox has dug some holes and maybe even killed some ( holes seem too small for our dog) but we are wondering if the fox (or multiple) are getting in and killing or at least chasing them and our dog is finishing them off. Perhaps it is a team effort as very large jarrah posts weigh down the wire skirt on pens and these have been moved then dug under...through gravel.
We are on atttempt number 2 to tie dead chicken in a stocking around his neck and tie him up in the GP shed away from the family [he has food, water and shelter... just no love]
We have many children and he is a well loved pet! We would prefer not to rehome him.
Last time we left chicken on his neck for 2 days and did not help... this time will leave it longer (googled that as an answer). The dog actually walked himself to the shed and took up the position I put him in last time. He knows he did wrong but seems happy to 'do the time'.
We are on a large farm but dont run sheep. If he gets into the neighbours sheep they will solve it with a bullet but he is normally super placid and has never shown any interest in anything...except emus when they get near the house. We have 4 kittens and they and their mum sleep on his bed with him and they even eat his food. He used to chase the cat and got reprimanded in the 'old fashioned way' and it worked a treat. We have tried this with the chickens (putting remnants under his nose)........ you get the picture. Does not work.
Is the instinct for chickens just too strong?
Appreciate to hear about others experience and any suggestions.
Mrs Frankl
We are having a huge problem with our golden retriever lab cross puppy (he is 10months old) killing chickens.
At first we thought it was a fox and then caught him chewing on an ISA which we thought he might have eaten after a fox killed it. That was when he was about 5 months. Fast forward and there has been a regular decline in numbers since then. Once again we thought that it was foxes.
We went away last weekend and came back to 3 lehorns gone, feathers everywhere and a giveaway very submissive puppy...he crawled up to the car and would not look us in the eyes.
I had to go out for the day yesterday and did not get home until dark..... short story, 7 chickens missing and 3 dead inside a pen. (they were kept in 3 seperate pens...) It looks like a fox has dug some holes and maybe even killed some ( holes seem too small for our dog) but we are wondering if the fox (or multiple) are getting in and killing or at least chasing them and our dog is finishing them off. Perhaps it is a team effort as very large jarrah posts weigh down the wire skirt on pens and these have been moved then dug under...through gravel.
We are on atttempt number 2 to tie dead chicken in a stocking around his neck and tie him up in the GP shed away from the family [he has food, water and shelter... just no love]
We have many children and he is a well loved pet! We would prefer not to rehome him.
Last time we left chicken on his neck for 2 days and did not help... this time will leave it longer (googled that as an answer). The dog actually walked himself to the shed and took up the position I put him in last time. He knows he did wrong but seems happy to 'do the time'.
We are on a large farm but dont run sheep. If he gets into the neighbours sheep they will solve it with a bullet but he is normally super placid and has never shown any interest in anything...except emus when they get near the house. We have 4 kittens and they and their mum sleep on his bed with him and they even eat his food. He used to chase the cat and got reprimanded in the 'old fashioned way' and it worked a treat. We have tried this with the chickens (putting remnants under his nose)........ you get the picture. Does not work.
Is the instinct for chickens just too strong?
Appreciate to hear about others experience and any suggestions.
Mrs Frankl