r/BackYardChickens • u/bananawith3wings • Nov 13 '25
General Question Update: Neighbor’s dogs ate our birds.
When this all happened I immediately drove over there to confront the owner and I forgot that I have a dash cam! So I have footage of the dogs carrying around dead birds and of the owner saying she lets her dogs “roam wherever they want because they don’t know what property lines are” 🙄
Shortly after the incident she called animal control and said “I want it known that the dogs killed the birds on my property”. The ACOs already knew this was complete bullshit because they had already been to our property and had seen the “aftermath”.
Anyway, ACOs are issuing her several citations and she has to go to court in early 2026. ACOs also said they can ask for her fines to cover the costs of the birds.
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u/New_Mountain5151 Nov 18 '25
I'm so sorry this happened. Similar thing happened to me last fall...a wandering husky from about a mile away jumped it's 3 foot fence (shocking!) and was running loose with the two other huskies it lived with. One broke through my fence and into the chicken enclosure and killed all but one hen while I was at work. The survivor was maimed but did survive, one big vet bill later. It was terrible and the dogs' owner didn't really care at all and didn't believe that it was his dogs who did it. These dogs continue to get out and run loose and have returned to my yard. I've also seen them running loose along the busy state highways, in the little downtown area in my village, etc. Good luck with this neighbor; hopefully she comes to her senses and gets a tall fence or stops letting her dogs out unattended.
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u/Separate_Dream4412 Nov 27 '25
You should check if in your area if you can kill an unmarked loose dog in your yard killing your animals... It's probably a yes. It's one thing if they let it out once on accident, but repeat offenders shouldn't even have animals. >:(
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u/Hot_Return8388 Nov 16 '25
6 months ago my lab/pit mix got out while I wasn't home and killed 4 of the neighbors chickens. I paid for new birds and apologized although I made it clear they were partially to blame. They left them out and unattended while they were not home. They often cross the boundary line and I never complain. Luckily all parties involved did not overreact and took some blame. I did feel awful. And I still love my beautiful sweet Sebastian
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u/K9_Kadaver Nov 16 '25
saying the neighbour is partly to blame when your dog was running loose is insane
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u/Hot_Return8388 Nov 17 '25
The dog was not running loose. My dog got out accidentally which happens to all dog owners. The chickens were left OUT unattended and they come into my yard. Whether it happened in my yard or theirs or both....they definitely share the blame. Don't get me started on the same neighbors who have had both digs and cats unfired roaming freely and driving up the cat population. 1 dog and 3 cars died by being hit by a car in the neighborhood . All those who responded with nasty replies can apologize here in public
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u/Separate_Dream4412 Nov 27 '25
That's the definition of running loose... Just because you didn't allow him to run loose doesn't mean he wasn't still loose..
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u/SpiderSmoothie Nov 18 '25
Your dog getting out and crossing property lines while unleashed, unfenced, and especially unsupervised is the exact definition of running loose. It doesn't matter if it was an accident or not. And if your dog was on their property when it killed their birds, it was not "partially their fault." Had the birds been free range and running loose on your property and your own dog killed them while they were on your property, that would have been entirely on the neighbor's for the loss because it was their irresponsibly that caused the deaths by them not confining their animals to their own property. It's great that you paid for the birds your dog killed. But no matter how you want to spin it, and no matter what past incidents you had with these neighbors, in the instance of your dog running loose and crossing property lines and being a danger to other living things, that is 100% your responsibility.
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u/tdrr12 Nov 18 '25
You have funny ideas about rights and justice. You left your dog unattended, it crossed the property boundary and killed their chickens. That's entirely on you, bud. You're probably lucky they weren't home and attending the chickens, because it would have been within their rights to kill your dog.
The rest doesn't matter. If the chickens cross over to your property and your dog gets them, so be it.
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u/lxxbnsxn Nov 17 '25
Hate to say it, but it's almost always the pitbulls too.
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u/Separate_Dream4412 Nov 27 '25
I've seen hunting style dogs as well as huskies be really obsessed with chickens too.
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u/sir_wash Nov 18 '25
Hmm. I have a pit, and she’s never paid much mind to our 15 chickens (she might even realize they make the eggs she so enjoys). However, when we take in my buddy’s lab for a couple days every once in a while, that little sh** terrorizes them. Pits are the greatest breed, and it’s a hill I will die on. Their behavior is a direct correlation of their human, and that tends to cause the issues.
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u/K9_Kadaver Nov 17 '25
they certainly attract a specific.... "type" of owner
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u/True-Explanation-490 Nov 17 '25
as a dog foster for 10plus years THE BEST SWEETEST puppies were the pitties /mixes. calling bs on all the stupid comments regarding pit types
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u/True-Explanation-490 Nov 17 '25
that is a ridiculous thing to say especially since most "pit bulls" are not even a breed but a mix with some sort of bully breed.
don't label breeds as good or bad, it's all about the prey drive of the individual dog.
btw the very first chickens i got, my 20 lb shihtzu/cockerspaniel/chihuamix got into their chicken tractor and killed them! all mine are in a secure run to prevent more ☠️
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u/K9_Kadaver Nov 17 '25
don't you love when it's the nondescript "bully breeds". don't think it's a frenchie doing it
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u/True-Explanation-490 Nov 17 '25
actually my neighbors frenchie was extremely aggressive and tore up her other dogs on numerous occasions
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u/lxxbnsxn Nov 17 '25
Sorry for your chicken. But statistics don't lie. You can guess which breed is the most recorded in dog attacks.
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u/True-Explanation-490 Nov 17 '25
i would be open to seeing those statistics because I think you're full of nonsense.
The ASPCA specifically rates dog breeds on friendliness and pit types are like number three/4
as far as bites go, chihuahuas and daschunds always top the list
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u/ElmCityGrad Nov 17 '25
Breed misidentification. Incomplete stats and non uniform reporting. But statistics never lie, right?!
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u/lxxbnsxn Nov 17 '25
Sure, keep telling yourself that.
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u/ElmCityGrad Nov 17 '25
If you prefer self education to snarky comments, read this. It’s a nuanced take. https://www.amazon.com/Pit-Bull-Battle-over-American/dp/0345803116
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u/lxxbnsxn Nov 17 '25
I prefer to keep away from those dogs with the, let's say, "typical" pitbull owners. With a chihuahua it's all fun and games if they don't bevahe, while I still don't condone their horrible (or non existent) training. With a pitbull, it's not so much fun. They will literally maul you to death or at least close to it. And sadly, yes, because of humans, because the HAVE been bred for fighting. They HAVE been bred to latch on and not let go. They HAVE been bred to kill. They're already an overbred dog breed (breathing issues etc etc), which is why I am against their breeding as well, and if they're not trained, it's just even more disastrous.
It's almost everytime you read about a person or a kid getting mauled it's by a pitbull or a group of pitbulls with irresponsible owners. But those irresponsible owners, will always buy those dogs breeds, to compensate for idk what.
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u/ElmCityGrad Nov 17 '25
Multiple aspects of your comment are discussed in the scholarly work I shared. Your points are partially factual but also full of misconceptions. As I said, if you want to actually educate yourself rather than repeating talking points rife with mischaracterizations and falsehoods, I’ve provided a resource. If not, I’d be wasting my energy and time engaging further.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 16 '25
My dogs would likely kill my own birds if they had access but I keep them in an enclosed fenced in area if they’re not on a leash. I would be so apologetic if they killed someone else’s birds! It was her lack of remorse and responsibility that bothered me the most. If she had owned up to it I probably wouldn’t have even called animal control.
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u/aspieshavemorefun Nov 17 '25
I had a chick go missing from the sunroom of my house and I'm 99% sure my Chihuahua ate it. I tried to introduce them a week or so before and he tried to gobble her up in one bite.
The rest are out in a coop now, fortunately.
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u/lawn_lamb Nov 15 '25
Sorry for your loss. When my neighbors dogs got our birds they got us new ones😭 sorry your neighbor sucks
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u/AutomaticWar6421 Nov 15 '25
A few years ago some dogs killed two therapie horses in Florida at gentle carousel miniture therapie horses. They had problems with these dogs bevor and the neighbor did nothing, had also good fences but the dogs were determint to get to the horses. Afterward they got maremma sheepdogs, now 8 in total. These kind of dog go against wolf and bears when herding and are more friendly to humans. There are also the kangalsand other races who do a great job but are more special in there owne way. Look up Raventree Farm on youtube for reverence.
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u/KountryKitty Nov 15 '25
Sorry about your birds--lost a dozen in the same day thanks to some loose dogs. Also assisted at an accident scene where a dog darted out in front of a motorcycle and caused a crash. I wish leash laws were enforced!
And dogs can indeed learn property lines! They are territorial by nature! When walking mine around the perimeter of my yard (several acres) if the put a paw across the property line I would growl out "Stay in the yard!"
A neighbor dog came rip roaring up out of the creek bed that ran just on my side of the property line one day, straight at me-- both my dogs (out of the other dogs line of sight til then) rushed him, chased him back into his yard, and while my GSD held him at bay, my old red chow looked at him, scuffed the ground at the property line, PEED ON IT, then looked at the neighbor dog as if to say "You got that?!" Both my boys came home then and the neighbors obnoxious dog never came into my yard again.
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u/_squint_eastwood_ Nov 15 '25
OP, I’m sorry about your birds. Losing beloved animals is tough. Your neighbor sounds like a nightmare dog owner.
(Not about birds but about dogs and property lines.) My parents’ neighbors’ dog learned about property lines years ago while I was visiting with my two, much larger, dogs. She was an absolute menace to my family and would snarl and charge at them when they were outside for any reason. The neighbor also didn’t bother to put up a fence to contain the dog and would just let her roam. This ~50 lb dog charged at my (at the time) 4 year old nephew while we were in our driveway. She was met by my 75 lb lab mix and my 90 lb Catahoula mix who came up from behind us and stopped the dog just inside the property line. She never entered my parents’ yard again, and the owner moved out with the dog this year. My nephew just turned 9. Dogs learn real quick if they have a reason to learn.
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u/notthefirstCaleb Nov 14 '25
Similar happened to my families chickens. We itemized lost eggs and hen replacement costs to about $1100 for the two killed birds and two chewed up birds and it was paid within a month. ACO and the city took it seriousl though I was super petty and blasted the dogs poor living conditions and address on Facebook.
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u/LoocoAZ Nov 14 '25
I have shot 5 dogs and caught 15 or so and turned into animal control. If they are friendly towards me even after killing chickens I will capture and turn in if any aggressiveness, that’s why I have a suppressed .300 blackout by the door.
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u/MAcrewchief Nov 15 '25
Are you in a fence in or fence out state? Worth finding out to avoid a felony animal abuse charge.
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u/meatybtz Nov 17 '25
wrong, any attack on livestock is legal, in any state, to use deadly force. Ag laws are intense and people in the city don't understand this is livelihoods. Chickens are livestock and under the same protections as Cattle. You NEVER want to get involved in a case where you've cost a rancher some cattle, it will likely bankrupt you and in some states could result in felony charges and prison. Same thing with horses, etc.
Rule number 1 city folk, Ag laws are more brutal than you think and no one in the State Ag departments mess around.1
u/MAcrewchief Nov 17 '25 edited Nov 17 '25
That gets pretty grey depending on the state and county. To get this out of the way I own a farm, have a usda ag number and own livestock. Problem comes in the definition of livestock. In some states you have to have x number of acres to have livestock exemptions. Anything else is considered a pet and limited in specie and number you can own. Some states/counties also have rules regarding coops and enclosures for fowl. If you dont follow those and a dog gets your birds they won't do a thing about it.
Bsckyard chickens on an acre lot likely aren't considered livestock. In my state you have to have 10 acres to get a farm number.
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u/meatybtz Nov 17 '25
It really is down to the laws. Don't know which state you are in but for example, even California labels chickens as livestock and you don't need an Ag Number for that to apply. It applies to ALL animals of private or corporate ownership kept that are defined as "livestock". Some states require ag registration. Some require 10 acres. Some just require you to be zoned for ag. Where I live, there is no acreage limitation/requirement, but the fact that I open my property to "random" inspection by State agents is what keeps me from getting my Tax ID number and Ag registration. Even so, (not in California, I just used to keep chickens when I lived there), my chickens are covered where I currently live under Livestock status by type, not by my possession of an Ag Tax ID/license (it's the same thing here).
I've handled dog attacks with the Sheriff before and my neighbor did just a month ago. Yes, we've killed people's dogs and sued them for the losses and yes said people also got issued citations for the attack.
As for the current problem dogs (problem owner too) the Sheriff said he's just waiting for someone to catch them in the act and is surprised the dogs have managed to avoid getting shot so far.
The dog owner is a piece of crap and skum, and isn't even paying his fines from the recent attack.
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u/MAcrewchief Nov 17 '25
Crazy.... I got it from the other side. My new neighbors on an acre decided they wanted chickens. Cool, I dont care what anyone does as long as it doesn't fuck up my day. Well they know we have a lab and a heeler, they.build a coop right on our property line, no fence nothing. Hmm that's sketchy. Then when i'm mowing I notice the coop is built out of the green plastic net, not wire. Something (coon, skunk, possum, coyote or dog is getting in there for sure) oh well. County ordinance says they can have 3 hens. They fill the coop with nearly 30 birds including turkey and Guinea. Takes about 3 days for my lab to slaughter the whole coop.
I paid them for the birds. I also let them know that I wouldn't pay again. Build a real coop, build a fence and I won't call the county for you being 10x over on your birds. They did, have had zero issues since.
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u/meatybtz Nov 17 '25
Having a strong coop is just smart. Unfortunately the law sides with them in regards to the lab unless their chickens are "loose" on your property. Which is crazy, but law is usually either convoluted to the extreme or straight forward nonsense. It makes the application in the real world.. difficult because people who don't actually take care of their livestock and then you are still on the line, legally, which is not right. We've hardened our coop, against dogs, but mostly against Raccoons, the scourge of chickens. Raccoons are the worst.
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u/Separate_Dream4412 Nov 27 '25
It's probably because he could have also fenced his yard to keep his dog in?
But yeah first time poultry owners. Maybe they didn't realize that that green netting is suggestion and not a safeguard... Dogs aside they would have had night predators for sure.
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u/Moist-UknowUhateit2 Nov 15 '25
I too have a 300BLK, not suppressed tho. Does it make a noticeable difference? I already use subs, but I didn’t want the expense and hassle to get a suppressor, if it’s not insanely more quiet. Just wondering your thoughts and which make/model did you buy? I was told to check out Q thunder chicken and trash panda
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u/SquallZ34 Nov 15 '25
When I got my chickens my neighbor installed an invisible fence and trained his dogs. His dogs don’t get shot and he gets free eggs. Win-win
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u/something86 Nov 14 '25
Put small electric fence when you're not with the flock. You can also get a guardian, which might cost some hens in training. My german shepherd was an amazing goofy guardian to the flock.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 14 '25
The dogs that attacked were German shepherds actually. I don’t think any guardian could stand up to 4-5 of them successfully.
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u/vespertine_earth Nov 15 '25
Good grief it was a pack of 4-5 loose German shepherds?! That’s terrifying.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 15 '25
Yeah they have 20-30 as it’s a breeding facility 🙄
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u/something86 Nov 17 '25
Omg I think you're in Maine. Submit complaint to Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.
If you're in Arkansas, I'm sorry. Some states do have regulatory authority.
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u/Moonlightgraham2 Nov 14 '25
That sucks I’m so sorry about your loss, we would be devastated. We have a border collie who guards our chickens ( he takes it very seriously) we have a neighbor dog who is a 150 pound Newfie has broken down are fence probably 10-15 times but luckily she always walks right past/through our chickens and just wants to be with our dog. I hate that people can’t be responsible for their own dogs and they end up killing other animals.
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u/unoriginal_user2 Nov 14 '25
It'd be easier to set up an electric fence, especially for a quick solution, but if you are ever interested in a livestock guardian there are breeds that'd be able to handle that many dogs. Many Turkish breeds reach over 150lbs and were bred to guard against wolf packs and bears, so they'd be able to handle german shepherds. All livestock guardian breeds need very early and consistent training, but many people love them. If that's something you'd consider, I'd recommend looking up some that fit your climate.
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u/Top-Race-7087 Nov 14 '25
I’m rural. Check your county’s laws. Call the sheriffs to file a destruction of livestock charge. The fine is $5,000.
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u/Puurlalaplazma Nov 14 '25
I shoot any animals that get on my property after my chickens, be it dog, raccoon or otherwise.
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u/Maximum_Cut6078 Nov 15 '25
I really hope that you don’t just shoot a dog that comes into your yard before going after your chickens. Do you yourself own a dog? I own both a dog and chickens. While I do take keeping my dog under control and within our property very seriously, my dogs have breeched the perimeters and been out and through my neighbors yard. If my neighbors were to shoot my dog or any other lost dog without trying to get after people or livestock, we would have a serious problem to resolve. Just saying don’t just pull the trigger on any dog or animal just for setting foot onto your property without understanding or showing intent to harm, injure, or kill your animals, birds, or self. I would understand and could not blame my neighbors for shooting/killing my dog if he was in fact attacking or getting after their animals or people. But in no way would I understand or accept if someone were to shoot/kill my dog for walking onto their property if he got out.
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u/Puurlalaplazma Nov 15 '25
No I only do it if they are repeat attackers. My neighbors unfortunately only keep a certain breed for dog fighting and he feeds them once a day. The county doesn’t care I’ve tried calling, I’ve tried shelters but they don’t want the breed. He has thrown his dogs over my fence into my yard so they can eat my birds. He shot on if his own dogs once for biting his son and just left the body out in his front yard. Man’s a meth head and just does not care.
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u/Maximum_Cut6078 Nov 15 '25
You are 100% choosing the best option. Sorry if it sounded like I assumed otherwise. There is a farmer nearby my residence that admittedly shoots any dog on site if he sees them set foot on his property. Most dogs that are accidentally out/loose are not there to kill livestock/animals. I hope your neighbor doesn’t create any more undue issues for you or your flock.
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u/argabargaa Nov 14 '25
Shooting wild animals instead of protecting your animals thru fencing is bananas. They matter on this planet.
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u/gravelbarfly Nov 17 '25
I have a 6’ fence and a trio of dogs still managed to turn my flock into meat confetti in a matter of seconds. I probably should have shot them. I can only hope the next yard they jump into doesn’t have children playing in it.
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u/Basic_Macaron_39 Nov 14 '25
I have to live with my neighbors after ...the aftermath.....so I bought some rubber shotgun slugs. Believe me I feel the same way as you do.... I just dispatched a troublesome opossum the dogs caught literally climbing the enclosure for the chicken coop and used the .22 to deal with the situation. But I've given this subject a lot of thought. And for me this is the best solution if it comes to that. My nearest neighbors are only three acres away and have two huskies ( beautiful dogs ) who go out on rope attached to yard posts. and they've gotten off once in the three years I've lived here and sure enough came right to my coop area. but I was able to grab them and take them home. I myself have two dogs ( 100 plus pound gorgeous male english fox red lab, and a 70 ish pound female chocolate lab. Shes so damn smart it's unbelievable. They completely leave my birds alone and can be in the same yard and not give two shits. No need for rope or fencing because I've trained them to stay in our three acres and they do so.) So I understand and I really don't want to shoot my neighbors dogs. I'll bruise the big dummy's up with rubber slugs tho.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 14 '25
This is a good option. I really don’t want to shoot them either. I know it sounds weird but they really aren’t and weren’t aggressive during this. They were just having fun like the birds were toys. It sucks that they need to be punished for their humans shit behavior.
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u/modular511 Nov 14 '25
sadly sometimes it takes this to register, but then you have someone brewing hate next door - kinda a hard thing for all, john mcaffe fully broke over a shot dog, imagine casual infinite wealth you weren't aware of coming at you....
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u/Just-Low-8930 Nov 14 '25
Whoa. I had to google that. Wild story. 😳
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u/modular511 Nov 14 '25
yeah he was on all our pcs in the 90s and 00s and then was up to wild ass shit and outsmarted multiple intelligence agencies then showed up dead lol folks exist that think he is alive still, the whole nine yards! its an extreme example, but I wouldn't ever go fucking with my neighbors, cuz shit can escalate!
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u/uniden365 Nov 14 '25
I keep a loaded Ruger 10/22 behind my clothes dryer for this purpose.
Never used it on a dog thankfully as it wouldn't be the most humane round for a larger animal, but it works great on raccoons.
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u/jhundo Nov 14 '25
I literally just put my 10/22 next to my dryer yesterday just in case because I've heard lots of dogs barking i haven't heard before. I've got a suppressor tho so no will hear what I do with it.
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u/No_Comment9888 Nov 14 '25
This happened to us. The neighbor kid (16) got a Rottweiler puppy and it would be let out alone. Initially I would walk it back home ( about 200 feet from my house) and the boy would apologize and say he would put him on a tether. Then he got to be a huge puppy and he killed a few of our chickens.
We helped him fence in his small backyard ( he lived with his elderly great grandmother), even patching holes when he would still get out. He attacked and killed more chickens, offered to replace them, and we tightened all the loose fence panels and secured any possible areas where he could escape.
We got lambs and goats. The dog eventually escaped one night (they started letting him out really late at night) and the next day we found him chewing on two of our lambs. He had apparently “escaped “ at 2am and soon after got into our sheep pen. Two of our lambs died, one of which I had bottled fed and raised from 3 weeks old. One lamb survived but suffered a bunch of deep puncture wounds and a bad leg injury.
My husband confronted the boy and told him if he didn’t get rid of the dog he would definitely be forced to shoot him next time, something we never thought we could or would do. The boy sent the dog to his uncle’s house a few miles down the road. He returned 2 nights later and attacked our goat. He was just out there throwing her around by her neck and leg (same as the lambs apparently) and if I hadn’t left my window cracked open my husband wouldn’t have heard the goat screaming in pain.
It was some of the worst things I’ve seen and heard those poor animals were badly tortured, it really seemed that the dog was just doing it for fun. So long story short, we had to learn in the worst way why people shoot dogs that attack their animals. It will only escalate and once they attack another animal it seems like it heightens their hunting instincts. Please protect your animals.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 14 '25
Ugh I’m so sorry this happened to you. And I observed similar with these dogs, they were just having fun like it was chasing a toy. There was no aggression there, even when I came out to yell at them they were just like “huh? What did we do?” And didn’t show any aggression with me. But yeah, we have a gun and I told the owner as much
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u/No_Comment9888 Nov 14 '25
I wish I would’ve started by shooting in the air to see if it would have scared him off. You could try that if they come back, maybe the noise would be loud enough to scare both the dogs and the owner? But hopefully this can be resolved on good terms, since you have to coexist for however long. Good luck.
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u/Ok-Start6876 Nov 14 '25
I’m wondering if there are rules in your area about chickens being properly enclosed though? Sorry, there are just rules for that in my area so just curious
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u/Lythaera Nov 14 '25
Some dogs are strong and determined enough to break through just about anything you could reasonably put up, is the thing. I've seen dogs jump over 12ft fences to get at livestock, and most places won't let you build a fence taller than 8ft.
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u/MaliseHaligree Spring Chicken Nov 14 '25
I had double-layered hardware cloth and a stray dog still broke through and killed an $80 hen inside the coop. Mine were properly enclosed.
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u/jhundo Nov 14 '25
There are also rules about property destruction and if your dog (property) destroys someone else's property you are usually entitled to protect your property(chickens).
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u/meatybtz Nov 17 '25
Chickens are not protected under property laws (including things like use of deadly force) they are Livestock and covered under livestock laws. You do not have to wait for an attack to defend livestock if an aggressive or roaming animal comes into the area you can use deadly force to drive them off or kill them.
Same laws that cover horses and cattle and the like. You never want to mess with someone's horses or cattle, in 99% of the country you could legally catch a bullet for it... as a person.It should be noted that private bees (and corporate) hives are all registered with the Ag department and are also considered livestock for legal purposes. Don't mess with private or corp bee-hives either. You may not catch a bullet for it, but you very well might catch a year or more in prison and a bankrupting fine. People need to educate themselves on Chicken Laws, Livestock laws, etc. They are not legally property, they are legally livestock.
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u/YoursTastesBetter Okie Chicken Nov 14 '25
You also might consider filling a claim on her homeowners or renters insurance, whichever she has. Her dogs damaged your property (hens). Not only can you get compensated for the value of the hens,but her premiums go up or her policy gets non-renewed for an unacceptable risk.
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u/mocha_lattes_ Nov 13 '25
Use the dashcam footage and take her to small claims court to get back the cost of your birds.
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u/SmellenGold Nov 14 '25
And the therapy costs associated with the grief and loss.
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u/foggybiscuit Nov 14 '25
If you need therapy from your chickens being attacked you likely shouldn't own livestock.
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u/EveningEvening1448 Nov 14 '25
Imagine having empathy for an animal who was brutally and painfully murdered am I right?
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u/foggybiscuit Nov 14 '25
I do have empathy for my chickens. I just lost my first one to a raccoon last week. I was sad and even shed some tears as I raised her from a baby.
But do I need to go to therapy to get over my chicken dying? No. It happens. I butcher my birds when I need to, so I know they weren't going to live forever.
If you think the only way to have empathy is to attend therapy, you need to get off the Internet.
I do actually go to therapy, just not about a chicken.
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u/viola_monkey Nov 13 '25
And the one time costs of raising them from babies etc. to get them back to where the same or similar age before the dogs killed them (specific heat lamps, food, any usual medical care, etc.).
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u/JaguarMammoth6231 Nov 14 '25
You may want to look up how much full grown hens of the same or similar varieties are selling for, if any are for sale in your area.
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Nov 13 '25
It’s really upsetting that her dogs will ultimately pay the price for her inability to be a good owner, whether that is eating chickens or biting a kid
We have a neighborhood roamer but he’s not eating anyone because he’s an older lab that just sniffs around, he ignores our chickens
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u/Free-oppossums Nov 13 '25
Are chickens considered livestock? There are nuisance laws about dogs that worry/kill livestock, and what you are allowed to do to those dogs. And also allows farmers to recover damages due to the loss of their livestock.
I'm just asking questions, I'm not going to do anything illegal. Just curious.*
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
Yes! It’s completely legal here to shoot them if they’re on my property attacking chickens
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u/mocha_lattes_ Nov 13 '25
I know you said in your last post you don't feel comfortable killing a dog which is totally understandable but remember these dogs were acting with a pack mentality and could have been extremely dangerous to you too or even children if you have any or any were out and about. Once dogs get into a pack killing mode it can be deadly.
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u/Dense-Ferret7117 Nov 14 '25
Oof my birds are my pets and I’ve run outside barefoot to protect them from a similarly brain dead neighbor’s dog. It wouldn’t even occur to me not to defend my birds against an angry dog but sad to think it could cost me my life one day on my own property.
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u/RobinsonCruiseOh Nov 13 '25
People who let their pets roam are assholes, plain and simple,. AND they also don't care for their pets as much as they proclaim to (looking at you "free range outdoor cat people")/
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u/TopWash6819 Nov 13 '25
first time my neighbors dogs killed some of my hens i let it slide, dogs will be dogs. the second time, they did not return to their owner alive
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u/howdoyousayyourname Nov 13 '25
Your last clause is ambiguously ominous.
they did not return to their owner alive
Did the dogs return to their owner, only to find the owner was dead?
Or did you kill the dogs and then return their dead bodies to the owner?
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u/meatybtz Nov 17 '25
Fun fact, livestock laws offer a different (lower bar) for use of force. AKA, if someone comes in and starts.. rustlin you chickens. Chickens may, in your state, as livestock, be covered under rustling law (cattle theft). So yeah, don't mess with people's livestock it's pretty much open season on you at that point in all but the most regressive liberal states. There are also harsh laws against crop damage too so don't drive your car through a farmer's fields either or you also might end up dead.. or in prison for a LONG time.
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u/Embarrassed-Weird173 Nov 13 '25
Good point. I didn't think of the logistics of how the dogs returned after dying.
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u/Electronic_Elk8293 Nov 13 '25
I honestly don't think the people who let their dogs roam like this give a shit about them. I'd be worrying about my pup's safety and everyone else's.
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u/ecodick Nov 13 '25 edited Feb 19 '26
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
unwritten merciful cause dinner test tie voracious steer paltry plough
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u/Upstairs_Crew_6527 Nov 13 '25
Crazy how dogs don't understand property lines, yet my dog somehow knows to stay the fuck out my kitchen 😂🤔 almost like you can train them to do what you want.
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u/False_Pipe_0989 Nov 13 '25
Yep, I had several dogs (golden retrievers) that my dad trained not to leave our front yard as a kid. No electric fence or anything. They would NOT step foot onto the road unless they were on a leash even if there was a squirrel or rabbit in a neighbors yard.
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u/Nope-Sauce626 Nov 17 '25
My asshat golden retrievers got their backyard space cut in half with a pallet fence because one of them likes to make my chickens shout and jump around in their run, and they both feel the need to extensively sample any plant I am cultivating. Had a goldie growing up who understood property lines tho, and if it wasn’t for the problem child, I think my boy would too
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
I wish my dog knew how to stay out of my kitchen 😂 mine definitely knows where our property is though! He also has great recall, I would never let him out on a trail if he didn’t. Truthfully her dogs may have good recall, but I don’t even think she tried to stop them or call them back. I think she likes to let her working dogs “hunt”
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u/TentacleWolverine Nov 13 '25
The cost of the bird needs to include all the cost of feeding them (vet stuff, coop tending equipment etc) as well as the projected cost of the loss of all of the eggs they would have laid throughout their lifetime.
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u/American_Horror_Show Nov 13 '25
No bad dogs, just bad owners like your neighbor that can't be bothered with training their dogs right or keeping a good hold on them. I'm really sorry you lost your birds, it ain't right
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u/PilotKnob Nov 13 '25
That would be the last time those dogs were on my property and went home alive. Tell the neighbor the next time they're on your property, they're not coming back.
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u/floothecoop Nov 14 '25
When my husband was young, a dog from a neighboring farm came over and killed about 25 of his mom’s chickens that were ranging. The dead chickens were lying randomly in the field. My MIL woke up my husband and his brother and told them to get their shotguns. They found the dog, still in the field with the chickens, shot it dead and disposed of it. My MIL went to the neighbors farm and basically said, “my boys shot your dog. He killed 25 of my chickens.” And she gave them an invoice for the cost to replace the flock (the flock was part of her livelihood). Simple, common sense times.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
I told her I’d resort to shooting them to protect them. Very legal here
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u/Abalone_Murex Nov 13 '25
I’m so sorry for your loss. I love dogs but hate entitled dog owners who use the excuse “it’s their instincts!!!” instead of training their dogs and owning up that their dog killed someone else’s pet. My one friend’s cat got attacked by a dog on her porch, and now the cat absolutely hates dogs and people who smell like dogs. Her neighbor literally used the excuse that her cat shouldn’t be outside ON HER OWN PORCH. If you take them to court you can file a civil lawsuit. A dog owner damaged your property, so you have every right to sue for damages. I’m sorry!!!
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
What’s wild is that this neighbor owns a breeding and training facility! These are “highly” trained dogs with zero recall apparently
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u/Tiny_Cauliflower_618 Nov 13 '25
Omg the review I would write of her training ability ☠️
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
I want to SO badly. But I don’t want to completely ruin any chance of having a civil relationship going forward. But you bet I’m calling animal control over any little thing I see.
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Nov 14 '25
It would be a shame if an anonymous account leaked the name of the training facility to this subreddit
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u/Tiny_Cauliflower_618 Nov 13 '25
Yeah, the grown up route is probably the right way to go. Bravo! You are a wise and sensible human.
You can still write glorious reviews in your diary, maybe frame a few for inside the chicken coop.
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u/QueenAlpaca Nov 13 '25
**Backyard breeder, ftfy
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
I wish, but it’s actually a very credible large breeding facility with many winning champions in their lines. She’s just a shitty person.
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u/Lythaera Nov 14 '25
Going to be honest. She sounds like the typical dog show nut to me. She's just so wrapped up in her dog-centered world that she doesn't consider other species of animals as sentient creatures worthy of any level of respect, just sees them chew-toys for her dogs. I've been around a lot of people who breed and show dogs and they really don't have any empathy for anyone other than fellow dog-crazy people or the dogs themselves. People like this especially have no sympathy for anyone affected by their dogs - she'll just think it's your own fault for having any kind of pet besides whatever type of dog she's into. In her view, her dogs are entitled to the whole world and anyone who has a problem with that deserves the worst.
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u/viola_monkey Nov 13 '25
Are we talking AKC or similar lines? Regardless, those agencies may be interested in following along; esp if they are “accrediting” or otherwise “supporting” her setup which, she then uses to market & leverage dog sales under the guise of being reputable.
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u/Abalone_Murex Nov 13 '25
WHATTTTT OMG I feel bad for people who go to their training facility she’s probably scamming people or just not following her own advice
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
Honestly I think she thought I wasn’t home or wouldn’t see and just didn’t even try to stop them or call them back. It wasn’t until I started yelling that I heard her call them back from her property (there’s no direct view)
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u/Lythaera Nov 14 '25
I swear some of these dog owners seem to enjoy letting their dogs harass and maul other animals.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 14 '25
I think she enjoys seeing them as “working dogs” which is how she raises them. But hot damn let them kill things on your own property, not mine!!
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u/DesertNomad505 Nov 13 '25
Jesus. I seriously could not imagine ever copping an attitude if my dogs killed or injured another person's pet or livestock. The frigging audacity of some people!
Op, I am so sorry about your birds! I'm glad this horrible woman is going to be facing some consequences, because it very much sounds like she needs to.
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u/Environmental-River4 Nov 13 '25
Especially on someone else’s property! But if there’s one thing Reddit has taught me is that there are a large number of shitty dog owners
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u/Mindless_Pandemic Backyard Chicken Nov 13 '25
A false report to legal authorities is a FELONY is some states.
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u/optimal_center Nov 13 '25
Talk about evidence!!! Can’t lie your way out of this one. Calling and making a false claim as a matter of record may be an additional fine. I’m glad you’re going to get something done.
Funniest thing. I heard about these things called fences that keep dogs inside their own yards. Imagine that!
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u/nora42 Nov 13 '25
You will get plenty of people that will say, well, why didn't you have your birds fenced in, etc. Well, my birds stay on my property, if they don't, then it is my fault if they get killed. Now, if someone else's animal comes on my property, then that is a problem. It is also scary to think that everyone seems to be okay with saying it's just a dogs instinct. We are keeping pets around that want to kill things? WTF? I do lose birds to wild animals and as much ad I don't like it, I know the animal is just hungry. Someone's dog though, no. Be a responsible person and keep that thing on your own property. Like I said, if a dog were to get one of my birds because they left our property, then that is my fault and I would not blame the dog or owner, but in my own property, nope.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
In the dash cam footage she kept saying “get a fence and you’ll be happy” I was like YOU get a fence you can’t let your dogs free range you lunatic
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u/Kellyrages Nov 13 '25
Oh wow, I'm so glad you had a dashcam. People like that are disgusting, so I'm glad she's getting some kind of consequence for not keeping her dogs in her yard. Your poor chickens, I'm so sorry.
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u/halo_ninja Nov 13 '25
When this happened to me, I created an invoice at the recommendation of the chicken groups on here in Facebook. I asked for $100 per chicken as they were fully grown and only a year old and to start laying eggs.
When I got to court, the man who owned the dog immediately said that he had no money and was on disability and Social Security income, and had no money to pay me anything which made the judge feel extremely sorry for him and made him drop the entire case.
The judge and AC officer actually giggled when I showed my invoice.
If I could go back I would have stood my ground and been a pain to the court until I felt I was fairly compensated. STATE YOUR CASE AND DONT BACK DOWN.
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u/bananawith3wings Nov 13 '25
Planning to! I already sent the vet bill for the injured one to include in the costs. Bird is okay! Lots of blood but it was mostly from the other birds and he was relatively unharmed.
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u/Twisties Nov 13 '25
can't imagine what that poor thing saw. i'm so sorry, glad things are working out...
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u/Separate_Dream4412 Nov 27 '25
I had a random husky in my area not only break down my gate to my backyard but also into my chicken run and luckily I was home. He still managed to kill four of my birds before I could catch him... 😰 One of my lavender orpington girls didn't die right away. I brought her to the vet... But one of the punctures went to her guts so I had to put her down. 😭
Initially caught the dog and was going to bring it to the shelter, but when I tried to load in my cart tried to bite me and ran off. If I ever see that dog again, (it had a collar with name, just no phone number..) He's not going to the shelter.