11-22-2010, 05:27 PM
This is ugly and it has happened recently to a friend of mine. Sorry.
I know, I know -it seems like dog owners should be more responsible and accountable, but sadly it's often just the dog that pays, and then there's always another dog out there.
Here's my constructive advice: know that everything with canine teeth sees your feathery friends as juicy, piping hot chicken mcnuggets which they will stop at nothing to munch. Now build a coop accordingly. It takes more time and money but if you've ever seen the feathery bloodbath after a visit from the local dog pack, you'll agree its well worth it if you like your chickens.
A determined dog can actually bite through chicken wire surprisingly fast so I think its best to use sturdy hog wire around your pen. Dogs and mongooses can dig down even in cinder, so nail your wire to logs or heavy planks and bury it all at least 6" or more below the surface. You can pour concrete too, if you have it around, but its more $$. Now be sure nothing can climb into the yard/pen. To be really safe, enclose the top of the yard with chicken or hog wire.
I made a tight wooden coop with a "chicken door" where the hens go up a ladder to roost at night. Its enclosed by a fenced yard with a chicken wire roof. So far it has weathered the poor dogs the neighbors don't feed enough pretty well.
I know, I know -it seems like dog owners should be more responsible and accountable, but sadly it's often just the dog that pays, and then there's always another dog out there.
Here's my constructive advice: know that everything with canine teeth sees your feathery friends as juicy, piping hot chicken mcnuggets which they will stop at nothing to munch. Now build a coop accordingly. It takes more time and money but if you've ever seen the feathery bloodbath after a visit from the local dog pack, you'll agree its well worth it if you like your chickens.
A determined dog can actually bite through chicken wire surprisingly fast so I think its best to use sturdy hog wire around your pen. Dogs and mongooses can dig down even in cinder, so nail your wire to logs or heavy planks and bury it all at least 6" or more below the surface. You can pour concrete too, if you have it around, but its more $$. Now be sure nothing can climb into the yard/pen. To be really safe, enclose the top of the yard with chicken or hog wire.
I made a tight wooden coop with a "chicken door" where the hens go up a ladder to roost at night. Its enclosed by a fenced yard with a chicken wire roof. So far it has weathered the poor dogs the neighbors don't feed enough pretty well.