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Barnyard Buddies:  My dogs are stealing eggs!  |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 28 2010 : 09:32:04 AM
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We have three English mastiffs and at least two have been stealing eggs out of the outside nest box. They just chomp down on them and spit out most of the shell!!!! I have raised the nest box up but they are BIG dogs and they are still trying to get in it. Has anyone had this problem before??? Any suggestions other than removing the nest box? I have about 7 hens that will only lay In This nester and it keeps me from having to go on an egg hunt everyday!!!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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vegetarian farmer
True Blue Farmgirl
249 Posts
Jane
Freedom
pa
USA
249 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2010 : 2:06:30 PM
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I know that this is not a good thing but it is to funny. I can just see these giant egg thiefs lurking outside the nest boxes. Caught with egg on thier faces. Hope you find a solution.
Jane
http://hardworkhomestead.blogspot.com/ |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2010 : 2:31:48 PM
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Julie, I sure wish I knew what to tell you. My dogs were eating some of my eggs but it was so easy for them to get to them. I had a crate in the cat room and they would just reach in and get the eggs. So I put a stool in front of it. I also has some hens laying up front in the hen house and the dogs were getting those eggs. I finally figured out I had left the gate open. So shutting the gate stopped that.
But those Mastiffs are big dogs. I really don't think anything is too high for them. I wonder if you could put a little fence around the box with a small door the hens can get through. Or put a cage around it somehow with a walkway for the hens to climb up? There's got to be something you can do. I hope you can figure something out soon. Those eggs are way too valuable!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2010 : 3:10:12 PM
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Buy a spray bottle of bitter apple (most pet and feed stores carry it), and spray the eggs in that nest box, I have not seen a dog yet that will touch anything , once they've tasted bitter apple, non-toxic and long lasting.
I almost forgot what a friend did and it worked for her really well, she blow out several eggs (small hole on each end, break yolk with knitting needle and blow out contents), filled them with tabasco sauce, and glued a tiny piece of plastic wrap over the holes, cleaned the shells off really well and put them back in the nest boxes, worked like a charm for her, and it was foxes raiding her eggs.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
Edited by - 1badmamawolf on Mar 28 2010 3:14:03 PM |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2010 : 5:38:42 PM
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Bitter apple might work but I'm not sure about Tabasco. They like spicy stuff. I'll give it a try. I had a ceramic egg in one of the boxes and found it chomped to pieces on the front lawn! Stupid dogs!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2010 : 05:01:38 AM
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An expensive solution is to buy 3 remote controlled shock collars. You'd have to watch and shock them when they approach the forbidden area.
Our dogs frequently get in trouble. They know they're not supposed to go near the nest boxes. As soon as I go inside the house, they wait a minute and then head right back.
It is so frustrating. I hope it gets better for you and the rest of the farmgirls.
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2010 : 07:36:34 AM
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We have shock collars but since I work during the day - this is when they are getting the eggs. I'm not there to see them taking them. I collect them as soon as I get home (the ones that are left anyway!) So using the collars wouldnt work in this situation. But thanks for the suggestion!
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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doglady
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Tina
Howard
Ohio
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2010 : 12:29:26 PM
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How about attaching a couple of small mouse traps to the outside of the box and one or two against the wall that the box is attached to. Once they set a couple off and get pinched maybe they will decide that it is not fun anymore. It's cheap and mouse trap noise is something that most dogs hate and you don't need to be home either. I think 4-5 traps carefully placed should do it. It's worth a try.
Another thing is to place a couple of eggs in the box, say on a Saturday, and put quite a bit of hot sauce on them. The idea with both methods is to make it unpleasant.
Good Luck
Tina
You can tell your dog all of your secrets and they'll never say a word!
www.kennelcreations.com |
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2010 : 04:54:10 AM
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I like the mousetrap idea, Tina!
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2010 : 07:32:53 AM
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Wouldnt the chicken get hurt by the mousetrap?
Farmgirl Sister #17
Blog
www.eggsandherbs.com
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Barnyard Buddies: My dogs are stealing eggs! |
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My dogs are stealing eggs!
