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Barnyard Buddies:  My heart is breaking  |
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lilangelacres
Farmgirl in Training
18 Posts
Leslie
Newton
Iowa
USA
18 Posts |
 Posted - Dec 26 2010 : 3:06:00 PM
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This morning our barn dog Leroy got out of his pen after I had fed and let everyone out. He proceeded to have a grand time (in his mind) playing with the ducks and chickens. Our only female duck - Bonnie was killed instantly along with one of this summers baby banty rooster. I have one of my Rhode Island Reds in the bathtub in the house. The two male ducks are injured, but are at least eating and drinking so hopefully they will make it. We have searched every where for the baby banty hen and can't find her. The hens were all hiding and most of them appear okay although pretty shaken up.
I don't know what to do about Leroy. He was a rescue dog that I really love, but I can't keep him if he is going to kill my chickens.
Do any of you have any ideas? Leroy had been abused before we got him so taking him to a shelter is just a death sentence. I don't want to have to put him down, but I have to protect my chickens and ducks and can't keep them penned up in their coop 24/7.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated as this is just so hard for me.
Leslie
Ah Farm Life - Wouldn't want to be anywhere else! |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Dec 26 2010 : 5:37:40 PM
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Our husky has killed some of my chickens and I work really hard at keeping them seperate. Afew weeks ago the hens were out and the dog some how got out of the house. Well I noticed her out right away and she walked right past the hens to come to me. I was hoping that she had out grown killing them but more likely she knew she shouldn't be out with them. The hens have a good sized fenced yard, and I let them loose on the property almost every day. I know that this isn't much help, could you call a local trainer for advice?
I am sorry you are having this issue and hope your able to keep Leroy. Good luck, Carol
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad!
Farmgirl #680! |
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Penny Wise
True Blue Farmgirl
1903 Posts
Margo
Elyria
OH
USA
1903 Posts |
Posted - Dec 26 2010 : 5:39:10 PM
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perhaps leroy needs a large kennel....somewhere where he is penned up away from the other animals but still has room for exercise and fresh air etc.....
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Dec 26 2010 : 8:27:49 PM
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how old is Leroy? Does he have time to still learn it is not ok.? you also have to remember dogs are dogs,so don't be hard on him. I would just keep them both in their own space. That has worked for me.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett
Beverley with an extra E...
https://sites.google.com/site/bevsdoggies/
http://bevsdoggies.blogspot.com/ |
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MotherLodeBeth
True Blue Farmgirl
110 Posts
Beth
Calaveras County
California
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - Dec 26 2010 : 9:14:34 PM
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How big of an area does the dog have? Dogs get bored if confined to one area all the time. Making sure the dog is walked or taken some place where he can run and burn off a lot of excess energy is a must. A dog may not intend to kill chickens/ducks but is energized by how they run like when someone throws a ball and they run to get it. Then there are dogs that simply have a killing gene and sadly need to be adopted by someone with a secure yard and NO other pets. Or put down.
MotherLodeBeth
~Was born in the wrong era~ |
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lilangelacres
Farmgirl in Training
18 Posts
Leslie
Newton
Iowa
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - Dec 27 2010 : 03:23:31 AM
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Thanks ladies.
Leroy gets walks and is in a very secure 10'x6' super strong dog kennel in the barn so he is protected from the weather. He has a dog house in the kennel with lots of cedar shavings and straw to help keep him warm in the winter. He has toys in his kennel to play with. It was my fault that he got out (which makes it even worse). I had put a wood pallet in his kennel to get his dog house up off the floor for more insulation. I had it too close to the side of the kennel and he was able to climb out. I know he was just being a dog and the chickens and ducks were great play things. They make such wonderful noises and flap their wings and can't outrun him. We are trying to come up with some ideas so that we don't have to put Leroy down. We are trying to find a good home for him, but are going to put some hog wire panels on top of his kennel so he can't climb out in the mean time. I truly love this dog and we did rescue him from a terrible situation so I really don't want to have to get rid of him. But, I love my chickens and ducks also and they free range during the day and are in the coop at night. They will be kept locked up until we get the top on Leroy's kennel and so they can heal. We have lost 4 so far and the male ducks are not doing as well as I would like. The rest of the hens appear okay so we will just have to wait and see. Leroy is 8 yrs old and about 90 lbs. We tried to have him in the house when we first got him, but he was already 4 and we just couldn't get him adjusted and any manners. He also got into a really bad dog fight ($800 of vet bills) with our lab shepard mix and that is when he became a barn dog.
Hopefully the top on his kennel will work - it is fun to watch him play in the pond and he so enjoys his walks/runs on our property.
Leslie
Ah Farm Life - Wouldn't want to be anywhere else! |
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rough start farmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
3331 Posts
marianne
The Beautiful Pacific NW
Washington State
USA
3331 Posts |
Posted - Dec 27 2010 : 04:58:19 AM
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Ah, hon
Good luck. It is a terrible thing to have to choose between loved ones.
Marianne |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Dec 27 2010 : 05:45:51 AM
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I feel for you in this situation. Been there, done that. I have to say, a 10x6 pen for a 90 pound dog is not enough space to keep him fit and exercised. In other words, it's not much of a life. Even with walks, he is not getting the stimulation he needs. But let's look at the big picture. When loose, he kills poultry, fights with the other dog, can't be in the house, and is living in a tiny pen that will soon have a top on it because he can climb out. For a highly social animal like a dog, this is alot like solitary confinement. If it were me, I'd move heaven and earth to find him a new, animal-free home. Maybe someone who does specialized training, like tracking, drug sniffing, etc. (Admittedly, he may be a bit old for the training) This dog needs a job, and a situation where he's with the handler 24/7.
Having said all that, I finally had to have a wonderful aussie euthanized last summer because he simply could not adjust to a life that included other dogs. I'd had him in a similar pen, even tried Prozac. He would break through wood fences to chase down and attack other neighborhood dogs. Finally, when he attacked his good buddy who grew up with him,I knew it was time. You try everything, and then if nothing works, you make the hard decision. Oh, and he had killed more than his share of chickens over the years. Nothing except electric fence stopped him. I feel bad for you, I know how it affected me. It's never easy to make these decisions.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts |
Posted - Dec 27 2010 : 09:28:05 AM
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there are specialized dog trainers around here some are associated with vets in the area. Maybe one coulod give you help in how to train him. I too am a big sucker for the needy and neglected.
Holly
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Barnyard Buddies: My heart is breaking |
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My heart is breaking
