Two dogs kill 150 chickens
Monday 28th November 2011, 2:59PM GMT.
Farmer Alan Rabet with two of the 150 chickens that were killed
A FARMER has lost his main winter income after 150 of his chickens were killed by dogs at the weekend.
Most of the birds were killed by a Jack Russell, which dug a hole into the coop at Warren Farm and Noirmont on Saturday. Another Jack Russell waited outside the pen and killed several birds which flew over the fence. Only 20 chickens survived the attack.
States police have said that a dog walker found the slaughtered birds at 7.30 am yesterday morning, with the Jack Russell still inside the coop.
The man suffered a bite injury to his thumb as he and farmer Alan Rabet tried to capture the dog.
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The dogs should be destroyed. The suffering of the chickens must have been terrible.
Track down the owners and make them pay compensation.
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Did you actually say the suffering of the chickens must have been terrible? Assuming chickens are capable such complex reasoning I’m not sure I’d be able to pick from attack by dog or mechanised slaughter.
Certainly the dogs should be put down and the owner must pay compensation.
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Well, while not all chicken farms dispatch their flock humanely, its pretty typical for someone who has never raised chickens to assume they have no feelings, emotions and other ‘human’ setbacks. Any animal that has the ability to problem solve and has an obvious sense of ‘self’, can understand a fatal threat. Call it complex reasoning or not, I am sure those chickens knew their fate if caught by the dogs, (especially those witnessing their peers being torn apart)
Chickens are amazing creatures.
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Sir, not to be rude, I have several rescued hens that were attacked by a fox, an even a year later when I let them freerange with my other hens they were terrified of my shelty who protects them at night. They would jump an climb their way into trees everytime they saw him. Which is proof to me at least that they remember traumatic events in their life, and are capable of feeling fear.
To everyone else: As for the dog Do I think the dog should be killed? Absolutely not, the reason I say this is because the owner did not take the necessary steps to prevent their dog from running loose as it was an for not. The owner should pay for the farmers lost income an take a class on proper dog care.
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Interesting story about the hens that survived the fox attack. I’m still not sure about fear per say, were the chickens afraid, or were they simply acting on experience to escape a ‘predator’? Are we assigning a human emotion to an animal?
Your comment re: the dogs surprises me – the accepted wisdom seems to be that once a dog turns on livestock ( I’m thinking sheep admittedly) that it cannot be successfully rehabilitated, and hence must be destroyed. Or is that only for working dogs, would a pet be different? temptation only rarely being put in their way?
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No the dogs are not at fault here. Jack Russells are loyal, strong, fearless dogs but only 2 people are at fault here, the owner and the farmer. Dogs off lead, owner, Chickens not enclosed Farmer. Those dogs did what humans trained them too do. Get your facts right.
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Are you for real?? If you read the story properly, its states the dog DUG under the fence to get the chickens. The other dog was outside and killed the chickens that flew over fence to escape certain DEATH. Yes the dogs should be put down. Once they kill a chicken they will keep going back. Its instinct NOT trained! If their owner let them run once Ill bet they let them other times. Its NOT the fault of the farmer GET YOUR FACTS STRAIT!!!
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@John, I think you are Confused. The story stated that the dogs dug under the farmers fence. One went under and the other dog grabbed chickens as they flew over the fence to try to get away. These chickens were fenced in.
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We where up there on Saturday afternoon with the kid’s feeding those chicken’s.
Mr. Rabet was very welcoming and even went to make more feed for the chicken’s for us.
Very sad to hear this happened.
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Jack Russells are horrible things, get these two menaces put down and fine the owners heavily for not controlling them correctly.
My Lab/Collie managed to live happily alongside four chickens we had for a while with never even a batted eyelid as they cheekily walked through his legs, it’s all in the training and the respect they have for you as their owner.
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Totally agree with you. The dogs should be destroyed – humanely – and the owners made to compensate the poor guy who lost his chickens and the kind chap who helped.
Horrible story.
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Jack Russells are fearless loyal loving dogs, I have owned them most of my life, they are great with kids but will protect your property and your family, as soon as I tell my JR this person is a friend he / she wags tail and all is good.
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Do you mean to tell me it was not a Rottweiler, Pit-bull, Bulldog or Staffy – well no surprise there then, perhaps now people will realise the size of the dog is unimportant it’s down to the owner having responsibility!!!
Now we need someone in the States to urgently change the current regulations, no licence – no dog, no chip – no dog, no insurance – no dog, simple really if only someone would have the bxxls to do it!!!
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Here we go, straight away the anti-dog brigade jump in. I’m not a fan of jack russells, but these terriers were doing what man has selectively bred them to do,kill in a frenzy. Anyone watching them ratting can tell you how they kill. The stupid owner is entirely to blame for allowing this to happen. I hope all the parents who take their children to feed these chickens point out to them that they are going to be killed horribly anyway to feed people who insist on eating them, just the same as the cute little lambs and the little piglets!!!
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Yes Horace, these were animals raised for slaughter. However, dispatching is a quick death, not being chased, stressed and torn apart. Yes the dogs were selectively bred for critter control. Lets not get all PETA on the issue
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It absolutely is the instinct of jack russells to hunt and kill and the owners are responsible for not keeping their dogs under control. But if you knew anything about chickens you would know from the photo that those birds were very clearly layers, not meat birds. Obviously you have no clue what your food looks like other than being wrapped in a nice plastic package on a shelf. Not everyone raises birds solely for meat.
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Its a lot nicer to live a life as a chicken on a farm like this guy had than in a factory farm setting. Trust me. I raise chickens for eggs, breeding/showing/exhibition, and for meat occassionally. Usually though I just give or sell my extra roosters to others to eat. I’d rather eat a farm raised bird, that had an actual life on the ground, with good food, dirt to dirt bathe in, and not fed massive amounts of who knows what, and all the other atrocities factory raised animals must go through. 1 its healthier for people, 2 its obviously a nicer lifestyle for the animals, and 3 the animals were cared for, loved, given attention, and its just 1 bad moment of anything similar to suffering as opposed to a factory bird’s entire life. Same goes for any other meat animal. By the way, babies are always cute, but when they get big – not so much.
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Are you suggesting Jack Russells should not be kept has pets due to the fact they could turn on their owners at any time? We are not an anti-dog brigade, merely sensible people who can’t abide dog poo bags hanging off trees or littering country foot paths or unrestrained dogs killing chickens. And while you are tucking into Christmas dinner? will you tell your children about poor old Mr Turkeys end? besides little cute Lambs taste great with mint.
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I didn’t suggest these dogs can attack humans,, despite having watched many jrts bite their owners as they have never been taught their place, but due to their small size people think they are cute and are shocked when they behave like dogs.And to JMMR, i know exactly where my food comes from, as a vegetarian for 37 years, who has reared 4 children as vegetarians i have no sympathy for any farmers who earn a living from the death of creatures who have the same rights as we humans do. I also own dogs who were bred specifically and used by previous owners to hunt and kill anything smaller than a deer, i am responsible for them now and i would never give them the opportunity to do this. It’s all about responsible ownership. P.S i do clean up after my dogs.
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Horace, apparently you totally missed my point, these birds were LAYERS meaning they are for eggs not meat. Meat birds are most commonly a cornish x rock and are genetically designed to produce a maximum amount of meat in a minimum amount of time. Those birds go to slaughter usually around only 6-12 weeks and generally cannot live longer than a year as their bodies cannot handle their immense weight. You said you were a vegetarian not a vegan so I’m assuming you eat eggs? Birds raised in a farm setting are a lot healthier and more active than birds raised in a factory farm setting and therefore produce healthier eggs and meat. Most store bought eggs are produced in factory farms where the birds are kept in battery cages and the eggs are anything but fresh. It seems as though this farmer was just trying to make some extra income selling farm fresh eggs when his flock was nearly destroyed. It’s really too bad that you can have so much hate in your heart for a man you neither know nor understand the intentions of.
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No 3 No Jack Russells are not horrible things. They are Dogs and it is the owners of Dogs what ever breed they are who are responsible for their animals.
I have three dogs including A Jack Russell and they were taught not to chase,Cats,Rabbits,or Chickens.
It all starts with training, if you want to see how it works not with dogs but with children who grow up to mistreat animals, go to the Royal Square and watch how children aged 3 to 7years and older are left to try and kick and chase the Pigeons while the parent thinks its funny. I do not.
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totally agree with you!
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There are people still letting their dogs off the lead at the headland at Devils hole where the protected sheep are. Despite there being big signs on the gate saying…
DOGS MUST BE KEPT ON A LEAD.
How stupid can some people be. SNAFU!
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Was one of the dogs named BENSON!!?
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no, he was FENTON!!!!!!
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Benson? Fenton? I can see why the dog ran away
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Benton!
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It is Fenton by the way !
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Here we go again. Lets bay for the blood of an dog being a dog when it is the OWNER that needs putting down!
I am sickened for the farmer but why do you want the dogs putting down, it is ignorance that makes these sort of comments.
CMC your lab/collie is probably fantastically trained and well done, but I wonder if out of your sight and with its instinct being re awakened it would of ignore the chickens – who knows?!
Dogs are opportunist scavangers with no morals so dont get one if you cant be bothered to control one at all times.
The owner of these dogs should pay for 150 hens to be replaced and be fined. This farmer is doing fantastic work up Noirmont and it is lovely to see families out with their children enjoying the fresh air. Always someone to spoil it though.
ps, love the person who has highlighted the dog mess problem up Noirmon with their strategic placed notices – well done the States should imploy you as a warden
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I have 50 chickens and 3 dogs, a pitbull mix, a shepherd chow mix, and a purebred collie. The collie isn’t but 7 months old, and hes still learning, but the dogs have free range of about half the yard and the chickens have free range over my entire yard for atleast a few hours a day. I lost 2 chickens to my oldest 11 yr old pit mix, but that was years ago. once I re-trained her and got it drilled in her head, the oldest 2 dogs share food with the chickens without issue, and no I’m not usually around, but I watch them out the window. My dogs even know the difference between THEIR chickens and my neighbors chickens, because they will chase and even snap at the neighbor’s chickens. I also know that albeit how good mine are with their chickens, they HATE the neighbor’s turkeys and duck. if they got loose, and had the chance, I would not be surprised if they tried to kill them, but they wouldn’t go through the trouble of going through a fence or anything.
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Probably Cindy yes, but I have a bit of a brain, ie: I wouldn’t dream of letting him be out of my sight near anything like this! I think every dog owner will know, no matter how brilliantly trained and great you think your dog is, you should never fully trust any animal and should never leave it alone around children/other animals etc, that’s what they call responsible pet owners.
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Dogs out of control are becoming a problem, but it is their irresponsible owners who need disciplining,especially the ones who put their dogs faeces into a small bag and hang it on a bush like an all year round Xmas decoration for us all to enjoy (NOT),Queens valley is using security guards to stop these cretins letting their dogs run amok WHY? the law is quite clear about dogs being kept under control,over to you Connetables with the help of your Centeniers these selfish people need to be told that this island is for all of us to enjoy and not a playground come toilet for their animals and this must include the beaches.
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ALMOST ALL DOGS on the cliff paths have no leads, including where the sheep are around mourier. most owners couldn’t care less and nearly everyone i see is gossiping on their mobile phone. WHY DO WOMEN HAVE TO BE SO LOUD when they are out in the countryside? it’s like football commentary. no wonder their dogs/kids take no notice.
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SHOOT – SHOVEL – SHUT UP. Although I do agree that the owners need to pay retribution. But I also agree – because I like dogs – that it is the owner that needs put down. But unfortunately, if you were to shoot the idiot owner you would go to jail. So unfortunately, the dog is the one to pay the price…Well, I guess actually the chickens are the ones that paid the ultimate price.
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Look I am tired of hearing people get upset because animals act like animals. They are animals and they have no rights like a human being does. I am not for being cruel to animals but crap get educated people this is nature.
I have chickens and I lost about 20 to my Yorkie about a month ago. I had a decision to make about whether I wanted to raise chickens and have the dog. I chose to get rid of the dog by giving it away. I also ensured that I would not lose any other chickens to predators (which that is exactly what a dog is a predator). God made them that way.
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Sad situation. However I do not believe the dogs should be put down. The owner of the dogs should have to repay for the lost chickens, control his dogs in his own yard or find another home for them.
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The human Has the bigger brain, so its always our fault. The dogs should have been Trained properly and kept on their own property. The Chicken’s owner should have constructed predator proof fencing.
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They wouldnt have been slaughtered for a while since they are EGG LAYERS!
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As a Jack Russell owner those dogs only did what instinct told them too do. There are two people at fault here, the owners who did not control their dogs and the farmer who did not ensure his chickens were properly enclosed and safe. Those dogs are not too blame.
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You really need to put your glasses on and read the story again, it’s not the Farmers fault! The onus is on the lazy dog owner who felt it easier to let the dogs off the lead for a run, then actually keep them on the lead and walk with them.
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Honestly I think that we should be able to shoot dogs when they come onto your property. I have chickens and there are dogs all over my neighborhood. Most people keep them penned up but my closest neighbors don’t. If they really cared about their animals they would keep them locked up. I can see the occasional ” it got out of the fence etc.” but constantly it running around the neighborhood. The pitbull pinned my shits-zhu in the corner of my front porch. We have contacted animal control but they don’t do anything about it and we have told the owners repeatedly to keep their dog on their own property. I have lost so many chickens to the hawks and dogs. Some dogs are such a nuisance!!!! But it’s ultimately the owners fault. The dog should have to go to a training class and the owner should have to pay the expenses for the chickens and dog.
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Those people who think it is cruel to raise chickens for meat are entitled to their opinions, but the truth of the matter is that certain breeds of chickens are only comfortable living for a couple of months before the weight of their bodies makes their legs trembly and they are ready to go into the next phase – that of nourishing people. Most farmers who raise and nurture poultry dispatch the birds with respect and compassion, as quickly and cleanly as possible. The experience is in absolutely no way comparable to being chased and terrorized by untrained, undisciplined, wild brat dogs, the indulgence of selfish, cruel, thoughtless, inconsiderate human morons who must be paid to pay dearly for the loss and misery of these chickens. Furthermore, these idiot dog owners should never again be allowed to possess another canine.
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Ok, going to catch an ear full from this. I have had over 100 birds killed by neighbors dog. Some fly in their yard, some te dog gets in mine. Animal control gives me run around. Called cops and thought it was funny, when the dog came up to them with chicken in his mouth. Law is any dog/cat has to be on a leash, when outside. If an animal come in your yard, and you’re in fear or protecting your property. You have the right to kill/defend yourself. So, put it this way. I haven’t lost a chicken lately. Now that Texas Law..
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This is a terrible tragedy and the owner is entirely responsible but it highlights a bigger issue. There is absolutely no enforcement of the existing dog laws. Dogs are routinely let off leash on the beaches during the summer months after the 10am cut off point. Dog owners allow their dogs to foul beaches and footpaths and don’t pick up.
I’m a dog owner myself and the pooh bags cost a penny each, there is no excuse for not using them. There are protocols that these people seem entirely oblivious to, if you are going to let your dog off lead then first establish recall, if you can’t call your dog back then don’t let it off lead, they need basic training they are not born knowing how to obey.
Increase toe cost of a license, say £50, have all dogs ID chipped, make pet insurance with liability cover mandatory, this will dissuade casual ownership. Insist on a half day training course for new owners, last but not least name & shame owners who allow their dogs to foul. Think about it those most likely to step in dog pooh are other dog owners who walk the same routes, I’#m sick and tired of getting dog sh*t on my boots because some lazy bas*ard can’t be bothered picking up after their dog. How about a name & shame website where we can post pics of offending dogs & owners.
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this guy lost a contract to supply eggs, and his 150 chickens, let alone the time it took to clear it all up and his broken fencing too. He reckoned 4k loss. I agree, the owners should pay due to not having the dogs on leads or being supervised, but they shouldnt be put down, theyve only done what comes naturally to some dogs.
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I agree with the more sensible comments here along the lines of the dogs only doing what comes naturally. They should most certainly not be put down, but agree that the owners should take more care and potentially pay for the farmers losses.
I do not undestand the certainty with which some people claim to understand animals but Jacqueline, I agree with you completely.
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If the owners of these dogs are reading these posts they need to be very aware that the minute these dogs escape or get away from you THEY WILL GO STRAIGHT BACK FOR ANOTHER KILLING SPREE. They must never be let off a lead or allowed to go anywhere unaccompanied again for the rest of their lives. Once a dog has killed it will always want to do it again.
I speak from experience after over a dozen attacks on my own chickens, and the worst thing is that the owners are all very sorry at first, offering compensation or to replace the chickens etc, but they never do pay up and the dogs will always escape and come back to kill again.
It is not the dogs fault, they are following their instincts, but the stupid morons that own them.
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Simple solution, four legs on a dog and only two on a chicken, think about it, they do in Asia.
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Being a chicken raiser ( have 11 plus 4 ducks), we have had an attack by a dog that killed one of our babys, and I will tell you this, the owner of the bulldog couldnt get a clue as to WHY she tried to kill 3 and actually killed one of ours AFTER she had killed their entire flock of 10.She copped an attitude that I told her that the dog needed to be put down because she would continue to do what she does as human nature now.This lady and her hub is my neighbors and their property backs up to ours and has caused caos galore..Smarten up Dogs owners,get a CLUE..If they attack you or any other living thing( ecept another dog protecting you) they are a nuisance and should be dealt with as such..i will also add we have a rat terrier and scotty that have not a problem with all the chickens and have videos also on youtube(econorob66)of them as they are together…Comes down to responsibility of the animal owner( dogs and chickens)..Just sayin:-)
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The owner is to blame and he should compensate the farmer. We had an experience last Xmas morning – went out to feed birds and found a hunting dog (that we later found out the owner would just turn loose to hunt Coyotes) inside of our barn killing our waterfowl. He had already been in the other pen and killed all of the chickens. He had ripped a chain link gate off the hinges which was attached to the barn then once inside broke into the interior cages which were those portable puppy pens with tops and were nice heavy metal held closed with 2 heavy clips. Clips were broken and pens were bent up. It was like a scene from a horror movie. Husband ran back to house to get gun and when returned the dog turned at him and growled and that was it – dog was taken care of. Found out IL law states that it is OK for a farmer or anyone else to kill a dog that enters your property and is killing your livestock but if it is “just” threatening you you don’t have the right to kill it – again the wonderful government at work. I guess you have to wait until it tears you apart! We were OK since the dog had a duck in it’s mouth and we saw it killing. Needless to say – our birds were properly locked up that night but still the dog got in. People need to be responsible pet owners and it is getting out of hand.
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If the second dog was seen waiting outside the fence where it, apparently, killed several birds as they flew over the fence, then why didn’t the person watching stop it happening?
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make it a requirement for all dogs to be microchipped and have an owner who accepts responsibility for them.
all this talk about how Jack Russells are bred to kill. Well, who in Jersey needs a dog that is bred to kill? If they want one they should accept the risk. So, compulsory microchipping, on the spot fine of £500 for any person looking after a non-chipped dog and all microchips registered to an owner.
Job done.
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The owners should be fined a decent amount to act as a deterent to others.
They should also pay compensation to the owner for the loss of the flock plus all other costs and also pay money for the inconvience caused.
A simple solution is for dog owners to put a muzzle on their dogs if they are letting them off the lead then they can’t bite things.
Once a dog gets a taste for blood it will want more.
I would have to ask how long did it take to kill 150 chickens and didn’t the owners notice this was going on and why didn’t they intervene to stop the blood bath?
A name and shame policy might also act as a deterrent.
Finally I would have thought that a farmer would be within their rights to shoot any dog found attacking their livestock.
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I frequently work with Jack Russell Terriers, and while the breed does get into mischief, I’m very surprised that would actually kill a chicken. While Jack Russell Terriers naturally chase prey, they are not trained to kill. Something must be terribly wrong with the owners of these two dogs to behave this bad.y.
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make the owner do 1500 hours community service, £1500 fine, and pay FULL COST to farmer.
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I have to start by saying that I hate dogs. I can’t stand the things and as far as I am concerned the world would be a much better place without them. Give me a cat any day. Having got that off my chest, to my amazement I actually find myself on the dogs side here. Firstly the States allow a farmer to set up a chicken farm on a public headland where it is known that people exercise their dogs. You can tell this by the amount of dog poo around the area. Then secondly the farmer, to protect his chickens puts up a fence apparantly made of some flimsy orange plastic netting. This is hardly going to keep out a dog that by it’s nature is a chicken killer. You can’t blame the dogs for this one unfortunately
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What would happen, I said what would happen, if 150 chickens were to kill 2 dogs?
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I believe it would be what is known as a youtube hit
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the real tragedy is the economic loss to the farmer and if everyone is so concerned about that lets all send him £10 each to replace his flock otherwise stop moaning it is only a bunch of chickens.
Most of us will eat battery eggs and cheap frozen chicken meat from birds that have lived and died in terrible conditions often part of their diet is the minced flesh of their fellow birds that die before they are slaughtered.
Death by Jack Russell is usually fairly quick as they are bred to quickly kill vermin in farmyard situations. What strikes me is the intelligence and the fact they worked together to maximum effect. You can imagine one dog saying to the other ‘Right I’ll go inside and start a frenzy of killing, you get those that escape ok? woof!’
an old but effective way of stopping a dog from killing birds once it has offended (apart from killing the dog) is to tie the dead chilken or goose or whaever around the dog’s neck like a collar for a day or so. The dog hates this and will not reoffend. I suppose it might not work with a Jack Russell if you were an Ostrich farmer as they are rather large, but there again not many Jack Russells will take on an Ostrich and win ………
I think these dogs are misunderstood and probably require councelling or community service, anyway which one was the ring leader?
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I feel sorry for those whom cannot train their dogs off the leash and just use them as comfort companions or show dogs.That’s the fault of the owner,not the dog,whom is controlled by keeping him or her on a lead or life.I have a working dog,almost always off the leash, whose life is purposefully enriched by pointing pheasant and rabbits and he could easily spend the night in a chicken run, without attacking a single chicken.And yes, he never poos on a path! All said, owners of dogs whom kill chickens or worry sheep, etc., should be held responsible for their dog’s actions.
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Wise man say; he who has dogs that kill fowl have no eggs for breakfast but will sleep on bed of feathers
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