Wwyd?

I'd say you have the right to shoot his dog if it comes pestering, and he has the right to free guineas for dinner. Sounds like you have the short end of this stick

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According to several people I know, dog is good eating.

Best way to catch guineas is with a very large live trap, for what it's worth, or you can herd them into an enclosure made with bird netting. If you have a good working herding dog, that helps. You can also start feeding them in a stall or shed and then close the door when they're used to going inside. Guineas like high protein feed -- cat food is a favorite.

If you try to catch them by hand, don't grab them by their legs like you do a chicken -- you can dislocate their hips. BTDT, had guinea for dinner.

Whatever way you choose, it won't be easy. Guineas are incredibly stupid and somewhat suicidal, but they are alert and fast.

As far as the neighbor's dog -- if it's not a threat to your animals, I'd let things be. Some things are just not worth the fight with the neighbor. If the dog gets killed, well, the neighbor was warned. OTOH, if there was ANY chance that the dog was a threat to my animals, I'd SSS the sucker. (Dog? What dog?)

A beagle isn't much of a threat to a cow. I don't know what your cattle are like, but if a beagle went after the range cattle around here, the cattle would end up chasing the beagle!

I know dogs are a touchy subject. I personally am not real tolerant of large loose dogs, and the moment they show ANY aggressive behavior and assuming they're big enough to be a threat, I will deal with them if the owner doesn't. I've lost my share of animals to dog packs, and do not underestimate them. However, a beagle is not high on my list of dogs that I worry about, particularly if it's beagle vs. cow. Beagle vs. poultry or beagle vs. small goats might be another story. (True story -- a neighbor's cocker spaniel tried to eat my goats. I had some very large wethers that I used for packing at the time. They were not afraid of dogs. They broke the cocker's hip. The cocker ended up a tripod, and that solved that problem.)

Dog issues can be so very situation dependent. Where I used to live, a pack of pits -- loose, not strays -- killed a ZEBRA. Zebras have a kick that makes a mule look like an easy target. And then a few years later, stray dogs killed a WOMAN who was in her own yard, and shortly after that, another pack attacked kids at a bus stop. So my tolerance for loose large breed dogs is extremely limited. I've lost six goats, turkeys, multiple dozens of poultry, and had thousands in vet bills for the survivors after various dog attacks. *I* was threatened by an akita and friends once.

OTOH, where I live now, there's quite a few dogs who are allowed to run loose. The dogs in question don't bother me in the slightest. They're all well behaved, zero threat, and have responsible owners who keep an eye on them. This community is tiny, with maybe twenty homes and there are lots of free range kids and dogs on the weekends. (Some of the homes are vacation/summer/weekend homes.) It's almost like a paradise here, compared to where I used to live.

Much to my amazement, most people here believe in obedience training. It's not that unusual for neighbors to come visiting WITH their dogs trailing along, and our dogs are delighted to get a chance to play with their doggy friends while we hang out on the porch. (I suspect our just-completed and well fenced pasture may quickly become the local dog park as soon as we get the grass growing good! LOL.)

It all depends on the situation, and the dogs and people in question. I've come to the conclusion I like dogs, I don't like shooting dogs, I don't like angering neighbors, and I will only SSS a dog when no other option is available. OTOH, I love my own animals and if SSS is the best solution, I can and have done that. I just feel terrible every time I do.

Guinea's wouldn't bother me, and the dog(even if it did bother me)the law in Mo. is dogs have free range,unless they are actually attacking livestock...One lawyer here paid 5000$ for shooting another lawyers hound that was just crossing his field..

I'd shoot a free range dog because I like my poultry better than I like someone's loose pet. Of course I've got big dogs so I'd probably let them go teach it a lesson first. Guineas for tick control is all well and good. They do also eat plants. I've had guineas and experienced that first hand. I don't like guineas actually. So I'd be annoyed at both personally. Think you're being a bit dramatic myself. If your cows can handle themselves then let them handle this dog. Problem solved.

I dont think free range birds is a good idea. I dont want other people birds coming to my place what if they have some sickness then my birds get it. and i dont what the other peoples poop, or screaming birds in my yard.

Just make sure you dont get caught ! I was batting a 1000 until last week . I have people all around that let them run any time and any place.

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I don't think the free ranging guineas should be allowed to wander and if they bother the neighbor, then you need to do something/anything about that. As for the dogs roaming the neighborhood (and I live not too far from your area, also a transplant) and if there were dogs running in with my cows, as long as they aren't hurting anything - let it be. You need to be a good neighbor to have a great neighbor. And, if their dogs get stomped on? Well, you warned them.

Also, BTW, we have SSS on occasion when the neighborhood dogs hurt our chickens. It's our right as a property owner here. The first time, we shoot over their heads. If they come back, they don't leave. Farming rule #1.

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So if I get this right.... My "free to roam and poop everywhere on everyones land and porches" guineas are just fine as a frogs hair split 3 ways.... in spite of their blood curdling shrieks at all hours.... but the neighbors need to tie up their dog?

Swat I thought... What would I do? I would get my own critters contained and under control before I started bellyachin about a neighbors dog who is protecting YOUR home from burglars and wild animals too.

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Yep, I see his point. He's been putting up with your screaming birds all over his yard and you want to complain about a little beagle. He thinks his dog isn't hurting anything and doesn't understand why you complain. You think your birds don't hurt anything and don't understand why he complains. You and your neighbor have more in common than you think!

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Living Large Down on the Farm.

If memory serves, we even played nice and asked the neighbors (the ones we are across from) whether they minded or no about running the birds before we even got them. At the time, no one had a problem with it...and as I said before, the ladies seemed to like not having to detick the laundry or the kids. None of them have indoor/outdoor animals. The one hubby is the one that all of a sudden has developed an issue. And, other than catching the dog as a pup at our place and tying him back on the porch (no one home most of the time)....I think maybe I've said something two or three times about the stinking dog. Once when picking up all the dog-tore up trash out of the pasture (directly across from their driveway), and a couple times when he's been running around out and through the pasture. Baying all the time. The cows eyeballing him (at least they were when it was daytime when that happened) the whole time.

They are rather quiet at night actually, they go up into the barn at dark. You might be thinking of peafowl, Yvonne's hubby. I'm guessing you've never had random dogs running around your property barking and baying at 3am have you? The free ranger dogs get the other dogs in the area that actually have owners that care about them and use kennels or such if they arent inside pets barking and howling. The coyotes usually dont get so close to the house, but free range pets tend not to shy away from people structures.

And the neighbor does not even attempt to constrain the beagle. The other dog is chained 99% of the time, except when it breaks loose. When that happens, I take it back over and reconnect the chain or tie it up with something to hold it to the chain (usually was a broken link)....and usually give it water since most of the time when it breaks loose there is no food or water in evidence back at the tree.

So far, as I said, I don't think the beagle has gotten stupid enough to try bothering the cows.

And, again in my opinion, at least bird poo biodegrades quicker and doesnt seem to be on the same level of quantity and noxiousness as the dog poo that is all over our yard.

Maybe I should look at getting a dog or two again myself....Great Danes are the best. Wouldnt free range those of course....but I do know of someone that does. Danes are house puppies.

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Cygnet, I don't think a/the beagle would be able to harm one of the full grown cows....a little concerned he could possibly hurt one of the calves, but if he did manage to get that stupid that'd be the last mistake he'd make, momma cow or the bull would make sure of that.

More thinking that he'd get them running to chase him.....over or thru the fence. 6 strand high tensile, 3 hot. We've had to round up cows that got spun up (not by dogs tho) and went on walkabout, when we got our first few cows. That is not fun by any means, and I'd prefer not to repeat that experience if at all possible. And if someone gets hurt by a loose large livestock, I'm liable.

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

SpaceCadet, you're receiving some really great advice, but the critical point that has been made by so many other posters seems to be bouncing off your "Me First!" helmet. You can argue all you want about how beneficial your guineas are and how worthless his dog is, but it's irrelevant.

The self-righteousness trap is a big, deep pit, and it looks as if you've fallen in face-first.

The bottom line is that you both have animals that range onto each other's property. It doesn't matter if he personally told you he liked the idea of guineas managing the ticks last week or even the day before yesterday. It wouldn't matter if his dog's feces was radioactive, and your guineas pooped diamonds and laid golden eggs. Once you complained about his dog, and he mentioned your free-ranging birds, he put you in rhetorical check. You have two moves to choose from: pen up your birds, or shut up about his dog.

Tell us some more about how great your birds are, and our answers will remain the same.

A good fence can keep a beagle out. I don't know enough about guineas to know how much of a fence it would take to keep them from going into that neighbor's yard. It seems like once good fence could solve both problems.

I raise a few head of calves every year here, currently have 5 calves on the ground, still waiting on the last one. My beagle/blue healer roams the neighborhood with several of the neighbors free roaming dogs. My dog will occasionally get in the mood to play with our cows.... I am amazed that he has not only survived, but thus far remains totally uninjured by them. Neighbors dogs meander around on our farm on a regular basis.... its just NOT an issue. I suppose I could make it one, and have a real feud going amongst the neighbors if I opted to, but I honestly prefer to have good relationships every chance I get. dogs come and go.... neighbors can be quite permanent.

ETA: I am familiar with both guinea's and peafowl. my personal preference to own would be the latter.... at least the males are pretty.

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

We have a neighbor, seems like a nice guy. Early this spring he called us worried that something had eaten his guineas. We didnt know he had guineas. We said we hadnt seen anything, neighbor doesnt live on the property and maybe gone several days in a row.

He was real upset about his guineas disappearing. None of our dogs EVER free range, they are afghan hounds and if they started running they wouldnt stop!!! So I wasnt totally sure why he was upset with us. We didnt see the guineas for quite awhile.

Then one of the first days it got warm guess what shows up from underneath our horse barn?? Yup you guessed it. Several guineas, several different sizes!!! Not sure how long they had been there but awhile. Now we have comunial guineas! Sometimes they are over here, sometimes over there. I really dont care and I guess he doesnt either! Oh well.
Alice in Virginia

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There is nothing any worse than an angry little old lady, they've had a lifetime to learn all the dirty tricks and people get upset if you hit them!

Guineas can fly alright, not necessarily really high altitudes, but would need to either have a good 6-8 foot tall fencing all around and/or clip wings. Walking seems to be their favorite mode of transportation though.

To keep the dog out I'd need to refence about 8-9 acres with woven wire. The 6 strand high tensile (3 hot) keeps cattle in nicely.

I know this is a scandalous, novel idea for some, but perhaps the dog owner should fence his yard to keep their dog in? We fence the pasture to keep our cattle in....

We've never approached dog-owning neighbors when birds disappear, or we find a dead one in the barn with carnivore excrement nearby. Could be dog, could be coyote. Killed a possum or two in the barn on occasion. Part of the risk of letting them roam for the bug patrol. Dont like losing them, but it is much cheaper and healthier to try and control bug population via more natural rather than chemical means. And we can catch up the grass when we mow and give it to the cows, when the yard area is not chemically saturated.

I know there's been some good advice, but there's been some uncalled for attitudes as well from a few. I guess where it may seem like Ive been me me me, perhaps Im old fashioned, but it used to be when people (especially neighbors) had an issue with another, you try to have a civilized talk with them....you dont just not say anything but nice to their face, and to their back you pitch a fit or just stew till it boils over. Guess thats what kind of bothers me. Yes, they didn't have a problem (so they said) at first....but at the point where that changed maybe they shoulda coulda been adults about it and mentioned something. People do change, its in our nature.

Yvonne's hubby, at least it is your dog playing with your cows. And meandering through is one thing, running and chasing stuff (but not cows yet, that we've seen) through is something different.

Far as I know, there's no feud....unless thats something else thats not being said. Don't care to have one.

Kind of sorry I was concerned about someone else's animal, when they don't seem to be. No worries.......besides, he goes down the road and around the corners quite a ways, maybe a mile or so in either direction (we've seen him that far away). The way the people drive on the main road, he'll be lucky if he survives the summer....our property has one of the curves of the main road on it. Tend to get at least one or two people a season plowing through the fence trying to land in the pond I think (the main road is one of the primary roads leading out from our moist county to the nearest point in the wet county you can buy liquor at).


Angie, if you are reading this, if you would go ahead and lock it? Heck, delete it if you feel its warranted. Thanks!

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Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons...for you are crunchy and good with ketchup!

I keep all my animals on my property. We won't have any problems if you keep your animals on your property, even the ones with beneficial quality's. Let your animals benefit your property.

Space Cadet, you are over reacting and are wrong. Of course, you and the neighbor are both wrong and 2 wrongs don't make a right. Contain your guineas and maybe then you'd have a leg to stand on.

You're the kind of neighbor I would avoid -

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