During fledgling season, my beagle kills about a bird a day. Should I....

[MidwestMomma]

Poll question: During fledgling season, my beagle kills about a bird a day. Should I....

This is my first poll...be kind :)

[MisterP]

1. go for the Hannibal mask (but not the pigs)

I take care of wild birds, and pets put a big pressure on the birds.
By the way, the actor playing Buffalo Bill in "Silence of the Lambs" later plays--wait for it--Captain Stottlemeyer in "Monk."

[MidwestMomma]

4. I'll try to order one tomorrow

I wonder if they have those at Petsmart?

:D

Thanks for voting!

[mopinko]

2. put a bell on him/her?

got a couple of hunters myself. it's hard. my rat terriers ate several of my budgies. i worked on using them for a distraction with stays, and gave them the most severe correction possible when they so much as looked at them. i can't really let the budgies out any more.

[MidwestMomma]

5. They ate your pet birds?

That's so sad.

Who knew dogs were so crazy about birds?

[mopinko]

10. gross too

i have a flock of about 50 budgies. they busted into a cage, and ate 4 of them in one shot. 2 of them i only found the heads and feet.
i knew, but i needed a mouser. rat terriers are supposed to be the best about sticking to the vermin, and not bothering other small animals. and at least with a dog, as opposed ot a cat, you have a prayer of training them.
i have three, and 2 are killers, and the other one is a lazy couch potato. she was never interested. one very tame bird used to bite her on the nose.

[Schema Thing]

3. Try saying "Bad Dog!" That's just my intuition speaking though

I'm no dog expert.

[cags]

6. That poor lady, she got everyone to joke about killing birds. HAHAHAHA

[progmom]

7. you just made me laugh out loud

which is great, except it'll prolly wake up my kid. :mad:

[MidwestMomma]

8. Sorry about the kid

But glad I made you laugh :)

[progmom]

9. he's still sleeping, so we're ok

but don't do it again!


:bounce:

[Kat45]

11. That's terrible.

Those poor wittle birds. I love birds. :-(

[carpetbagger]

12. Depends on the types of birds.

I'd say that if it's a native bird, especially one declining in numbers, try to protect them, and the favorable habitat that allows their breeding.

If they're "pests", meaning the imported European type that are crowding out native birds (e.g. Starling, House Sparrow, Rock/"city" Pigeon), let Fido try to control their numbers.

[MidwestMomma]

13. Mostly starlings...

So maybe I shouldn't feel so bad?

She did get a couple of robins though. That was really sad. Are robins endangered?

I try to tell myself that the fledgling stage is part of the 'survival of the fittest' stage of bird life. But still, I've never had a dog like her before.