Chicken verse dogs

So in total since we have started a flock we have lost nine hens to our two dogs we have two fence off areas one for the chickens and one for the dogs. I have clipped the chickens wings to keep them from flying and put chicken/horse wire over the original cattle panel. We lost another hen this morning the brought the total up to nine. We at a loss as to what to do next the dogs we have are mutts that have bird hunting dog in them which makes this harder they have only eaten on chicken out to the nine the rest they just break their necks and leave them. The other issue is if the chickens get out of the fence off section the cows (one mainly) will chase said chicken into the dogs yard. But how the hell are they getting out. I have cut both primary and secondary feathers on one wing, could they still be flying? And if not i assuming the only other way is there might be a hole we have to find.

I have a dog that is also a hunting dog mutt. He will break the necks of the mourning doves when he gets the chance but he's learned to love the chickens. At first it was tough but what we do is we make the dog sit and hold the chicken in front of it face and, I know this sounds bad. When you scold him you will hit his snout gently and he does not like it. So while the chicken we make a jabbing motion with it to his face but not touching him so he feels as if he's being scolded. From there on out he sees the chickens as something not to mess with and now he free ranges with them every day and we have never had the slightest problem. Hope this helps

Sorry for your loss.

Here are some thoughts/options that come to mind:
* search the fence very thoroughly again and look for any place the chickens could escape
* Make sure you also cover the top of their run so they can not fly out
* You might want to NOT clip their wings. If their wings are not clipped, at least they will have a better chance of using their wings to help them get away from the dogs.
* You might want to consider using something other than chicken wire on your run, perhaps 1/2" hardware cloth would be a better option
* secure your dogs better so they do not have potential access to your chickens
* You can also work on training your dogs to leave the chickens alone even if they are bird dogs. Try using BYC to search "dog killing chickens" and you will come up with many threads including this one: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700017/how-to-train-your-dog-not-to-kill-chickens
* as a last resort, either get rid of the dogs or get rid of your chickens

Good luck!

I have to try this once i can catch the jerks. They know when i come outside if they gotten a bird to hide i just yell at them so far but **** it they got a laying hen today and that just set me over the edge. We have to fence off under the house to make sure they cant get to close to the chickens fence line. I love those dogs but i also love our chickens.

The chickens are free ranging in a half an arce so putting netting over that is out of the question. I
And on the training they are sti very much puppies and have very little attention span. I gotten one to do all my commands the other will ingore said commands besides drop it or leave it. Its when we arent outside that it happens. And the only other issue we have is that like i said they are still puppies and that could be part of the problem and part of the reason none of my training has helped and plus i been put on bed rest(6months pregnant ) and my husband has had to take over (these are his first dogs so that could be a issue as well sadly) and our dogs dont really listen to him they listen better to our two year old then him sadly. Trying to train him is harder the a dog lol. Trying to figure out if the fence is lacking or if they could still fly honestly unt i have this baby training might be out. My husband and i are arguing about how you clip their wings whether it be one (my opipion since its suppose to unbalance them) or his verson of both wings.

Either break your dogs of their chicken habit, or put your chickens in dog proof tractors.

Breaking them of the bad habits can be done, and the firmer and harsher you are about making the point that chickens are off limits, the fewer chickens you will lose.

It sounds harsh, but my dad used to beat chicken killing dogs with their victims. It never had to be done twice to the same dog.

That sounds more gross. Eww weak stomach i dont know if my husband will be able to do that i think perfecting the fence will be our best option. mostly if he cant do that i cant hit them beside spanking we see what works.

Well unfortunelty until you can train the dogs to see your chickens as part of your pack you are going to put them in a run.. Training a puppy is hard work... Takes a lot of time but well worth it. Disclaimer some dogs can't be trained. My experiences are different cause I trained my dogs at an older age after extensive socializing as a pup. I have a big American pitbull and a mutt and they reward me by protecting my flock but I put in hours and hours of training the dogs to be around my girls... Holding them up to their face... Correcting every move including liking... Hours everyday when they were first born to being put in our yard. Now I have on big flock of 8 hens, I rooster, two tortoises, two dogs. They all lay and sunbathe together without supervision... But until that happens they need to be completely caged. Sorry for your losses..... It's worth the hard work if the dogs are capable... If they aren't... Lock them up in a run and do supervised free ranging on your free time.

Also in my experience... Don't hit the dogs as a correction... Get their attention. I look at oly girl and say no and do a large noise with touch to get her attention during extreme measures... I give them lots of love. My pit bull can walk the neighborhood staying slightly behind but beside me without a leash... I never do that cause so many are scared of big dogs.

With these two i havent had much time for training between my very much in to everything two year old and now the bed rest thing. Its fallen on my husband who for lack of better words isnt versed on dogs at all he has a cat that he a jerk (said cat loves the chickens and protects them along with our other cat but he pees on everything) its mostly training him and getting the time to train them that part of the issues when we first got the chicks i worked with them but i got pregnant and due to early labor i cant keep up with it. (They are very much like my daughter on the energy level i took them to the vet for their shots and started having contractions from all the excitement from them) they arent bad dogs just hyper and very low attention span on one of them. Once January hits i be able to work with them again hopefully until then for my husband it be the fence. I dont like the ideal of rehoming either animals because of my two year olds fondness for either. Her dogs and her are best buds and her and the rooster are best friends. So yeah.