5 out of 6 chickens dead

[RedfogsFlock]

Keene's coop :

no our chickens can not roam. they are penned. we actually stopped at the hardware store after the library to get a chain to lock the door better. but too late. now the lonely chicken is acting differently. she's lonely. trying my best to find her some friends close to her age

I am so sorry for you and your kids

You know they don't have to be exactly the same age. When that happened to us we got some a few weeks younger and they did just fine. We just had to bring them all back into the house for a bit. I would definitely call someone like you did so there's a record on file. Even if it wasn't her dog, there's a file showing that some where out there close is a dog with blood tendencies.

She is lonely since chickens are pack animals too. Wish I lived close to you I'd share!!! Do you have an incubator? I know I'm loaded with fertile eggs & maybe some others on here may be too.

 

[bobbi-j]

Since no one actually saw the dog in your yard harassing your chickens (your neighbor saw the dog chasing the chicken in her yard, right?) I would be very careful about accusing her dog of attacking your birds. It's been in your yard before without chasing them, right? I mean, without witnesses, it could've been YOUR dog as far as anyone knows. Not saying it was, just saying it COULD have been as far as the neighbor is concerned. Assuming it was the neighbor's dog, how did it get in your yard in the first place if you have a 6' fence? That should probably be addressed since other dogs could get in, too. I hope you and your neighbor can work this out peacefully.

 

[horsejody]

if you get new chickens and it happens again, tell the police that the new ones were livestock (unless livestock is prohibited in your area). The laws are usually harsher for dogs that kill livestock than for dogs that kill pets. In your eyes a pet is more valuable, but the law sees livestock as more valuable. Know the laws in your area, especially about roaming dogs. If it's legal to shoot the dog where you live, tell the neighbor that it's what you intend to do the next time it's in your yard. Even if you won't actually do it, it may scare her enough to keep the dog confined.

 

[True Grit]

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Until you get some new chicks I suggest you give the survivor a mirror to keep her company.

 

[Keene's coop]

i don't know for sure if it was her dog. it's a gut feeling. and all morning she was yelling at her dog to come back home cus the dog kept coming into my yard. and no my yard isn't fenced in. the fence is just along the my back yard and my other 2 neighbors. that's all. we've been having problems with their husky coming into my yard pooping and growling at us for over a year now. should have called the cops sooner. they told me if a dog leaves it's property without a leash, it's considered a "dog at large". she also told me if the dog crosses the fence to our side, call the police. so it's on record that the dog is "at large". like i said, not sure if it was there dog. but gut feeling tells me it was besides it coming over to my property and the dog tries attacking other dogs walking past their house on leashes. so. i don't know. anyway. found someone with older chickens. i just don't want to do the baby thing again. rather have them a little older.

 

[quinkerton]

I wish you lived closer, I lost all but 3 of my hens this spring from a fox attack and went a little crazy and bought 63 babies to replace the 9 that I lost! I would definately give you some, lol. I have never had a dog attack but I have had a neighbors dog in the yard (they have since moved). A good gun shot in the air does the trick, depending on where you live that is. I am surrounded by 50 acres on either side of me. I feel your pain though, coming home to find a yard full of bodies. But a good lesson to have been learned. Probably won't be the first time this will happen to you. Chickens are a tough pet to become attatched to. They are at great risk to predators of all kind, on the ground and air as well. Good luck to you and I hope your children are doing well.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Definitely call the appropriate authorities each and every time you see the dog in your yard. Take photos and/or video too. You have let this go on for far too long if this dog has growled at you even once in your own yard and there are leash laws that your neighbor is in violation of. I would also bag up her dog's feces and leave it on her front porch with a note that you observed her dog leaving it in your yard and that she is in violation of the law. In addition to leash laws, many communities also have laws specifying that dog owners must pick up after their dogs off their property (and some, like mine, even specify how often it must be picked up even on the owner's own property). Find a copy of each law your neighbor is violating (leash law and pick up law if applicable) and attach it to the not on the bag of feces.

If you can afford it, I would also invest in a sturdy fence around your own yard. Good fences make good neighbors, and with chickens a good strong fence to act as yet another barrier to predators such as dogs is always a good idea.

 

[speckledhen]

Boy, is she the Queen of Denial! Her dog is chasing the birds, but her dog didn't kill the birds? Huh?

The evidence is staring her right in the face. Oh, don't get me started on irresponsible dog owners.

 

[bakerjw]

I am sorry about your loss but if asked in the future say that they are livestock. Your kids may have named them and all but they are still livestock. There was a time when the loss of livestock could really put a hurt on a family. Livestock fed families and pets were more of a luxury item. Hence the laws regarding the killing of livestock are harsher than the killing of a pet. YMMV

 

[Keene's coop]

livestock thing is good to know. and yes the cop told me to call even if the dog just crosses the fence. the funny thing too is that they go for walks with this dog without a leash. so yea they still are denying it. so they got their first warning this year. next one is a fine and not sure about third. so i found a lady in our area who sells chicks. picking them up next week. my 7 year old is still crying. she'll be ok. our surviving hen is..... not doing so good. the only time she gets off the perch is to eat and drink. she won't even come for treats. we keep trying though. got some mirrors in there with her, but so far not working.

just very fustrated. i wish i could get the chickens sooner but the lady is out of town until monday night. so first thing tuesday morning. then i hope she feels better.