8 of 9 chickens squished in pen, one left in shock, HELP!

[Mtnlvnsweetpea]

Hi, I am new to the forum but have read around about other chickens being attacked. Our neighbors two dogs got loose and came to our brooder and jumped inside it from the top. They went in through the wire and were inside the box completely. I do not know how they fit as they are 160 pound dogs but my neighbor was the one who called my husband at work to tell him what happened. The dogs got stuck trying to jump out of the box and basically trampled all the chicks. They were 9 weeks old

! Two survived but one of the two was suffering so my husband put it down. The lone survivor is just standing doing nothing. The neighbor buried the dead ones and was very sorry the dogs got out. It is a super sad day for us. I held the survivor "Hope" for a long while and just talked to and consoled her. She slept on me which is unheard of as she is normally never still and especially would never be held. She has drank a little water and a few nibbles of food out of my husbands hand but otherwise just lays doing nothing. She does not appear to have any injuries but did survive under another chick who died and a small ledge. Those were what saved her. I think she is in shock as she saw her whole flock smooshed in front of her. Poor chicky! I have her in a small cat carrier inside the house with me tonight nearby so she can hear me talk to her, etc. Anything else I can do? What now? We are devastated and don't want to rush to get more chickens but also she will need a companion soon right? Wondering if we can just get laying hens instead of baby chicks this time. My husband was so upset as we have hand raised them this long and they were gone all at once. Thanks for any info.

 

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for losing most of your chicks. Giving the chick vitamin with electrolyte water may help, then when she is drinking, try some chopped egg and wet chick crumbles. She could have internal injuries or just be in shock. I would work on building a more secure brooder or pen, and try to get some new chicks to raise. Buying started chickens can sometimes be a real headache if they carry any infectious diseases.

 

[Mtnlvnsweetpea]

Thanks for the recommendations. Our brooder was screwed in and everything but the dogs were so heavy they broke right through the wire and all. The surviving chick are and drank today and was up walking around which is good. I cannot tell more about internal injuries but I feel she was just in shock. I worry if we start with new chicks that this older chick will kill them?