All chickens killed but one escaped. Heartbroken.

[The Moonshiner]

Sounds like a dog to me.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[FrostRanger]

Since you have larger predators, I'd do a welded wire fence with hardware cloth surrounding it. The hardware cloth will stop small predators from reaching in and the welded wire will be strong enough to stand up to dogs. You'll also want to do a wire skirt around to stop digging predators. Adding a cover is optional but is helpful for preventing hawk attacks. You can get some design ideas in the coop and run section of the forums

 

[TOMTE]

I feel terribly guilty. I thought I was being safer because I didn't let them free range unsupervised but I guess I was wrong.

It can happen to any of us at any time. I'm very lucky that I haven't lost one of my girls yet with all of the predators around here. There have been two hawk attacks, that I know of. Realistically, I know that losses are going to happen. Emotionally, that's another story. I love my girls.

Feel sad but don't feel guilty! Turn that guilt into determination to keep your remaining chicken safe, she still needs you!

 

[lafinestra66]

Does anyone know how to care for my survivor? My normal vet is booked until next Tuesday. I called other avian vets in the area and no one will see new patients or is booked up. She has a puncture wound in her back. I cleaned it last night and sprayed it with Veterycin wound spray. It's scabbing over today but it's a bigger wound than I am used to dealing with. She also won't really stand or walk around much. She wont eat or drink. Any help or advice is appreciated.

 

[lafinestra66]

It can happen to any of us at any time. I'm very lucky that I haven't lost one of my girls yet with all of the predators around here. There have been two hawk attacks, that I know of. Realistically, I know that losses are going to happen. Emotionally, that's another story. I love my girls.

Feel sad but don't feel guilty! Turn that guilt into determination to keep your remaining chicken safe, she still needs you!

Yes, I was always very aware of the hawks because I saw them often in my yard and had hawk netting over their run. But I wasn't expecting a big predator. I think it was someone's dog in the area.

 

[TOMTE]

Does anyone know how to care for my survivor? My normal vet is booked until next Tuesday. I called other avian vets in the area and no one will see new patients or is booked up. She has a puncture wound in her back. I cleaned it last night and sprayed it with Veterycin wound spray. It's scabbing over today but it's a bigger wound than I am used to dealing with. She also won't really stand or walk around much. She wont eat or drink. Any help or advice is appreciated.

Go through these articles, super helpful!

 

[FrostRanger]

Does anyone know how to care for my survivor? My normal vet is booked until next Tuesday. I called other avian vets in the area and no one will see new patients or is booked up. She has a puncture wound in her back. I cleaned it last night and sprayed it with Veterycin wound spray. It's scabbing over today but it's a bigger wound than I am used to dealing with. She also won't really stand or walk around much. She wont eat or drink. Any help or advice is appreciated.

She might be in shock. Bring her inside is a warm, quiet area. Can you post pictures of the wound?
@Eggcessive can you help?

 

[lafinestra66]

She might be in shock. Bring her inside is a warm, quiet area. Can you post pictures of the wound?
@Eggcessive can you help?

Yes, I think she is in shock. I've had her in the house with me in a small dog kennel since yesterday. She is wrapped in towels. I'm keep calling other vets and hope someone can see me today or tomorrow

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Offer her water with sugar 1 tsp per 8 ounce cup, up to her beak in a small cup or tuna/cat food can. Mix a small amount of her usual feed in a little water like oatmeal and offer that. Keep her warm. For her wound, spray the Vetericyn twice a day on it, and Neosporin ointment would be good to apply then. Deep wounds may get infected, so the Neosporin can help. Depending on whether or not she has any internal injuries, hopefully, she will recover. A dog may have killed the chickens, but raccoons are one of the worst predators, even in a suburban neighborhood. Good suggestions for a run are heavy welded fencing covered by 1/2 inch hardware cloth wire, but I urge you to cover it with a roof since raccoons and other animals can climb over runs.

 

[Luv Ducks]

Sorry for your loss. Offer her water with sugar 1 tsp per 8 ounce cup, up to her beak in a small cup or tuna/cat food can. Mix a small amount of her usual feed in a little water like oatmeal and offer that. Keep her warm. For her wound, spray the Vetericyn twice a day on it, and Neosporin ointment would be good to apply then. Deep wounds may get infected, so the Neosporin can help. Depending on whether or not she has any internal injuries, hopefully, she will recover. A dog may have killed the chickens, but raccoons are one of the worst predators, even in a suburban neighborhood. Good suggestions for a run are heavy welded fencing covered by 1/2 inch hardware cloth wire, but I urge you to cover it with a roof since raccoons and other animals can climb over runs.

Coons here in Ohio only attack during the night hours. I lost two of my prize ducks to one recently. I since then went to Tractor Supply and bought their welded wire Chicken pens, 5 of them and hooked them altogether to keep them safe. I put no dig barriers around the pen and hopefully they will all be safe now. Dogs will do just exactly what happened to these chickens. They will kill for fun. Also a Coon usually eats the entrails of the attacked animal as there was nothing left of my Wood Duck hardly and my Khaki Campbell had all of its insides eaten out. I am so sorry this happened to you and we do learn from our mistakes. I had mine for 4 years before this happened and trusted my Nite Guard lights on all sides of the pen but this Coon wasn't scared off by them. I hope your one survives.