Are they just bad luck?

[Welshies]

It knows where to find food now, so even if you get rid of the quail chances are it will return. Hopefully you can figure out what it is and get rid of it for good somehow.

See, that's the funny part.
Last time it came, it demolished my 20 purebred show-quality Wyandotte chicks, and the 20 quail. Never visited after. 2 weeks later I recieved 5 grown up hens. Never visited them. No issues whatsoever. Even when free ranging (also, a side note- the coop is a quarter mile from the house.). Now, I suddenly get 5 quail and BOOM- predators everywhere.
I do have traps set. I caught my dog in one, but she likes to check up on things around the farm and I think the scent of the predator would attract her. I highly doubt she is the predator, because she is currently in the garage 90% of the time, nursing 10 puppies- and is also trained to not touch my birds. I was very clear on her training as she is a hunting dog, so I don't want her to mistake them for prey. As far as I can tell there are domestic dog tracks (hers), and wild canid tracks (what I assume to be the predator). I have a game camera set out.

 

[Danny C.]

Finally a day off today and early morning I heard kind of a shreak, even catching my dogs ear. I looked out the back at my very secure chicken coop that I have bobwhites in and a hawk was trying to get in. Obviously I went out and it flew off and watched from a power line for about an hour before it left. Was a Wow moment for me and here’s my coop’s picture.

 

[jak2002003]

See, that's the funny part.
Last time it came, it demolished my 20 purebred show-quality Wyandotte chicks, and the 20 quail. Never visited after. 2 weeks later I recieved 5 grown up hens. Never visited them. No issues whatsoever. Even when free ranging (also, a side note- the coop is a quarter mile from the house.). Now, I suddenly get 5 quail and BOOM- predators everywhere.
I do have traps set. I caught my dog in one, but she likes to check up on things around the farm and I think the scent of the predator would attract her. I highly doubt she is the predator, because she is currently in the garage 90% of the time, nursing 10 puppies- and is also trained to not touch my birds. I was very clear on her training as she is a hunting dog, so I don't want her to mistake them for prey. As far as I can tell there are domestic dog tracks (hers), and wild canid tracks (what I assume to be the predator). I have a game camera set out.

High chance it is your dog. When dogs are not with their owners, their training will often be totally forgotten.

One of my dogs won't touch any of my birds when we are there, and shows no interest in them. She will even let chickens snuggle on her back. However, if she goes out alone she has occasionally killed a chicken, and ripped into the quail run to eat the quails.

 

[Welshies]

High chance it is your dog. When dogs are not with their owners, their training will often be totally forgotten.

One of my dogs won't touch any of my birds when we are there, and shows no interest in them. She will even let chickens snuggle on her back. However, if she goes out alone she has occasionally killed a chicken, and ripped into the quail run to eat the quails.

Hmmm... interesting.
Well, all we can do now is to wait for those trail camera pictures. I doubt it is completely my dog. I understand what you are saying but she is very well trained, and is usually outside all the time- and there was no problems before this (only one incident a year ago).
I think there is her, and another wild canid. I could somewhat distinguish two different tracks among the many I saw. One was rounded, obviously hers. The other set I can see is very petite, slim.

 

[Chullicken]

Growing anything involves luck if people believe it or not, doesn't change nature. A lot of 'luck' can be created simply doing the right things like using the right kind of wire on a chicken run, predator proofing for your area and all that neat stuff. Curious though what your hutches are made out of if something is able to tear them apart? Certain materials as you know restrict certain things.

 

[Chullicken]

High chance it is your dog. When dogs are not with their owners, their training will often be totally forgotten.

One of my dogs won't touch any of my birds when we are there, and shows no interest in them. She will even let chickens snuggle on her back. However, if she goes out alone she has occasionally killed a chicken, and ripped into the quail run to eat the quails.

A really old timer I know who raised dogs and chickens had a method..when he found a dog killing his birds, he'd tie the carcass around their neck for a week and make them drag it around. Not saying its 'right'..but can't argue with his results apparently.

 

[Welshies]

Growing anything involves luck if people believe it or not, doesn't change nature. A lot of 'luck' can be created simply doing the right things like using the right kind of wire on a chicken run, predator proofing for your area and all that neat stuff. Curious though what your hutches are made out of if something is able to tear them apart? Certain materials as you know restrict certain things.

Well my first quail venture where I lost twenty they were in a coop with hardwire cloth.
Btw, the predator ONLY shows up when they are here.
This time they are standard rabbit hutches/cages.

 

[Welshies]

A really old timer I know who raised dogs and chickens had a method..when he found a dog killing his birds, he'd tie the carcass around their neck for a week and make them drag it around. Not saying its 'right'..but can't argue with his results apparently.

That would never work with my dog. She'd eat it. She's a true hunter's dog- she loves leftovers from carcasses

 

[Chullicken]

That would never work with my dog. She'd eat it. She's a true hunter's dog- she loves leftovers from carcasses

I would never do that to my dog...lol..guy told me and I was just horrified. Interesting story though to say the least.

 

[Welshies]

I would never do that to my dog...lol..guy told me and I was just horrified. Interesting story though to say the least.

I never would either... but it wouldn't work LOL... silly dogs.