buttercup was grabbed off the fence

[BowChickaBow]

Good Morning... I had 3 - 20 week old chicks (RIR, Red Sex link and a Sicilian buttercup) Well the buttercup was grabbed off the fence this morning by the neighbors evil dog... I would like to get another chick, but not sure how the other 2 - 20 week old ones would react. Any suggestions? Just very sad today :-( She was our favorite and will be greatly missed!

 

[Papas Chickens]

First off i would like to say sorry for your loss.

Second if i was you i would make my coop and run area more secure so that dog could not get my girls.

Third i would go over to your neighbor and tell them what happened and see if they would compensate you for your loss.

Fourth if you plan on getting another chick i recommend getting 3 or 4 instead of just one, there is strength in numbers.

 

[bobbi-j]

They always get the favorite. If you're going to get another bird, it would be best to get one somewhere around the same age as the ones you have - it just makes for a little easier integration. Your other chickens will most likely chase and peck at it for a while, as they are reestablishing the pecking order. This happens every time you add to or subtract from the flock to some degree. Just curious - who's side of the fence was the "evil dog" on when it grabbed your bird?

 

[BowChickaBow]

Thanks... Buttercup was on the fence looking at the neighbors dog, when he jumped up and grabbed her...

 

[BowChickaBow]

First off i would like to say sorry for your loss.

Second if i was you i would make my coop and run area more secure so that dog could not get my girls.

Third i would go over to your neighbor and tell them what happened and see if they would compensate you for your loss.

Fourth if you plan on getting another chick i recommend getting 3 or 4 instead of just one, there is strength in numbers.

Thanks.... My coop and run are very secure.... My husband let them out this morning (like every morning) to free range around the yard, she just happened to jump up on the fence....

And trust me, the neighbor knows what happened because I went over at 7am and woke them up to get their dog so we could go collect buttercup. There was no way I was going to let their dog just tear her to shreds!

 

[iwiw60]

Thanks.... My coop and run are very secure.... My husband let them out this morning (like every morning) to free range around the yard, she just happened to jump up on the fence....

And trust me, the neighbor knows what happened because I went over at 7am and woke them up to get their dog so we could go collect buttercup. There was no way I was going to let their dog just tear her to shreds!

First let me say how very sorry your sweet little buttercup had to succumb to that scumbag neighbor dog...

Second let me say I'm so glad that you marched yourself right over there and told them what happened!

Third let me say...you will most probably not be able to allow your girls to free-range your back yard unless completely supervised, because that dog WILL now attempt to get into your yard now that he knows where 'dinner' is. Me personally? I am not a believer in free-ranging...my girls are too precious to me to see them destroyed by scumbag predators just because it's supposed to be good to let them be 'free' rather than maintained in a run..not me anyways.

Wishing you well, please keep us updated with anything new to report.

 

[waynem1983]

First let me say how very sorry your sweet little buttercup had to succumb to that scumbag neighbor dog...

Second let me say I'm so glad that you marched yourself right over there and told them what happened!

Im a little puzzled by this response. I dont wish to heap any blame on anyone, especially under such sad circumstances, however, we are all responsible for keeping all of our animals safe.

Given this dog was able to get at this bird while in the confines of his own yard, the blame can only go one way. The neighbour is not at fault, their dog was secured on their own property and they have a right to let him roam as well as we do to let our birds free range.

now, I am very sorry to hear of the loss of this bird, but try to learn from this horrible experience. Either confine the birds, adjust the fence to prevent them getting up on top, or clip wings. And as iwiw60 has said, ensure the fence is extra secure, it is likley the dog will now try enter your property.

Should this have happened

 

[6of6chicks]

So sorry for your loss! That's heartbreaking, and such a beautiful chicken too.

OP - how tall is your fence? I don't know anything about Sicilian buttercups, and I'm just curious how high they can fly (and how high that dog can jump!).

Poor girl. Thank you for sharing your story - it's a good lesson for all of us. It would never have occurred to me that a chicken could be lost that way!

 

[BowChickaBow]

The fence is about 6ft around the entire yard.... and the dog next door, is an outside dog that the family pays no attention to. He has already dug under the fence twice (before the chickens came) and came into my yard trying to get my beagles (which are afraid of the chickens) My husband dug a deep trench and filled it in with cement to keep him from digging.

The dog is a mutt and viciously growls and will jump at you to bite, if you even look at him. I feel sorry for him actually.... but I do NOT feel kind to people who ignore an animal that is in their care.

Buttercup was 20 weeks and had never been on the fence before, so trust me, the other 2 will be getting their wings clipped

 

[troy4]

Well they will fight her, but don't act so scared.Fighting happens because the hen is trespassing and is unknown.Fighting will stop soon.I would just put her in at night then check on them in the morning.Hope i helped. If you want you can check out my thread ALL about CHICKENS!It tells some things.Putting her in a pen next to them so they fight threw fencing which this prevents feather loss and blood,scars etc.Also letting them free range and giving them treats will keep them busy from fighting.I sometimes just throw them in and let them fight it out.But I will sometimes give them treats.This year I let the new hens out of the dog pens and into the coop yard first.then their breakfeast was ready.Everyone ran out.About 5 minutes later they notice the hens.If this hen doesn't defend nor eat or drink she's probably stressed.Stress can kill them.I would take her out get to know her make her feel loved then try putting her back.Sorry for your loss!Hope i helped once more!