Can stress kill chickens

[Michelle719]

So my dad's dog got out and killed 5 of my older chickens 2 escaped. In another coop I have my chicks they are about 4 months old maybe and this morning my dad's dogs were barking and going nuts over by the coop so I go look and the gate was still shut but 4 of my chicks are just dead. No signs of blood that I can see yet it's still dark. But he didn't get in the pen. I'm so confused. And sad

 

[centrarchid]

Possible, but not likely cause of outright death. Look closely at those dead chickens in the light. Look at pen as well. Make certain no openings present that would allow something to get in. If dog had a handle in this then birds or pieces of them would be pulled from pen.

Work to keep dog away from pen. Start working on getting dog to be less of a problem. Past killing of chickens will not prevent dog from being trained.

Overall, not enough information to make a call on anything so far. Many possibilities, some do not involve killing by an an animal.

 

[Michelle719]

I'm thinking raccoon. There is a possible way it could have got in I believe. Once the sun comes up I can see better. But that's what I'm thinking at this point.

 

[chickens really]

Heartattack?...My one Hen had a Heartattack when the tarp blew of....Were they laying on their backs?

 

[Michelle719]

Kinda, they just were dead I don't see any blood on them except one had a little on his head the others had none.

 

[chickens really]

Possibly got scared, fluttered around and had heartattacks...

 

[Michelle719]

That's what I was thinking, but trying to convince my dad of that is impossible he's just stuck on the dog didn't do it this time. I live next door to him. He's trying hard to keep dog put up but he keeps getting out. But he was out this morning that's what woke me up. Ugh it's so sad my baby loved watching her chicks

 

[Sara Ranch]

Would you dad consider an invisible fence for his dog/yard? Then if his dog did get out, it would stay on HIS property (most likely - a few dogs will tolerate the shock to get to their destination.)

Would you consider an electric fence around your coop or your yard?

*hugs*

 

[Kiki]

Double check your coop and run...look closely for any small holes where a critter could have came in an killed the flock.
I'd bet something got in.
Sorry for your loss.

 

[Parront]

2 strands of electric fence, one at nose high on dog, one higher for paws on the fence. Worked on my Brittany Spaniel, she would not even look at the chickens after one encounter of nose to wire!