Dog Attack

[HargroveOutdoors]

Heart broken. Our chickens had just been out outside in the brand new coop. They made it two days. Loose dogs CHEWED into the coop today and massacred the poor gals. Two were still alive when the husband found them, but ones entire head and chest had been degloved and the other had intestines hanging. We couldn’t find the bodies of a couple, so hopefully there are a few still alive and well! My favorite hen turned up alive and unscathed! So small reason to celebrate.
This is my second adventure with chickens. We had a free range flick in the country for years and had few problems. My in town hens don’t last a week before they get taken out by roaming dogs.
Any advice? The only thing we can think to do is build a fence around the coop.

Pic of my sweet gal just after I found her!

 

[sourland]

I am so sorry for your loss. This sounds like an instance where hot wire around the coop and pen is a necessity as they will very likely return. Once shocked almost all predators become educated. Free ranging will probably have to be monitored.

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

I am so sorry for your loss. This sounds like an instance where hot wire around the coop and pen is a necessity as they will very likely return. Once shocked almost all predators become educated. Free ranging will probably have to be monitored.

There is a wire run attached to the coop. The poor hen that got degloved was pulled out through that. Didn’t think of hot wire. That’s a good idea!

 

[Folly's place]

I'm so sorry for your poor birds!
Definitely an upgrade of your coop and run, and electric fencing around everything!
@Howard E and @cmom , and Premier1supplies.com are all good resources for electric fencing information.
Pictures of your coop and run will help here, if you are interested in any advice.
If you know who's the dog owner, or even if you don't know, report the attack, take pictures, and expect them back any time.
Again, So sorry for your losses.
Mary

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

I'm so sorry for your poor birds!
Definitely an upgrade of your coop and run, and electric fencing around everything!
@Howard E and @cmom , and Premier1supplies.com are all good resources for electric fencing information.
Pictures of your coop and run will help here, if you are interested in any advice.
If you know who's the dog owner, or even if you don't know, report the attack, take pictures, and expect them back any time.
Again, So sorry for your losses.
Mary

I’ll snag some pics in the morning. Thanks!

 

[Zan]

I'm so sorry! That's horrible! I hate irresponsible dog owners that let their dogs run loose and wreak havoc in the neighborhood.

How in town are you? I have 0 tolerance for roaming dogs that kill other pets or livestock. In my area, shoot, shovel and shut up would be the response to an attack like that.

 

[Ruthster55]

I am with you 110%.

I am currently in an area where there are far too many dogs that run around loose, although by Grace there are no raccoons or coyotes.

 

[Zan]

I am with you 110%.

I am currently in an area where there are far too many dogs that run around loose, although by Grace there are no raccoons or coyotes.

The loose dogs run them off, or kill them.

 

[HargroveOutdoors]

I'm so sorry! That's horrible! I hate irresponsible dog owners that let their dogs run loose and wreak havoc in the neighborhood.

How in town are you? I have 0 tolerance for roaming dogs that kill other pets or livestock. In my area, shoot, shovel and shut up would be the response to an attack like that.

On Main Street in town in town. cannot wait time get back out in the country.

 

[centrarchid]

A quick fix requiring less skill is electrified poultry netting set to encompass your coop / run setup. If you move to another location, then you will be able to pack things up and reuse them later. The hotwire approach can also be moved but requires more site preparation and break down time. I use both systems with hotwire more or less fixed and the poultry netting is moved around a lot and used only seasonally.