Dog Attack

[JenS]

We moved our little flock of 14 from the garage into their run 2 weeks ago and they were doing great. I checked on them this morning and all was well. An hour later my husband called the house just after he left for work. A strange dog was walking down our driveway carrying a chicken. I ran to the coop to find that the run door was busted open and all the birds were gone or dead. This is our first flock and I am simply devastated. Such a senseless waste...sweet little things, they were so fun and sweet. We haven't told the kids yet (ages 6 and 7). Just thinking about it makes my stomach hurt. I feel like I let my pets and kids down.

We are going to start over I suppose and reinforce the run and coop. But how do you get over losing your whole flock in less than an hour?!?!

Jennifer

 

[JanetS]

So sorry for your loss!!

Just remember that dog came into your yard. Who is to blame is the owner of the dog. Not you.

Our run is made with hardware cloth with square 12 inch patio stones buried vertical in the ground all around the run.To keep anything from digging under. Coop door is 3/4 inch plywood. So far we've had no problems. We have a lot of raccoons in our area. Hope that might help you. Good luck!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Oh heaven's, I'm so sorry that happened. Keep looking around though, you mentioned some were just gone. They may have gotten out and hidden themselves away. Keep walking around and calling them, though they may not come out for some time. I had a dog attack years ago and while I didn't loose any birds they hid themselves away so well I couldn't find them for several hours. I hope you can find some of yours.

It does make it harder when kids are involved. I had to tell my 10 year old a couple years ago that a dog got to his rabbit, it never gets easier when it's something so senseless.

Where we live now we have a problem with roaming dogs and so we have run hot wire around the outside of our coop and run about 8 inches off the ground. I've had several neighbor dogs get zapped on the nose and they have not been back. It's very effective. Good luck, hope you find some of your birds.

Edited to add: Keep an eye out for the darn dog, he may well be back.

 

[JodiLynn]

I am so sorry to hear that you lost your enitre flock. I cannot imagine what you must be going through

. We lost some guinea keets when they were 3 weeks old in much of the same way. We put hardware cloth around the bottom and on the entire door along with a strand of electric wire at the bottom. I am not sure if your neighbors are like mine, they think since we live so far out in the country it is ok to ignore the leash law and it seems like the defenseless animals are the ones who suffer. My thoughts are with you and your family.

 

[JenS]

Yes, dogs roam free here. My cat was their victim several years ago. We talked with the kids about learning from this experience and not letting it get the best of us. Buried paving stones and a hot wire are going up before any more birds move into our coop. I keep looking out the back window hoping that one comes back... So far 6 are accounted for... the rest we presume didn't make it.

 

[RonC]

Sorry for your loss. I would attempt to find out whom the dog belongs to, let them know what happened and ask for compensation. I'm guessing you live in the country somewhere, call the county sheriff and file a report. If you do live in the city let animal control know. Not sure where you live but here(Texas) you have a right to protect your livestock.

 

[DobermanGuy]

Sorry for your loss. I would attempt to find out whom the dog belongs to, let them know what happened and ask for compensation. I'm guessing you live in the country somewhere, call the county sheriff and file a report. If you do live in the city let animal control know. Not sure where you live but here(Texas) you have a right to protect your livestock.

Same laws apply in my state as well. I have the right to protect MY property and any of MY animals from harm...

Good advice in my opinion.

 

[HEChicken]

I am so sorry for your loss. Not my whole flock but last month a fox got in and killed 14 of my 35 birds in one sitting. He returned the next day and got two more before I got him. 'Nuff said. How do you go on? With an ache in your heart and a lot of sorrow. What kept me going was that at least my "favorite" was spared. That, and a 17th bird was attacked (I think I interrupted it that second day while he was attacking her). She had four puncture wounds and I thought for sure she was a goner but had to nurse her anyway, and she survived. Hanging in there to make sure she hung in there was what kept me going. I'm so sorry you don't even have that but....find something to hold onto to help you keep going. Reinforce the coop and run and start over. While at times it feels like "it will never be the same", the same things that brought you joy with your first flock, will eventually bring you joy again.

 

[JenS]

Thanks for the great advice. The neighbor contacted me herself today. She was horrified and is going to pay for us to replace the chicks. I'm going to sit down with the kids tonight and order more chicks. They are at least comforted that they get to pick their next chicks. In the meantime we are going to reinforce the coop. My 7 year old son hopes to devise a "force field." Too bad they don't sell those in real life.

 

[RonC]

Electric fence is pretty close to a force field to a dog. Just make sure the kids know not to touch it, not even just to see for themselves.