- Sep 10, 2014
- 11
- 1
- 27
We got most of our chickens as day-old chicks and they were going to start laying around the next month or so. There were 9 chickens...hand raised and super tame. This morning I let them out of the coop but didn't lock the dog kennel thinking I would remember the chickens were out and would keep the dogs in the house. Well, I got distracted with daycare kids and forgot the chickens were out and let our 2 big dogs in the yard because they were crazy energetic.
I heard another dog barking a couple minutes later and it got my attention that I forgot our chickens were free-ranging! I raced outside but the damage was done. Five of the nine were dead or almost dead (of course the super friendly ones who loved to be held), 3 were hiding and 1 was injured in his leg.
The remaining chickens are 2 australorps (rooster and hen), an ameracauna (hen), and the injured is a golden laced wyandotte (rooster).
My questions are:
1. Since the hen/rooster ratio is now way off, what do I do for the winter? If the one rooster makes it that leaves 2:2, or if he doesn't 2:1.
2. What do I do for the injured roo? He isn't shaking but won't put weight on his one leg. He's just lying down and closing his eyes. I don't see puncture wounds anywhere but maybe he has internal bleeding? He's very still, will let me pick him up no problem and seems shocked.
3. When is my best timing for introducing new flock members? Do I get chicks now and incorporate them when they are big enough, or do I wait till spring?
Any other suggestions are appreciated! I'm new to chickens, and completely devastated at the moment. I still feel like it's a bad dream. I've been crying all morning! The poor things trusted us to take care of them and I let them down.
I heard another dog barking a couple minutes later and it got my attention that I forgot our chickens were free-ranging! I raced outside but the damage was done. Five of the nine were dead or almost dead (of course the super friendly ones who loved to be held), 3 were hiding and 1 was injured in his leg.
The remaining chickens are 2 australorps (rooster and hen), an ameracauna (hen), and the injured is a golden laced wyandotte (rooster).
My questions are:
1. Since the hen/rooster ratio is now way off, what do I do for the winter? If the one rooster makes it that leaves 2:2, or if he doesn't 2:1.
2. What do I do for the injured roo? He isn't shaking but won't put weight on his one leg. He's just lying down and closing his eyes. I don't see puncture wounds anywhere but maybe he has internal bleeding? He's very still, will let me pick him up no problem and seems shocked.
3. When is my best timing for introducing new flock members? Do I get chicks now and incorporate them when they are big enough, or do I wait till spring?
Any other suggestions are appreciated! I'm new to chickens, and completely devastated at the moment. I still feel like it's a bad dream. I've been crying all morning! The poor things trusted us to take care of them and I let them down.