Dog destroyed our coop.

[Emberfalls]

I'm hoping for some advice.

A loose dog tore open our coop and run this morning. We found 2 roosters unharmed. 1 rooster's feathers. 1 rooster is missing and all of our hens too.

We have had them for two weeks.
How likely are they to come home?
We tromped around the fields and the yard. No sign of them anywhere.

I'm freaking out. About to go look i. The woods. There's a busy road nearby.
What should we do?
Any tips?
Im so worried about them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Lots of the hens may be hiding, especially if you didn't see any of their feathers.
I've had a couple dog attacks. Many birds returned when they felt the coast was clear.
Now you know how strong a coop and run need to be. It isn't about if it is strong enough to keep chickens in, it's about keeping predators out.
Not only build for the big strong predators, but also for the tiny ones that can get into a 1" opening and kill every bird without eating anything like a weasel.
I try to build like Fort Knox. Lucky that because one day I saw a Malamute/Husky cross lunging at the windows of one building. Try as he might, he couldn't get in.
I have had raccoons tear the siding off of a building, got in and killed half of the birds. Then mink came in and killed everything else.

I hope most of your birds survived. If the birds are lost and your remaining roosters crow, the hens can follow the sound home.

 

[song of joy]

First - has the loose dog been captured and contained? You don't want it coming back while you're trying to find chickens.

After a predator attack, chickens will often remain very quiet and in hiding for several hours, unless the rooster(s) or you are able to call them out of hiding. If you have roosters that "tidbit" for the hens (call them for treats), you could put out some treats that they really like. They may also come back if they hear the rooster(s) crowing.

For the hens that were not injured or killed, this may work better than trying to find them. I once spent over an hour looking for hens after a hawk attack. I tried calling them, but there was no response until I was within a couple of feet of them. One hen was hiding under some brush and I was standing within a few feet of her for several minutes before she moved. It's a great tactic to avoid further attacks, because they assume the predator may still be nearby.

There is a substantial risk of injury or death to multiple chickens when the predator is a dog. After trying to lure out and roundup the uninjured hens, spend some time methodically going through areas of thick cover, stopping often to listen carefully for any sounds from hens that are hiding or injured.

I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. I hope you find the missing hens!

 

[Poultrybonkers]

Id be after that dog it wouldnt see another day thats for sure

 

[dogkahuna]

When our flock was scattered by a raptor, they remained quietly hidden until dusk when they returned to roost. One remained hidden after dusk, but was walking around outside the coop the following morning. Hope the same happens for you!

 

[centrarchid]

Most dogs (domestic) do not carry birds off. Did you see dog do it? If the birds hid they will be out in a few hours or less. Remaining birds making noise will call most back.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I'm with the "Old Codger" who posted above. Dogs that kill chickens don't normally eat what they kill. They just shake and toss them into the air over and over again until the chicken is either silent or still, or usually both. Then it's back home for a bowl of Kibbles and Bits.

 

[chickens really]

Crap....Sorry that happened....Locate dogs owner, hope it was not your dog?...Keep looking, birds hideout once chased off..They will come out to feed and familiar voices...
Best wishes...

 

[RodNTN]

As someone said, if you can't find any of their feathers; they might be hiding. To whom does the dog belong? I would find out ASAP.

 

[theoldchick]

They should return-though you might find them in nearby trees at first. Won't hurt to talk to the neighbors and alert them to what happened. Domestic dogs usually leave a mess-feathers and bodies everywhere. I'd also suggest fortifying your coop area with electric fence.

Sorry for your loss.