Dog killed half my flock. Now what?

[VinnyVincent]

Hello, first post here!

I'm new to raising chickens. I got my first flock of 5 chickens about two months ago, at 6-8 weeks old. So, they are roughly 16 weeks old. I had two easter eggers and three black sexlinks. Two of the sexlinks got out through a hole in their pen this morning, and the dog killed them.(so much for the girlfriends theory that the dogs just want to "play" with them)

Now I'm wondering how I should go about replacing them. I notice the person I purchased these from still has some from the same flock for sale. Would that make any difference as far as introducing them, or does it not really matter where the replacements come from?
I'm actually thinking about hatching my own this time around, but the problem is; I only have room for 2-3 more hens.
Finally, would it be a good idea to stick with getting more black sexlinks, since I now have just a single sexlink and two easter eggers?

Any advice on how to best integrate the replacements would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LikeTurkeys]

Sorry for your loss . The first thing I would do is block up the hole in their pen; not only can they get out but predators can get in.

The breed you choose as a replacement does not matter, but if you wish to get more black sex-links and that's what available, then go with that.

I would purchase the older birds from the person you got your original flock from. They will be easier to introduce and care for. Hatching your own might be problematic for your situation as any eggs that hatch have a 50/50 chance of being male. Since you only have room for 2-3 more hens, raising the roosters would not be desirable. Also, if purchasing the older birds, they will be closer in age to your current ones which will make integration smoother.

Good luck.

 

[centrarchid]

A dream setup for me would be to rear the chicks in a pen within the larger pen currently housing existing birds. That will allow parties to acclimate to each for less discord when new birds released.

 

[Longhornlove]

Hello, first post here!

I'm new to raising chickens. I got my first flock of 5 chickens about two months ago, at 6-8 weeks old. So, they are roughly 16 weeks old. I had two easter eggers and three black sexlinks. Two of the sexlinks got out through a hole in their pen this morning, and the dog killed them.(so much for the girlfriends theory that the dogs just want to "play" with them)

Now I'm wondering how I should go about replacing them. I notice the person I purchased these from still has some from the same flock for sale. Would that make any difference as far as introducing them, or does it not really matter where the replacements come from?
I'm actually thinking about hatching my own this time around, but the problem is; I only have room for 2-3 more hens.
Finally, would it be a good idea to stick with getting more black sexlinks, since I now have just a single sexlink and two easter eggers?

Any advice on how to best integrate the replacements would be greatly appreciated.

OMG that's so terrible! Im so sorry

 

[VinnyVincent]

Sorry for your loss . The first thing I would do is block up the hole in their pen; not only can they get out but predators can get in.

The breed you choose as a replacement does not matter, but if you wish to get more black sex-links and that's what available, then go with that.

I would purchase the older birds from the person you got your original flock from. They will be easier to introduce and care for. Hatching your own might be problematic for your situation as any eggs that hatch have a 50/50 chance of being male. Since you only have room for 2-3 more hens, raising the roosters would not be desirable. Also, if purchasing the older birds, they will be closer in age to your current ones which will make integration smoother.

Good luck.

Thanks! I patched the hole up immediately. I feel so bad that I was stupid enough to overlook it, knowing that I had dogs in the other side of the yard.
As tempting as it is to hand raise the replacements, so they'll be more friendly, I think you're right. It'll be better to get some of the original sisters, who will be very close in age. I just sent her a text to see what she still has available.

I'll probably either get more sexlinks, or australorps, so my now lone sexlink has some birds of the same feather to hang out with lol

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome!
So sorry for your losses. Yes, more chickens, and much better fencing, and time spent training your dogs that the chickens are to be left alone!
Good luck,
Mary

 

[VinnyVincent]

She just called back. She has easter eggers, black sexlinks, and black australorpes that are from the same hatching batch that these are.

She also has some 5+ month old rhode island red hens that just started laying. Would it be better to get the older hens, so they don't get bullied, or should I stick with the ones that are the same age?

 

[Laura_BelgianBantams_63]

She just called back. She has easter eggers, black sexlinks, and black australorpes that are from the same hatching batch that these are.

She also has some 5+ month old rhode island red hens that just started laying. Would it be better to get the older hens, so they don't get bullied, or should I stick with the ones that are the same age?

Umm, probably just get the older ones, that is my call

 

[LikeTurkeys]

She just called back. She has easter eggers, black sexlinks, and black australorpes that are from the same hatching batch that these are.

She also has some 5+ month old rhode island red hens that just started laying. Would it be better to get the older hens, so they don't get bullied, or should I stick with the ones that are the same age?

I don't think it matters that much at this point. Both the RIR's and the other birds would be full size (or very close), so the slight age difference won't have that much of an impact. The only thing is that RIR's are famous for being dominant, so the chances of being bullied is pretty small. Pick whichever ones you'd like, I think they'll introduce to each other about the same.

 

[VinnyVincent]

I ended up going with the older pullets. They're actually "production reds", not RIR. She let me hold one that is super sweet and likes being held. I asked for "another one like her" and they put another in my cage. After getting her home, I noticed she is super mean and keeps pecking the other nice one I held, even though the nice one is clearly submitting. Hopefully she(the mean one) calms down some once they get settled.

The "mean one" is already laying eggs. The really sweet one is a little younger, and not laying yet. I'm going to put their cage in the other chickens run tomorrow, to let them check each other out for a while visually, before letting them make physical contact.