Dogs killed and injured our entire flock of 55....crushed!

[Charm1704]

I agree with the electric fence, When you get it all finished and you want more birds I will donate 18 eggs to your son to hatch. contact me. here is my website so he can look at my birds...he will have to pay shipping....http://indainoaksfancyfeathers.webs.com/ So sorry for your loss....;~Charm1704

 

[ChickChickChicky]

You said :I love chickens but I never want to experience this heartache again. We are trying to make a decision of whether to start a flock back. It makes me want to give up bc why work so hard for something that an animal can take away from you in a snap. We miss them so much. They brought us so much joy.

Yes, it hurts. Yes, life can end in a flash. None of us is promised even another second. When my granddaughter died, and later my husband, these little words helped to comfort me. Think hard about them, they are oh so true. Hope they help you and your family........

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. - Dr. Suess

 

[chickencrazyinHT]

So excited to get 5 Rhode Island Reds and 2 Buff Orpingtons from the Tractor Supply today and have a shipment of 50 chicks coming on Friday. Some of my girls are still badly wounded and hoping they pull through. I just can't believe this time last week we were getting over 20 eggs a day from our hens and now they are gone. We are in the process of beefing up security to where this will NEVER happen again! Eggcited for new beginnings...LOL! My kids are so happy with all our little chicks. I know they will soon have names and personalities and we can't wait to see them blossom! Thanks to everyone that posted with helpful hints and encouragement.

 

[AHDCST]

So sorry for your loss! I hope your son has fun with the new chicks and that his hens recover.

 

[michellekelly10]

Same thing happened to my flock. I am having to start over. This time I'm going electric with cameras and traps too! And I will have signs posted that I will shoot any stray dog on my land

 

[ivan3]

michellekelly10 wrote: And I will have signs posted that I will shoot any stray dog on my land

Don't bother with the signage (could be more trouble, legally, for you, than a `useful' reminder (threat) to ne'er-do-wells who'll let their four-legged proxy agents of trespass and destruction run `free', regardless).

Loose dogs are simply road kill waiting to happen. That the chicken eating vermin was discovered in a ditch a mile away? Well, who let it out to roam? YOU don't know anything about it, right?

If a dog would happen to be retired from the target pool while in the process of wiping out the flock and the owner of said beast is aware of the flock owner's action, only then would one contact the Sheriff and report that the dog attempted to attack the human when trying to protect his/her flock (so far as I know all States allow a citizen to kill a dog that is attacking a human without incurring any liability/might also warrant potential civil action(s) directed at dog's owner; whereas shooting a dog `only' attacking and killing chickens? not always so clear cut (and dog's owner might well get its back up `they were just chickens! `Rambo' was a five hundred dollar Blue Tick Hound!' Rather than cowering and apologizing for fear of having to pay for the flock owner's PTSD treatment & meds - panic attacks caused by vicious people-`fanging' canine!!$$$). TN State Statutes are online - check the dog statutes - print them out and keep them handy.

I've had good luck, over the years, just visiting dog owning neighbors, up and down the road, and letting them know that we've got poison bait distributed through our woods owing to heavy coyote/fox activity and, gee, I'd sure hate it if something happened to the dogs. This puts the onus of responsibility for the dog's well being squarely on the owner's shoulders. And, hey, we're just trying to protect our livestock on our property and being kind enough to try to save fido from convulsing in the leaf clutter and being consumed by Turkey Vultures.

Good luck to you and your future flocks!