Emergency! Young Pullet In Shock After Being Played With By Dog! Please Help!

[TwinsLoveChicks]

When I went out to lock up my chickens, I discovered that one of my young pullets, Nala, was missing. I immediately thought of my dog Pete, who I've had trouble with before. Sure enough, I was right. He dropped her when I ran over to him, and to my relief she was alive. I brought her inside and put her in a nice, quiet place, and I'm trying to calm her down. She doesn't seem hurt, and there isn't any blood or any puncture wounds, but she's definitely in shock. She's panting really hard and just laying there. I've tried to give her some water by dipping her beak in it but she just ignores it. She's a mixed breed around 8 weeks old. She's really sweet and I don't want to lose her. Thanks in advance, and please answer soon.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

She just passed away.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm very sorry

Dogs can squeeze very hard and cause internal injuries, you may not see puncture wound or blood.

What steps are you planning to take so this doesn't happen in the future? Do you have a secure run or fenced in area the chickens can safely live in?

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

Yes, I do. I just recently redid a lot of my fencing, too. Pete has killed a hen before, but after being punished for it he never showed any interest in hurting or even chasing the chickens again. It turned out that she was small enough to squeeze out of the small gap between the fence and the gate. I covered the spot with a piece of wire so the same thing won't happen with any of her brothers or sisters. I'm going to
try some training methods with
Pete as well. Also, I asked the lady I got him from, and she said that his father did the same thing, but grew out of it. I'm hoping that this is just a phase as Pete's only 5 1/2 months old.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It sounds like you have a plan in place, I hope you continue to do well.

 

[andreanar]

Maybe this wont work for you but it did for me. I took a chicken chasing dog to a friends that had some mean, crazy geese, and those geese chased that dog and scared him off from ever chasing birds again! This was not a dog that was going after the chickens to kill them, he was wanting to chase and play, but a dog playing can kill chickens. I don't know if this would work on a dog that has a strong prey drive.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

Maybe this wont work for you but it did for me. I took a chicken chasing dog to a friends that had some mean, crazy geese, and those geese chased that dog and scared him off from ever chasing birds again!

I do have a broody hen at the moment...

This was not a dog that was going after the chickens to kill them, he was wanting to chase and play, but a dog playing can kill chickens. I don't know if this would work on a dog that has a strong prey drive.

That's how Pete is. He tries to play with them like he would with a dog toy.