Help! Dogs killing young chickens

[BenlynFarm]

This sounds like an opossum to me. Sorry for your losses. I would definitely secure that coop at night and check it before locking up to make sure nothing could be hiding inside somewhere.

I don’t know much about opossums killing chickens. I know they can but didn’t know if they would eat them in the coop like that. I think we might put up a game camera even after closing it up to see what comes up to the coop. Thanks for tips!

 

[BenlynFarm]

with the other pup?

Yes he’s was with our other dog, both which are trained to stay with our sheep. The sheep are right by our house so they stay close to our front porch by the fence.

 

[Chicalina]

Guarding breeds or not, I don't think 6 month and 9 month old puppies should be loose at night on their own outdoors. They are still babies, as much as you say they are trained. Barking an alarm can be done from a safe place. They could wander off anywhere if the whim took them or they got spooked or chased something. They could get run over by a vehicle or stolen.

Maybe I'm just used to different ways. But even where I live, working and farm dogs are kept securely at night even if they live outside in kennels.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

In most of the US, LGDs live with their pack (the animals they're guarding). They aren't kept in kennels ir kept seperate in any way because then they can't protect the group.

 

[Chicalina]

I would imagine that an older adult dog would teach a puppy to guard and not run off or eat the livestock. With two pups together, they are more likely to egg each other on with bad behaviour. They are too young imo to be trusted, or be safe themselves.

Here in the UK, guard dogs are more about sounding the alarm and acting as a deterrent than attacking predators (because we don't have bears, etc!). I appreciate the difference in the US.

 

[BenlynFarm]

@SegiDream game camera revealed you are correct!! It was an opossum!

 

[Chicalina]

glad you've got to the bottom of it

 

[SegiDream]

@SegiDream game camera revealed you are correct!! It was an opossum!

Wow I'm glad the perpetrator showed up on the game cam, that was a really good idea. Just fyi if there is one there are likely more. I'd continue this routine of securing the coop every night to be safe.

 

[BenlynFarm]

Wow I'm glad the perpetrator showed up on the game cam, that was a really good idea. Just fyi if there is one there are likely more. I'd continue this routine of securing the coop every night to be safe.

Yes we will for sure be doing that! Thanks for your helpful advice!

 

[AllenK RGV]

My Emma(Brown Lab) did that once she went after the chicks because they were peeping. She only needed a stern talking to and never again tried that. 4/7 chicks didn't make it.