help! my chicken was murdered!! :-(

[11mini]

Don't punish the dogs, it was not their fault. Even "the most tame dogs in the world" have attacked, you cannot stop them from being dogs. Chalk it up to an (unfortunate) experience and don't let it happen again. Sorry for your lost chicken. I recently felt the panic when I couldn't locate one bird for just a minute.

 

[jgoodin]

After reading everybody's response, perhaps I'll hold off on getting rid of the dogs. I woke up today and the anger was gone but the grief is still there. My gals feel it too, they haven't stopped calling for her, except now their calls sound less desperate and more sad. I still have some thinking to do and although Ive only had them for a couple of weeks,I feel a huge sense of loss and disappointment. I'm not trying to have a "throw away" mentality, but I have a strong connection with my chickens and really have a vested interest in keeping them around-they make me happy. I hope I'm not becoming chicken-codependant. Thanks everybody for your input and support, it does make it slightly easier.

 

[sbhkma]

thanks. I've made the decision to get rid of the dogs. They eat and produce useless waste while only giving problems. They constantly bark and aren't even loving towards humans. The chickens at the very least have as much personality, eat less, and provide great fertilizer and great eggs. I'm not willing to sacrifice an animal that has so many benefits for one that is a danger to my family and my food supply. If I could "old yeller" their butts I would, but a no kill shelter might be the best option.

Your description of your dogs here speaks volumes about the type of interaction they receive. It sounds like you've not spent time training them to not bark, working with them so they see you as their pack leader (at which time they become very loving toward you because YOU are their leader) or training them for basic obedience and manners. You consider the dogs a danger to your family and your chickens. I can understand your feeling about being a danger to your chickens, because they ARE obviously a danger until trained otherwise. But a danger to your family? Have they tried to attack you or your family? Or are you referring to the chickens as your family, and if so, are not the dogs a part of that family too? While I dislike the idea of dumping a dog because of a failure to train/supervise it correctly, in your case rehoming them may be the best option for the dogs themselves as it doesn't seem like you are willing and/or able to work to develop a bond and teach them the basics of doggie manners. Forgive me if this sounds harsh. I'm only calling it the way I see it and don't intent to sound cruel.

 

[hennible]

Sorry about your chicken, this surly has happens to many of us. Let your self calm down, perhaps you'll change your mind. But if you and your dogs are not a good fit, re-homing is best. Wishing the best for you and the dogs.

 

[jgoodin]

Ok here's the story behind the dogs. Only one of them is actually "ours" and I don't think he would've been able to hurt a chicken he's a small Chihuahua. The other two are dogs that my wife has picked up as strays. They prefer the pack and do not socialize with humans at all. They are afraid and often act erratically. I've been wanting to get rid of them but the wife refuses to let me. They definitely need more attention than I can provide and the wife never interacts with them.

 

[hennible]

Yup best to re-home them. Knowing you can care for them is a good thing. I had a similar situation last year had to rehome a bloodhound cross. Was a great dog but I didn't have time for him he started killing chickens and his size made him pretty hard for me to control. He was nine months old and 103 pounds he's rehomed now and leading a good life with somebody who's actually big enough to control him. Best of luck

 

[hennible]

First line there's supposed to say "can't care for them"

 

[3duardo]

Need help

 

[3duardo]

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Quote:

thanks. I've made the decision to get rid of the dogs. They eat and produce useless waste while only giving problems. They constantly bark and aren't even loving towards humans. The chickens at the very least have as much personality, eat less, and provide great fertilizer and great eggs. I'm not willing to sacrifice an animal that has so many benefits for one that is a danger to my family and my food supply. If I could "old yeller" their butts I would, but a no kill shelter might be the best option.

Dogs who are socialized and integrated into the family pack do not behave this way. Period. From what you've written, you failed to train or socialize them properly, so it's hardly surprising they couldn't be trusted to know how to behave with loose chickens. As far as I can tell, the ONLY one to blame for any of this is you and the best thing that could happen to those dogs is a new home.