Hi I'm a newby with a big problem...

[Kir Clucky]

Been a chicken mother for about 2 months. Absolutely loved it up until this morning when I found a dog in my yard that killed/ate 2 of my 3 girls. White & gray feathers everywhere. One was a white Leggin (Sugar), the other a white/gray Orpington (Marshamellow).
I don't know whose dog it is. I couldn't find my 3rd girl, a reddish-brown Orpington (Cocoa), praying she is okay and just hiding. I will search for her more when i get back home today as I had to leave for work.
My son and I were devastated, angry, and depressed. It's my fault as I left the darn coup door open last night like an idiot as I had done once before and assumed they be fine since there was a mesh fencing around their coop. I failed them and feel like a horrible person.
A neighbor saw the dog trot off down a long dirt driveway I plan to drive down there today to see if I see the dog.

 

[muddy75]

So sorry for your loss! Welcome to BYC!

 

[007Sean]

Howdy, and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.

Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!

Thanks for joining our community!

 

[nuthatched]

The first attack is always the hardest, I'm sorry.
Since they weren't secured on your property, you may or may not be able to ask for anything except payment of the birds, about $30 each. Remember to stay calm, kind and reasonable.

 

[RoyalChick]

Oh so sorry.


We have all been there. I remember my first loss to a fox. Years later I haven’t really shaken off the ‘if only I had been a few minutes earlier’ feeling.
But honestly you can’t let that drag you down. Learn from the experience and your future feathered friends will be safer.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I'm so sorry this happened and sorry for your losses. It's a hard lesson to learn, but chickens are at the bottom of the food chain and we must be very diligent when it comes to protecting them. It sounds like you need a predator-proof run for them to be in when they are not in the coop, as there is a good chance this dog will come back. There are many other predators as well to consider. Again, I'm very sorry this happened and you have my best wishes going forward. Hopefully your Buff Orpington will come out of hiding soon.

 

[Kir Clucky]

The first attack is always the hardest, I'm sorry.
Since they weren't secured on your property, you may or may not be able to ask for anything except payment of the birds, about $30 each. Remember to stay calm, kind and reasonable.

Thank you, i appreciate that.
They were inside their coop sleeping I presume and were inside their mesh fencing that I had built around their coop, the dog mowed it down and went in after them.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Build with 1/2" hardware cloth. Ask someone at your building supply store to show you what that is. Unlike chicken wire or that mesh, it will actually keep out most predators except a bear. Chicken wire keeps chickens out of your tomatoes, it does not keep other animals out of your chickens.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Welcome to BYC!
You will learn so much here.
This happened when we first started keeping ducks. Coop door left open overnight and something killed five of our ducks.
It is devastating and a learning experience you NEVER forget.
But, don’t beat yourself up over it.
Purchase more chicks locally (perhaps TSC).
You may have to build a large run or chicken tractor and not let them free range.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore and hang out.