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

[janiedoe]

I am so sorry. I hope your 3rd girl will come home.

 

[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.

Update: I came home and found all of them!!!! They were banged up but alive praise God!!

 

[BoundlessLove]

Wonderful news! God is good!

 

[janiedoe]

Update: I came home and found all of them!!!! They were banged up but alive praise God!!

That's fantastic! Be sure and secure your coop and run!

 

[RoyalChick]

Update: I came home and found all of them!!!! They were banged up but alive praise God!!

Oh that is great news. I was going to mention that sometimes they come back but didn’t want to get your hopes up.

I had a hawk attack. The hawk had a small pullet pinned to the ground. The lead hen attacked the hawk. The second in command ushered everyone else into the nest boxes to hide.
Two didn’t obey her orders. One just froze on the spot and she was in a good spot, well hidden. And one disappeared. I helped the lead hen chase off the hawk. The pullet was fine and strutted around like she was the bravest baddest chicken on earth, the others emerged from their hiding spots over the next few hours. But no sign of the missing chicken.
I spent the rest of the day searching and crying.
Then just after dark there was a huge ruckus and I came flying out expecting the worst. And there she was complaining I had locked her out! She was not happy and required many treats to stop yelling at me!

I am so glad you had a happy ending. I am sure you will never forget to lock them in safety again!

 

[Kir Clucky]

THEY'RE ALL ALIVE! PRAISE GOD!

 

[Sundyrse59]

UPDATE: I returned home and all the girls were alive!! Very banged up but alive!


ORIGINAL: 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.

Not sure where you live, but the county I live in has a "harassment law". Any loose animal (coyote, raccoon, mountain lion, even a dog) that comes onto someones property and harasses any type of farm animal can be shot on sight. That being said, let me assure you, I have my property fully fenced and gated, my chickens are fully fenced in. I love dogs (I own two of them), but if a stray animal comes onto my property, it will be a dead animal.

 

[Kir Clucky]

Not sure where you live, but the county I live in has a "harassment law". Any loose animal (coyote, raccoon, mountain lion, even a dog) that comes onto someones property and harasses any type of farm animal can be shot on sight. That being said, let me assure you, I have my property fully fenced and gated, my chickens are fully fenced in. I love dogs (I own two of them), but if a stray animal comes onto my property, it will be a dead animal.

Florida unfortunately does not allow me to do that unless i am feeling threatened, as in my own "human" life is threatened by the animal. I am in the process of constructing a large fortified chicken run made from pallets and wire.
the dog plus one came back a second time and pulled my leghorn out of the egg flapper and killed her, very upset about this trust me. My brown girl is almost featherless and torn up on the neck., I have the remaining 2 girls locked away in the unihabitable house that is on our property- in the "master bedroom". but its so hot in there even with the windows open, but I have no other options until they heal and the new structure is built.