I Just Lost my ENTIRE flock:(****

if you can afford to redo the run in hardware cloth and maybe double it and stretch it tight and secure with no possible openings that can be made bigger you may be ok. I saw a coop plan where the bottom of the run was also hardware cloth to keep the run area from being dug under by predators. sorry for your loss dogs are full of adventure when they get the whim.

 

I'm so sorry for your loss. I think it's even more harder when it's your own animals that are the culprits. I take it your coop/chicken run doesn't have an apron? This is where you basically bury chicken wire or hardware cloth like a skirt around your run. It greatly discourages digging animals. Also, how tall is your run? You may want to consider putting a wire top on it as well to prevent flying, jumping, and climbing predators.

 

Sorry for your loss. I have lost chickens to my dogs too. Unfortunately I do not think there is a way of "breaking" dogs of killing chickens so tighter security seems to be the most surefire way of preventing this from happening again

 

You'll have to forgive me if I misunderstood the problem with the dog as I'm trying to pay attention to 4 other kids right now but it sounds like the dogs dug out under the fence. If thats the case try putting some concrete blocks in the ground so when they dig they hit the blocks and can't go any further. My dog killed 3 out of 5 of mine and I have started chaining him up when I let the girls out. I'm sure thats probably not feasible with multiple dogs but for me it seems to help.

 

I'm so very sorry! I don't think I could imagine if all our chickens were taken at once...
Well, maybe if at some point in the future you do decide to rebuild, you know to take ultra-precautions. I agree with akcountrygrl-"aprons" (where the wiring plays out on all sides of the run to deter digging) are really useful.

 

Quote:I hate that for you. It is a bummer when it's your dogs. Please don't get discouraged and stop you from having chickens. Do put some sort of ground barrier like mikensara suggested around the base of your run.

 

That is awful. And to have it all in the family so to speak makes it so much worse. Some dogs are worse than others. If you have a terrier I just don't know, but the bird dog breeds should fairly easy to train. I'm just lucky I guess. Morgan is a mutt herd dog and just follows mine around. Then lays down and watches. That's it.

Really sorry for problem.

 

I am so sorry for your loss.
Also surprised your dogs kept checking the fence, mine hit it twice and would go the long way around through the barn how strong is the zap?

 

I have dogs out with my chickens all day as well. I skirted 1 inch wire mesh out 1 foot around the entire run area - and around the coop to prevent them from accessing the run from under the coop. It has kept out my dogs AND predators. The chickens and set up have been up for almost 2 years now without incident. Depending how diligent your dogs are you may want to go down farther. That and some long metal stakes placed deep every foot or so may do the trick.

I am so sorry for your loss.