I need help, please.

[Scobbrn123]

Hi y’all~ my name is Stacy and I am new to the chicken community, which I simply adore.
I have had 44 chickens for over 8 months and when I came home from my nursing shift tonight I found 29 of them killed. I’m afraid that the rest of them will not make it, but the vet will be here to help them soon.
2 neighborhood dogs are on camera committing the attack.
I am not posting my first thread to ask what to do about the dogs~ will someone please show me a coop that I should build in the future? Also, I have a perimeter of 1/2 an acre that I need to secure. I live in Mississippi on 55 acres.
Please don’t criticize me, I’ll only ignore you. I’m absolutely devastated.
Thank you in advance.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I still want to say Welcome. Heck of time huh...
Loose dogs is how many of us have lost birds.
Buy a few 5ft tall rolls of field wire. Not cheap with posts also.

 

[Scobbrn123]

I still want to say Welcome. Heck of time huh...
Loose dogs is how many of us have lost birds.
Buy a few 5ft tall rolls of field wire. Not cheap with posts also.

Thank you! I’m not sure what field wire is, but I’m about to! They chewed through chicken wire with ease.
Thanks again Penny Jo

 

[New duck mommy 2021]

So sorry for your losses. I hope the vet can save the others
I have seen hot wire can help
Chicken wire unfortunately only keeps birds in but not predators out
I’m sure many who have put fencing will be able to help
I only have ducks with 1.5 acre and I have a wood fence around my yard
I also luckily have a husky who guards her birds

 

[pennyJo1960]

Get a gun also, they will be back. Go to google it will bring it up.
You can buy it at most hardware stores.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am so sorry. What a nightmare.

I have that much land surrounded by electric netting. We have significant predators here, and it's kept our animals safe. For a coop, I have a converted shed with an attached walk-in dog kennel run and a large yard with the electric netting and covered with aviary netting. The fence is hot enough to supposedly deter bears (it puts out 10k). We had a bear come through and destroy my neighbor's apiaries and break into my car, but my animals were untouched.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Welcome, Stacy! I'm so sorry for your losses, that's terrible! There is a section here all about coops. Click the icon at the top that looks like two little conversation balloons and do a little browsing, you'll find it. You need a building you can lock at night. You also need a secure run for during the day. Google field fencing. It's sturdy and will keep dogs out. But you also need to line the lower 4' or so of it with 1/4" hardware cloth, to keep out smaller predators like raccoons. Chicken wire will keep chickens in but it's flimsy, it won't keep predators out. Good luck!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I also luckily have a husky who guards her birds

This, too! A livestock guardian dog will more than likely stop most predators.

 

[ChicFil- A]

Hi y’all~ my name is Stacy and I am new to the chicken community, which I simply adore.
I have had 44 chickens for over 8 months and when I came home from my nursing shift tonight I found 29 of them killed. I’m afraid that the rest of them will not make it, but the vet will be here to help them soon.
2 neighborhood dogs are on camera committing the attack.
I am not posting my first thread to ask what to do about the dogs~ will someone please show me a coop that I should build in the future? Also, I have a perimeter of 1/2 an acre that I need to secure. I live in Mississippi on 55 acres.
Please don’t criticize me, I’ll only ignore you. I’m absolutely devastated.
Thank you in advance.

I am soulfully sorry you had to experience this, terrible! I fear the same thing, my neighbors ar so irresponsible their dog runs the streets, I found the dogs collar stuck in my run, he didn’t get in but he tried enough to rip his collar off! my girls are ok but I fear he will come back

 

[micstrachan]

I am so very sorry for your loss. Check out the coop and run forum. Look into 1/2 hardware cloth (welded wire) to keep out predators.