I need to vent. So Sad, Lost my chickens. UPDATE The last one is gone.

[sourland]

Sorry about your loss. Put electric fencing around the next batch to protect them. Good luck-Geo.

 

[bonniebe]

when you put your fencing down, make sure you up an apron around the edges, about 18 inches wide should do it. you'll need a 3 foot wide length, bent so it lays against the coop, then lays flat on the ground, so with your coop, not ninety degrees. animals usually dig against the coop, the trick is to make the apron long enough away from the coop so whatever is trying to dig in is actually standing with their back legs on the apron. i don't think i've ever seen or heard of any animal smart enough to back up and start digging from 18 inches away from the coop. it goes against their nature. if you can get this to lay flat, you won't even need to stake it so your coop will still be moveable. for a permanant coop or fence bury the apron under a couple inches of dirt and grow some grass over it. just make sure you use heavy enough wire so the critter can't get frustrated and chew their way thru.

 

[gryeyes]

I totally sympathize with you - my own dog killed three of my chickens, and he's an elderly dachshund! (The chickens weren't full grown yet, but they weren't little bitty chicks, either.) I have to be REALLY vigilant to make sure Zorro doesn't find any week spots in the run enclosure, or sneak in the gate when I go in and out of the run.

My cats and dogs all get along, even sleep with each other, so - silly me! - I didn't realize Zorro's prey instincts would trigger on chickens. He'd never seen a chicken before in his life. It wasn't HIS fault, it was mine.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Good luck with taking on chickens again. Just know that as much as you love your dog, you HAVE to make sure the chickens are safe from him.

 

[The Chicken People]

Use hardware cloth or landscape timbers around the bottom to keep him from digging in!

 

[equine chick]

So sorry about your babies but buddy has to put up. Can't you still have chickens this year? I have had two major predator attacks one year my dog took out 18 of my birds the next my neighbors dog killed the rest. I've learned to have a better coop and keep all dogs away no matter how gentle they seem. Dh has totally predator proofed the place. Predators will happen but buddy will have to be put away while your chicks are out.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

UPDATE: O.K. They are all gone. Penny the last one , who was injured, is dead. I came home from school, and the dogs had opened the door of the shed, and somehow gotten to her inside her wire dog crate. She was lying there against the side and there were feathers outside the crate. Now, I think my parents will let me get more this year. The problem is, Buddy is an outside dog, and he has to stay that way. It realy stinks. He never harmed the chicken until one escaped. Once he got a taste, he killed all of them. He is really sweet, and I can't blame him for doing this. You can't interfere with an animals instinct. It is one of the prices you will have to pay when you have a wild animal. You can't completely domesticate them. Thank you Bonniebe I will use an apron.

ETA: I cant spell & :

Thank you guys for listening to me. It really makes me feel better.

 

[FrizzlesRule]

Sorry to hear about your precious birds. I hate to here about chickens being killed by dogs. If I had a dog that killed any chickens, I would NOT keep that dog. I just couldn't love anything that kills innocent chickens that have no way to protect themselves.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

If it was me, I would not get more chickens until you can fence them where Buddy has no way of getting to them! You are just setting yourself up for more chicken deaths otherwise! I have a black lab and he's gotten 4 of my chickens, 3 died and he's a farm dog as well. He has all night out to run and then we lock him in his kennel for the day and the chickens can then be in their run or free range. But never will I allow the chickens to even be inside their run and Jack to be out. It is too much of a risk and temptation for the dog! Sorry!

 

[equine chick]

I have out door dogs too, but they stay in the kennel or on a chain. In my area if you have an uncontained dog they will confiscate him. I too would make sure they were totally contained before you get any more chickens.

 

[Shadowhills Farm]

I would not keep that dog. He's done it once, twice, and will do it again! I am sorry if I am sounding mean, but you have to make a decision- the dog or chickens.

We have 3 dogs, and if ANY of them got one of my chickens, I would shoot them.

Sorry for your losses