I think my dog attacked my chicken

[grbroomfield]

Hi, I have two German Shepherds. My girl is 18 months old and my boy is 13 weeks. We had 10 chickens, one of whom regularly escaped. Our girl has never had any interest in the chickens. We have been socialising our boy with the chickens but he hadn't shown any real interest in them (he is probably the laziest puppy I have ever come across). Today I found the escaped chicken on the ground and the puppy was I believe licking her. She had been ripped up on her back. I took the chicken to the local vet who advised the best option was to have her euthanised. The vet advised a large dog would have been responsible for the damage inflicted, the puppy was too small to have caused any real damage. I am now concerned that my girl may have attacked the chicken. Is there anyway to tell?? I have taken her to the chicken area and she did a big sniff around but showed no interest in the chickens themselves (the chickens are in a netted pen). The puppy showed little interest too. Is this normal behaviour for dogs who have attacked chickens?? The chicken has been escaping everyday for about the last 3 or so weeks though we have not been able to find out how. The other 9 chickens do not get out. In this time neither dog has had any interest in the chicken. If my dogs act no differently could this be the work of a stray dog?? We live in a bush setting which is very difficult to fence so even though in 3 years we have never seen a dog on our property there is nothing to stop one. We actually have arrangements to begin building a proper fenced area for the chickens this weekend but unfortunately this comes to late for my poor chicken. I'm just looking for any advice on what could have happened. I am finding it very hard to reconcile the dog who keeps a wary distance from chickens as a dog who could wound one. The vet mentioned that sometimes when you bring two dogs together this induces a pack mentality where one dog eggs the other one on and they behave differently than they otherwise would. Is it possible this has happened?? I feel pretty traumatised by this situation and so does my little girl who unfortunately had to come to the vet with me and has been very upset ever since.

 

[BirdLeaf]

I’m sorry to hear you lost a hen!
I also have two German Shepherds and both of mine would LOVE to catch one of my birds, they show a lot of interest and I doubt they could hold back. If your dogs don’t seem interested, I would say it’s pretty likely a wild animal or a stray/loose dog. If it was one of yours, once they got a taste they’d be trying to get ahold of more. Just my opinion, hope it helps. Best of luck!

 

[grbroomfield]

Thank you

 

[ChickNanny13]

So sorry for your loss. I would more likely think it wasn't your dogs, you'd know if they were "into" your chickens. However, recheck your enclosure making sure the chickens can't get out nor anything get in.

 

[grbroomfield]

Thank you. My husband and I have been around and checked the enclosure very carefully this evening. It is beyond us how the one chicken kept getting out. But the other girls are secure. I have left my dogs outside but have been supervising them closely. They haven't ventured near the chickens and when they have it has only been to run past them chasing each other. I'm starting to think that it wasn't my dogs either but I will be a lot happier when their permanent enclosure goes up this weekend.