I'm heartbroken...and scared for him.

[Dixiedoodle]

I am so sorry for you and Mr. Mom and Sister. I can only imagine how heartbroke you all are.
I am glad the neighbor has stepped up to the plate and is paying for the birds.

I hope the dog was given to a rescue that can rehome it to someone who lives in the city and/or that has a secure fence. We have a hound that we adopted (from our dd after she 'turned him out' twice --and he went to her neighbors and killed their chickens) that hates chickens and will/has killed them when he could get loose. Now, I am happy to say he is confided in a very large secure fence and we are building my coop and run so that it will be as secure as possible--so that no one else's dog will be able to get in...I pray.

 

[jubylives]

Quote:
Uh if it was then the dog would not have gotten in. Judging by the pictures you show I can see how the dog got in. The OSB you used is old and has been soaked many times with water resulting in the seperation of the wood shavings used to make it. OSB is not an exterior grade material and has to be covered by another material in order to remain intact. Picture 5 is a perfect example of what I am talking about. I'm sure most of the sheathing in those pictures can be pulled off easily by hand.

I'm not trying to be mean. Just trying to help you not go through this again. When you make your repairs you should add more nails to hold the OSB to the studs. Preferably every 4-6 inches and apply some laytex chaulk to the seams and run your finger down the seam to press the chaulk into the seam. Then apply several coats of paint to protect the OSB from moisture.

jeremy

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Well, I suppose after 40 years of weathering the wood is bound to rot...

 

[jubylives]

Quote:
Then it was well taken care of to last 40 years. Typically OSB will only last a year or two uncovered.

jeremy

 

[snowydiamonds]

As heartbreaking as it all is, I have to agree w/jubylives about the pressboard- it is not predator proof even when new. It separates easily, especially wherever there are nails or screws. Even if you'd had tin over it, the tin would have lifted easily enough to get the osb or pressboard off or a hole into it. Good sturdy wood and a good predator proof fence is best but if predators can climb or fly, even that is not good enough. I love roo's so am desperately hoping your's pulls through and will live to see another flock under his care for the remainder of his life...hugs...

 

[Attack Chicken]

OMG I just found this thread. I'm am so sorry for your birds

It sounded like you tried your best to proof the coop but sometimes animals are so determined they find ways. Feed your roo extra treats and try and find him a friend as soon as possible. So sorry for you *hugs*

 

[Akane]

There is never an acceptable reason for people losing control of their dogs since these beings are predators capable of the horrors your birds had to endure.

I'll be one of the first to say it's the owners responsibility to keep the dog under control and confined and you should definitely be allowed to kill any dog that comes on your property. However there is no reasonable way to 100% confine every dog. Mine cleared a 6' cattle panel with hot wire yesterday because she decided I was taking too long with the chickens so she came to help.

She has escaped things I never thought she could. That's one reason she is never outside while I'm gone or for more than 20mins without me checking on her. I always leave the door open to the house and if she doesn't come back in to check with me I look out the window and if I don't see her I go outside and call her so I know she's still in the yard. Her breeder has gone through great lengths to confine her dogs with concrete sunk chain link and hot wire and I bet they would still get out if they had a good enough reason. The neighbors chow/shep mix dog showed up at our house dragging a logging chain and 2 concrete blocks once. He had to cross about a mile of fields with it. They finally gave him away because they never managed to keep him tied or confined. I've also seen dogs tear through interior doors and exterior doors of a house. A friend of mine growing up lost all his chickens and rabbits to some big dogs that tore the door right off the coop and it was an exterior door made to be used on a house and set with an extra hinge into a 4x4 support. The door was trashed. There is no such thing as completely dog proof there are only better and worse attempts to dog proof.​