I'm so sad and so mad...

[KattyKillFish]

i have a friend who puts their dogs on a tether while they go out and do their business. perhaps that might help prevent future attacks

i would be pretty upset too. your poor girl

i agree 100% with waibel zoo, because they aren't just chickens. they are our pets who we care about and spend time and money one. it is my belief that animals are people too, and we can become emotionally attached to them. i treat my chickens like i would my children, and you did the right thing putting her out of her misery. the poor dear.

my sympathy

 

[addicted2chicks]

Thanks everyone. We have such a nice big chunk of property I just wanted everyone to get along so everyone could enjoy it and maybe someday but I need to do work with the dogs or at least the suspected one. The suspected dog only weighs about 10 lbs. Big tough dog in a little body, lol. At least he only took out 1 and not half my flock. Just wish it would of happened while my son was at school. Although it is a learning experience for all of us. I had a dog that ate my pet rabbit when I was little.

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

We live on 20 acres and I am never going to let my chickens and dogs together. I wish I could, but in my gut I don't think it would work. If the chickens are out of their run or coop the dogs are in the house. The dogs go outside when the chickens are safe. And the first place they go when I let them out is down to the coop. It would kill me to have to go through what you are so I'm just going to be safe. Sorry for your loss.

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

This is a lesson for all of us with property, dogs and chickens.

I too would love to let everyone out to be 'free' but know that my Austrailian Cattle Dog, aussie and red heeler/shih tzu puppy (all herders) and very sweet loving dogs would chase the chickens because they run and fly. They wouldn't purposely kill them but would do great harm in trying to play with them.

I'm so sorry for your and your son's loss.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

I am so so sorry. You have a good husband to take care of it for you.

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
The kennel is a good idea. Sorry the chicken died.

 

[highcountrychickens]

Perhaps you could tell your Son that these things happen sometimes, and that maybe he can take on the project of training his dog that chickens are off limits... I still would never trust the dog(s) around the hens, but it might give him a little power with the situation.

It's horribly heartbreaking, and I'm so sorry. I had this happen with the very first rooster we had - a pet Dutch Brown Bantam who used to sit on a perch on my desk and watch me paint, and nap with my JRT puppy on her bed. I drove to town to run an errand, and left him snoozing on his perch one afternoon, and returned to find that our Labrador had gotten out of his kennel, and killed that wonderful rooster. It was years ago, and still breaks my heart.

So so sorry this happened.

 

[addicted2chicks]

We have a sheltie which is a herding dog. He loves to watch the chickens and he goes with me when I do "chicken chores" and he just watches. Our 2nd dog is a Cavalier King charles spaniel, a breed that is total bird dog. He, I honestly know just wants to lick them. He has no desire for hunting (although DH wishes he did) and loves

everything and everybody and wouldn't hurt a thing. So then there is the smallest dog we have, which is a mutt but he does have cocker spaniel in him so I guess he just went with what is in him.
If you all knew me you would know I am smarter than that. I think way ahead on everything I do and always prepare for the worst that could happen. I must of had a total brain blank yesterday, which rarely happens, and didn't click that the chicks were out when I let the dogs out. We have taken every precaution possible on the coop to keep predators out.
I gotta move on, lesson learned. I am sure there are more lessons to learn.

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

Sweet Cheeks,

I also have an ACD and you are right he would run those chickens to death. As soon as I let him out he runs for the bird feeders. Just has never caught anything, but as stubborn as he is, chickens would just be too easy.
If he herds me like he does, the chickens would never have a chance.