Lost 8, EIGHT hens yesterday...

[kickinchicken]

Someone on here put out a HUGE live trap and trapped the neighbor's MASTIFF. A MASTIFF!!! It was sooo funny to see that huge dog squished in that cage. I think the chicken owner made the trap himself. Quite an ingenious trap, too! I believe it was under predators and pests as well. Search it.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

Don't read if you are squeemish - -
I lost 3 chickens 8 weeks old in one day. My dog is really stupid and will show guilt if I confront him and he showed no guilt when I showed him the birds. He is protective of the flock - but will chase them occasionally. When discovered, the freshest kill had only the eyes missing and the lower jaw. It was a very fresh kill so fresh I considered ( and then didn't ) cleaning and sending it to "Camp Freezer". It became dark and I stopped looking for any other birds. First thing in the AM I went out looking. Found 2 more birds , scaring a hawk off the carcasses. The hawk was eating them in place and returned to finish the job as I left them for the "circle of life" thing. The last 2 were right next to the house with plenty of cover, long grass and they could have hidden under the LP tank if nesc. The partially eaten birds, found with the hawk on them were eaten in this order: Head, body, legs last. There was a circle of feathers at the site of each of the second & third kills. We have those red tailed hawks on our property. They never did take the kill anywhere but ate it on site. So, it could be a hawk too, and not the dog. I agree dogs and canines will kill for sport but don't count out the hawk.

 

[Oven Ready]

As you are in Texas isn't it OK to shoot things that bother your livestock?
Dogs are a pain once they've found the joy of chickens. They just can't resist.

If you've got a gun I'd just sit and wait for it - if you've got a pickup sit in the back of the pickup near the coop - dogs hardly ever look upwards when their on the prowl and seem to accept that cars appear in the strangest of places - it might pee on the tires though.

If you don't have a gun, I'm sure there are other people near you who do and would help you out.

You could explain to the neighbor or you could just keep quiet (or you might shoot a coyote or racoon of course).
Perhaps she'll assume that that terrible hawk she saw got her dog. Maybe she'll realize that she should've looked after her dog better.

 

[Andaloosa]

Here is the email response I got from the (neighbor) wife:

John found 2 chickens on the your ridge, I'm guessing it was near where you cleared for an arena. He has disposed of them. He also saw the red tailed hawk that I saw the other day. It was perched on your property. Jade, The Accused, was with him and has spent the rest of the day inside with me. We're trying to walk her so we can keep on eye on her. It's conceivable that she would try to "herd" the chickens if they were running around loose as that is what she tries to do with our horses and the kittens she rounds up and tries to mother them. I haven't found evidence of her having eaten them but who knows. I don't think, however, that she could have killed 8. Since we've had Lucy, their older dog that has never bothered our chickens, we haven't seen evidence of raccoons, though I'm sure they are still roaming out there. We also haven't heard any coyotes lately. Don't know if they have moved out of the hollow. There are plenty of snakes around though.
In any case we'll be happy to help you replenish your flock. Let me know how much it costs. As soon as my knee gets better and it cools down, I'll be more faithful walking with the dogs in the mornings again. That usually takes the edge off of them wanting to roam.

By the way, did you find any more carcasses than the two John found? -Ro

And later, email from her husband:

I only found the two carcasses that I discovered based on watching the birds circle Monday morning when I walked all around your lot and the neighboring lots. I had Jade out that morning hoping she might take me to some remains -- but she didn't. I bagged the two of them and watched the birds most of the day to see if they could find any others. Because the two were both "down hill" towards our property (one near your neighbors barn and one on the far side of your driveway) from where you keep them -- and they were "more killed than eaten" -- I would have to say that it is far more likely that Jade got the two of them. I was surprised when I was told this morning that a hawk would do the same thing. I always thought they would kill for the "complete meal" like most predators. As for the other six chickens, it would certainly seem that, one way or another, they ended up as predator meals since neither the birds nor I could find any remnants.

Jade came in to dinner panting heavily Sunday evening when I got home from shopping -- so it would make sense that she could have been herding them. Both Ro and I had been out Sunday afternoon we couldn't tell you much about what was happening around the neighborhood during that time. I guess we may have to shut Jade into our indoor horse stalls if we both go out in the future. For now I have been keeping her within eyesight when she is out and have been taking for supervised walks to burn her energy. I will repeat
Ro's offer to replace your chickens since it seems Jade probably contributed to the problem. -John

What do laying hens go for? They were Americaunas (or however you spell it)

And in response to sitting and waiting...it has been over 100 here for the last many days, not to mention I have 6 month old and 2 1/2 year old daughters. Not possible.

Thanks!

 

[Oven Ready]

Sounds like they are reasonable neighbors who accept it was their dog without actually accepting it was their dog if you know what I mean, so perhaps give them and their dog another chance at being neighborly. But I wouldn't give them more than one more chance - after all with only two birds left the next attack could be a wipeout.

Small children and hot weather can be pesky in an ambush situation.

You can let them know, if you want, that dogs can easily kill eight chickens. As I've said in a few other posts here we lost over twenty to a single dog in one day, they really are killing machines once they've decided that's what they're going to do. There's plenty other people here will confirm a dogs insatiable killing sprees, and often without even having the decency to eat what they kill.

I'm sorry for your losses but hopefully the neighbors will help 'beef' up your stock again and perhaps might consider keeping their dog under better control.

I have no idea how much chickens cost, but I'm sure someone on here will let you know, or perhaps search the internet for companies/breeders selling them near you and get a few quotes to show the neighbors - I'd add a bit on as well for the feed and care of the ones you lost.

Good luck with your new lot.

 

[ParadiseFoundFarm]

I raise Ameraucannas. When I wanted to buy a brroding hen for my chicks I was quoted 80.00 that included shipping from a breeder 1 state away. I did not buy the chicken but am offering this info to you. You can go on the Ameraucanna Breeders Club website. On that website there are reputable breeders. THEY would be your source for what a full grown chicken is REALLY worth.

 

[Jimster]

A way to find out is to fit an inexpensive security cam that way no one can argue

also you will know if the dog is entering your ground

 

[Andaloosa]

Quote:
That would only work if the dog was chasing/killing chickens in front of the camera. We have almost 7 acres and not enough money to fit the property with security cameras. The chickens only get killed when we try to let them free range. As far as the dog coming onto our property, we have seen her many times on our land. She frequently tries to recruit our dog for walkabouts, but our dog is either indoors or inside a fence.