Lost all of my 5 week olds today

[Chew593]

6 total... all my plymouth rocks and my favorite RIR dead at the teeth of the beloved family dog. (We don't know which one.) We think one of the kids might have opened the gate to the run. That or I didn't close it as well as I thought... they've been outside just about a week and I'm totally bowled over by the loss.
We had just cleaned their pen and built them a permanent outside feeder earlier today.
I've never owned chickens before this and I feel like a complete failure. I have 6 more in the brooder that I'm not feeling too positive about right now.

 

[PQ4evr]

the tunnel is always dark before you see the light accidents happen. keep your hope up it will all work out

 

[candysclucks]

So sorry! What a heartbreaker! Things like this happen and we learn. Don't give up on your chicks. They can bring so much enjoyment.

Candy

 

[old mill poultry]

I am really so sorry. It's happened to the best of us. The first year I got chickens I had 12 chicks 4 were definite roos. My dog did the same and even though I knew the roos would be sold or made into eating birds when I heard my dogs killed my babies I cried. Last feb a pack of coons killed half my flock, I was devastated. It just happens...
Go get some new chicks, just find a better way to keep the dogs away.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

Awww!

I'm sooo sorry for your loss. That is definately a downer. As sad as it feels right now, pick yourself up and dust off. At least you have a brooder full of kiddos to help you get over this. I'm sure this won't happen again because once you've suffered a loss like this, you're extra vigilant.

 

[amazondoc]

Been there, done that. I allowed one of my dogs to kill my first set of chickens as well. I know how awful it feels!

Don't give up on keeping birds. Just take some time to grieve, and try to learn from the experience.

Good luck in the future!

 

[headred]

So sorry for you! Funny how they become a part of your family so quickly!

 

[Jeff9118]

Well I hate to say it but sometimes things happen like this and it really sucks when it does. Look at it as a lesson learned and I'm sure you will take better precautions with the bunch in the brooder. You might make sure there residence is dog proof considering most chicken killing dogs are likely to tear into the pen to get to them. If you use regular Chicken wire you may as well have used silly string. So if not already, dog proof your pen since you now know that one of your dogs is a killer. Keep trying and dont give up. You might put a lock on the coop to keep the kids out and you wont have to worry about it getting left open. Good luck.

 

[sred98]

I am so sorry you are going through this.

I had a neighbor's dog come and kill almost all of mine today, too. It is really devastating.

I am glad that you have some in the brooder. It won't replace the ones you lost, but it will help some.

Shelly

 

[johnmayersquare]

I know how heartbreaking it is! My dogs have done it a number of times and just when I think I have the run "dog proofed", one finds their way in........I just have to be VERY cautious about where they are at all times.......it kinda becomes second nature after a while......Hang in there!