Lost my first chick to this....

[wanda047]

This cute little guy killed one of my 2 week old chicks!

Not his fault of course, as I assume he was just "playing" but I haven't decided who to blame yet... guess myself!

I presently have 3 brooders in my living room. I wanted to keep them where we could all enjoy them and also allow the chicks to get used to having people around. They're handled often by all of us, including the children, but usually with permission and adult supervision only.

Being a holiday, we all slept in.... or so I thought. it appears the two youngest boys, ages 2 and 7 decided to wake early and watch cartoons... and play with the chicks. Someone also let the puppy ("Spanky") in the house. Obviously, the boys weren't paying real close attention and apparently Spanky nabbed one of the chicks. It wasn't noticed until it was too late and chick was already dead

Spanky's been banned to the outdoors, boys have been seriously/verbally reprimanded, and everyone'e tiptoeing around MOM today. Anyone want a puppy?? Have a couple boys I might barter with also.

 

[sred98]

Awwww.

Makes it worse when it's one of your own, doesn't it? Maybe the boys learned a big lesson, hopefully!

Sorry this happened.

Shelly

 

[TriciaHowe]

I had something similar happen when we went to the store once. I didn't realize that the chicks could fly out of the laundry room and 1 of them went over the doggy door gate. My old dog who didn't normally bother the chickens at all couldn't resist playing with the new squeak toy and it was dead when we got home. She was still licking it......

Not a mark on it, just dead....
Learned my lesson the hard way. If your boys are like my kids they probably felt terrible. I'm sorry, I know I hate when my birds and chicks are messed with...

 

[wanda047]

I actually got this little beagle/mix puppy with hope of making him my chicken watch-dog. I was told by a fellow chicken owner that if I'd get a puppy to raise with my chickens that #1. It's be less likely to bother my chickens, since being raised with them. #2. it'd help protect them and keep predators out of the yard. Now... my Spanky has had a taste of fresh chicken! Wonder what's the likelihood that he'll want more? My chickens do not free range, but instead are kept enclosed. He's never allowed in the runs, but he follows me to the three pens each morning and waits outside while I feed the chickens. At this point, most of my chickens are much larger than he is!

Spanky has sat at my front door all day crying to be with the children. It's raining outside so the kids can't go outside to play. I may have to break down and bring him in for a little while. Can't stay mad at him forever.

 

[sred98]

Was there blood, or was it just dead? If it didn't get the blood taste, you might have a chance.

Keep a close watch on it and get onto it for any interest in the chickens.

Good Luck!

Shelly

 

[car_uh]

You never do know... I used to have a rabbit & when I got a puppy I thought that since he was raised with the bunny, he would realize it was "our" bunny & a friend, not a toy or something to eat. Nope! He never stopped wanting to "get" the bunny. To his credit I think he just wanted to play with it like he does the cats (he used to carry around one of the cats in his mouth when she was little) but obviously the bunny wasn't so much into that. And it just got worse when the rabbit moved out of the house & into the yard full-time. Guess his prey drive was just too strong to ever see the bunny as a "friend."

When the chickens were in the house he didn't bother them. But, now that they are out in the yard he is starting to be more interested & I don't doubt that he would run after one if he had the chance... just for fun, of course, if you ask him!

 

[wanda047]

Quote:
Shelly... My daughter woke me up and told me Spanky had killed a chick. She is 12 and quite mature for her age. By the time I threw on clothes and got upstairs, she had already taken the chick from the house and out of sight of the younger children. There was no sign of blood or feathers in the house. However... later when I went to examine and see what damage the puppy had done, I found a chick with both feet chewed off and one wing missing. I'm assuming he killed the chick first....then proceeded to chew on it, thus the lack of blood.

I'll never trust him around my chickens again, big or small. I'm just afraid he'll want more and I'm not willing to sacrifice my chickens for a dog. I'll find him a new home, if I see the need.

This is the very first chicken I've ever lost to a "predator"... hoping it's my last.