My dog just killed our chicks

[Gaegg]

A puupy is right to get. I had a Chocolate Lab and kept her around our chickens from day one. Sometimes she would start out wanting to play but I popped her on the but and would throw a ball or stick for her. When she was about 3 months old one of the game came up with some chicks and all she had to do was get close and you know what that game did and never had no more problem with her. We lost her and got a black Lab and taught her basically the same way. She is now 10 months old and doesn't mess with them other then eat their feed when we throw it out.

 

[shaggy]

i am considering a shock collar for my dog and running the wire around the coop --- so if the dog gets withing x-distance from the fence it will get a shock

 

[sunnibunny99]

That scares me.... Our lab Rozy has her eye on our pullets.... Shes behind a fence but shes pretty strong.....

 

[NJbirdlover]

Quote:
not a bad idea!

 

[DawnSusan]

Thanks. I feel a little bit better after reading all of your kind words. I won't get rid of my dog. I was just really really angry when I wrote that and it just felt good. He's basically a good dog, just not really an asset around the property, you know. He is well-trained overall, but has no protective instinct, and of course, kills birds. We do not hunt, so his retrieving abilities are totally squashed, and we live in the burbs, so he doesn't get to run around and be distracted by a lot of other things -- for him it was an instant "crazy eye" as soon as we got the chickens. He was obsessed. I tried to stay on top of him. My husband should have given him some training, in hindsight, because he really obeys my husband. My husband has been out of town a lot. This was my first lab and I will never have another. I'm just not a labby person.

I thought for sure it would be my terrier who would give us trouble.,
He hunts and tries to kill anything he can (birds he can catch, rats lizards, worms, a family hamster and a family parakeet, etc.). But he was pretty easy to train with the chickens. I just told him "get off" every time he started showing interest and he found something else to do. Go figure.

I didn't like killing the two injured ones, but had to do it. It was really a bummer. I have to tell my daughter in a few hours. Two of the kids should be okay with it, but my little girlie is going to take it hard. As far as they will know, these hens died instantly, although, unfortunately, this wasn't the case.

I'm just really really sad, and angry at the same time. Not a great mix of emotions.

Thanks, you guys.

 

[gardenak]

I am so sorry to hear about your chicks. I have a giant white dog (mixed breed) that seems a little too interested in my chickens, I know now to keep an even better eye out for him.

 

[Cetawin]

I am so sorry.

I know how terrible you must feel but you cannot blame yourself really....you had them secured but the dog was more determined.


Ummmm here may not be the best place to try to find him a new home though....

Seriously, though it is time to spend some training time with Mr. Retriever and let him know what is and is not acceptable behavior. Regardless of how you feel about it, he needs to be punished so that he knows it is not acceptable. Good luck with this and again I am so sorry you lost your chicks.

 

[LilbitChicken]

I am so sorry.

 

[Goose and Fig]

So sorry about your little ones. We had the same issues- but finally got it right. 2 of our dogs (the ones that want to eat the birds) are allowed to run around in the morning, and then go into a fenced yard for the day. The chickens free range when the dogs are locked up. Then we let the dogs out again after the chicks go in for the night. Everybody gets playtime! I also used welded wire and a finish stapler to build our coops- NOTHING can get in there. Well maybe a bear, but I haven't seen any lately!

 

[Gonzo]

That's so sad! I know your heart is broken, but it's not your fault. I thought labs had soft mouths because they are fowl retrievers. We have a german sheperd, and I'm worried about him doing the same. I'm so sorry for your loss.