My Dogs killed all my Chickens

[Cryss]

and the dogs dug under the fence once they saw the chickens were loose.

If dogs can dig under so can fox, raccoon, rats, you name it. Either dig 2 feet down to bury 1/2 inch hardware cloth around the entire coop and run or spread a 2 ft wide hardware cloth apron. No chicken wire, it isn't made for predator protection, only to keep chickens in. I swear chickens are the only animal unable to rip through chicken wire.

 

[The Moonshiner]

This not not a good way to start participating here. Back off on the the judgments as they make you sour.

Wow.
Thanks for joining and don't mind our welcome wagon member.

 

[MROO]

If dogs can dig under so can fox, raccoon, rats, you name it. Either dig 2 feet down to bury 1/2 inch hardware cloth around the entire coop and run or spread a 2 ft wide hardware cloth apron. No chicken wire, it isn't made for predator protection, only to keep chickens in. I swear chickens are the only animal unable to rip through chicken wire.

Maybe THAT'S why we call it "Chicken Wire!"

 

[MROO]

Wow.
Thanks for joining and don't mind our welcome wagon member.

Aww, C'mon, play nice! I read that as "Don't judge the DOGS!" not people. The hurt will fade, bitterness doesn't.

 

[Ebony Rose]

I hope that you realize that your dogs will never be the same around chickens again. Once a chicken killer, always a chicken killer. I'd be finding them a new home, one without chickens.

 

[The Moonshiner]

This not not a good way to start participating here.

Aww, C'mon, play nice! I read that as "Don't judge the DOGS!" not people. The hurt will fade, bitterness doesn't.

This part didn't seem to have much to do with the dogs as it just seemed as an unpleasant statement to a new member.

 

[Doublete]

Definitely feel hurt.

My two german shepherds can’t be trusted around my large animals. They WILL pack on my horses and goats. They have attacked one of my goats. So while I work on their training I enforced the goat fencing so the goats can not get out again. I have an e collar for my dogs which is what I use with professional training.
When I am with them they are fine with my free ranging guineas. But I wouldn’t trust them with chicks.

If you go away again... I would go over with the sitter what is expected.

I would also sit down NOW with your husband and him and say “so in light of what happened we have decided we need to make a lot of changes based on the losses we incurred” basically making him aware that you found out the hard way you needed to protect your birds due to his negligence... and outline that you are going to replace etc... so make it a catch 22 learning experience that cost money both ways in losses and reinforcing

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Has anyone pause and think for a minute about the kids? The poor kids in all of this, crying their little munchkin eyes out devastated by the loss! I don't know, in my opinion I think it's best to chalk it up as a loss and build over again..... I don't think it would be right to make the pet sitter pay for the damages regardless if he was a stranger or a relative, but especially being a relative and I'm sure he feels terrible enough as it is already. I mean, accidents happen..... imagine if you were in his shoes. Was it negligence on his part? I wouldn't know but from what the OP has said he's been pet sitting at their place for more than a few times so perhaps he just got too comfortable and let his guard down for a moment, and all it takes is that one split second such as forgetting to latch the door or whatever that can result in a massacre such as this.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

we left town and had a sitter for our home and pets. Unfortunately, due to neglect on the sitters part, my chickens got out and my dogs killed them. I am so mad and hurt I can’t believe it. I don’t even want to keep my dogs anymore. I don’t trust them. I have young children...plus the sitter I mean really? Common! How negligent can you be? Unfortunately he’s family so I can’t cause problems; but I’m so mad. I don’t know what to do. I’m not ready to start our flock over but our daughter loved them and always helped me. This is my first time owning chickens but they were pets we got them for eggs not meat. We loved them and are in mourning. Are these normal reactions? I’m not sure if I want to run the risk of loosing my flock again. I’m sorry for the rant I’m so mad and don’t know what to do.

It takes time, but you can always train dogs. My two dogs don’t even pay attention to the chickens anymore.

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Idk man, if I'm at a friends house and I break something if it's not cheap so cheap as they don't worry about it I offer to replace it. If someone broke something expensive at my house and didn't offer to replace it I'd be pretty upset. Seems like common sense to me.

And if my dogs kill someones chickens I'm liable for them too, accident or not. Same with if I let someone else's dog out and that dog kills someone else's birds...

And this seems like a little more than just a broken lamp. Seems like the least they could do is pay for the replacements given the devastation that was caused. IMO much like if a neighbors dog got out and killed your whole flock it doesn't fix the damage or literally replace the lost birds but it's more like a show of good faith, humility and lesson learned and would go a long way to mending the damage, but maybe that's just me.