My lab just tried to kill one of my hens!

[Its Just Us Chickens]

The hen didn't make it thru the night.

I went to WM this morning to get the stuff to tie the dog out. I left the kids with dh. He went out to tinker on the car and wasn't paying attention; someone let the dog out and she got into the chickens again. This time she got my rooster. He's in really bad shape, lots of feathers missing adn some blood, very obviously in shock. He's wrapped up in a towel in my bathroom right now. I don't have any kind of pet carrier or cage or anything, but I have a a big plastic tote thingy I put a little hay in and put him in that.

If he makes it thru the night is there anything I need to do for his wounds? He's missing a big chunk of feathers along his neck and part of his back, it looks like it bled some.

I've got the rest of my hens put up in the coop, and the dog is tied otu now. Hopefully everything is under control there now.

 

[LilBizzy]

I am SO sorry about your hen, and your rooster.
I have seen people on here say to clean the wound with betadine and use neosporin, but I have never had to do any of that. Maybe change the title of your post to bring to peoples attention that there is a new problem... Someone with experience could give advice.

Again, I am really sorry about the hen.

 

[Emzyyy]

My neighbor's dog is a hunting dog and LOVES chasing and picking up my chickens, but he has a hard time choosing which one he wants to cary around so once he gets one and carries it about 2 feet he drops it and goes for another one...by the time he is done my flock is a slobbering mess, good thing is he never hurts them.

 

[Its Just Us Chickens]

Quote:
My lab is about six month old, and I think she thinks the chickens are giant squeeky toys. They run so she chases them, then when she catches them and shakes them, they make really fun noises

I don't think she is actually try to kill them she just wants to play and plays too rough.

I'm going to try changing the title now. THanks for hte suggestions.

 

[BeardedChick]

Wound cleaning:

Get some warm water, add a little bit of betadine or iodine tincture so the water is about the color of weak black tea. That is your wound wash, you can use it daily and it will not slow down healing (peroxide will take off the top layer of skin, and can delay healing - iodine is safer for that reason). The iodine will stain anything it touches - carpet, clothes, your hands, etc. so use some medical gloves if you have them, and work over a layer of newspapers or something. Irrigate the wound well with it. If there's any foreign stuff in the wound, use a piece of guaze or something to remove it. You do not need to blot the iodine dry but you can if it's more convenient for you.

I do not automatically put neosporin into wounds. If they look moist and like they need to dry a little, I do not apply it. If they look dry and like they would benefit from moisture - I apply it. If there was an area that had feathers ripped out and looked irritated, I would apply it.

Usually it takes a day or two for a 'meaty' wound (a wound through the muscle) to dry enough to need neosporin. Deep punctures should never have anything like petrolatum put into them as it can prevent drainage and cause infection to tunnel inward.

This type of 'meat' wound management works for horses, dogs, chickens, etc.

 

[Beekissed]

I have a lab mix with a real high prey drive and have managed to keep him wary of the chickens. The first day we got my new flock I dominated him if he even moved in their direction. Took three times and I haven't had to reinforce that training until here recently(approx. 9 mo. later)....this time I dominated him WITH a chicken! THAT really freaked him out!! He won't even look at a chicken now.....except I caught him slipping into the pop door(which I thought was too small for him!) and stealing my eggs the other day!!!! Dirty, egg-sucking hound!

 

[Its Just Us Chickens]

Thanks for explaining that. The wound is very "meaty" looking from where feathers were ripped out. I just washed it out with the iodine, I'll hold off on the neo till it's dryer looking.

 

[mypicklebird]

Labs are smart, you can teach him to leave the birds alone most likely. It would be great if he can work with you to keep the flock safe and not retrieve them. Lab puppies have lots of energy, and he needs direction- training. Appropriate things to retrieve, and on leash training around the chickens. Sit, stay, drop it, leave it, ect.

Walk around with him on a leash, and when he shows interest in the chickens, tell him no, make him sit and do something else- when he is behaving- give him positive attention. When/if he lunges at them or tries to chase/retrieve, be dominant- snap the leash or shake his ruff if you need to make the point.

If he has a strong prey drive like some terriers (which were bred to kill small creatures) this may be hopeless, but as he is a LAB (which genetically should be programed to gently bring birds back to you) he should be more trainable.

Goal would be to At least be able to have him out and around when people are there to supervise, and in a pen (or the house) when there are not. Chaining a dog generally prevents them from doing much damage to anything, but will over time make a dog crazy, antisocial, over protective of the area, and generally not a good family pet.

Labrador or Golden would not be my first pick for a property with free ranging chickens- they WANT to have birds in their mouths. Lots of folks in this area with live stock and chickens have pyranees and antatolian mixes. They will supervise and guard any creatures on the property, and keep out other animals- wild and roaming pets.

My big doberman killed a chicken on the third day he was here (with his feet), I did the dog take down, he did some on leash training, and he ignores them now. Cats too. He knows I am boss dog, and I will squish him if he tries to play with one. A min pin I am taking care of, so far seems to be totally prey driven, seemingly untrainable to not try to attack. I have just about given up on him to be ever out with them.

 

[Beekissed]

Yep...my GP mix never needed training and she is excellent on guarding the flock. The lab/BC mix is a little more hyper, younger, but very smart and easy to train.

 

[Its Just Us Chickens]

Quote:
LOL, a lab wasn't my choice either. SHe just showed up IN my house one day. My hubby said where'd the dog come from? I said what dog?

We have no idea where she came from.

She's a beautiful dog tho. I think she's mixed with something else, she's a chocolate lab, but has light brown markings on her from legs so I don't think she's purebred. She is real smart, and we've taught her some simple commands like sit. She just has so much energy that when you let her out the door she takes off running and there's no stopping her.