I, too have a chicken killin' dog. I have had him way longer than I have had chickens. He has killed more of my birds than all other causes of death, combined. Yet, I love him and have taken steps to have both birds and dog at the same time. It can be done and there will be setbacks, but one does what one has to do. I love my dog, he's a great dog. He just has the instinct to kill birds and will if the right circumstances are present. I keep him up during the day and let him out at night unless everyone (of the birds) didn't come in to roost. Like now, I have two guinea hens AWOL and I suspect they have a nest somewhere. To prevent the dog from finding them at night, he is staying in the pen full time. I let him out when I am outside and he will not kill if I am watching. That sounds like he does it "behind my back" but I don't think it is like that. He just remembers that he is not supposed to mess with them when I am there to remind him. Bless his heart, he can't help it. I had a snake in the coop and I couldn't make him get it because he thought I didn't want him to kill it! He wants to please me and just can't seem to grasp that I like the birds alive. I know how bad it hurts, the last time it happened, I cryed (it scared my DH, I'm not a cryer.) Just do what you can to prevent it and if you fail, forgive yourself and keep trying.
