My own Border Collie killed my 4 chicks; a story of forgiveness and learning

[kaye_kayes_chicky_chicks]

I've wanted to get chickens again since my parents had to rehome ours when I was a teenager. So when my husband and I finally agreed we were settled enough in our new home, I dove deep into research to pick the best breed for us. Living in the PNW, it doesn't get too cold but it does rain quite a bit and we can occasionally get snow. I wanted to make sure we were set up for success and my chickens wouldn't be too cold or too hot in the changing seasons.
With all my research on breeds, we landed on the Lavender Orpington. Without writing a full essay: they are a cold hardy, dual purpose breed that lays between 170-200 light brown/almost pink eggs per year. They have beautiful grey, almost purple feathers that, at least in my experience, puff up quickly and are quite soft. My girls were very sweet and would climb right into my hands.
We had been introducing our 3 dogs to them slowly since the day we got them. Rey, my Border Collie was never aggressive in the stereotypical way. I'd rather say she was strong willed about wanting to play with her new friends. She's always been a super playful, high energy dog. You know, like the border collie she is. She did try to nip at one, but of course we corrected the behavior and she was done visiting with the chicks for that day. My husband and I continued to introduce her and the other dogs to the chicks without incident.
About a month goes by. The Chickies are big enough to move from the brooder to their (half)heated coop. They spend the first couple days getting used to the roosting area, with very short visits to the run below them. They obviously loved it, and watching them run around and chirp made my heart melt.
The first morning, I start my routine. Get up, brush my teeth, look out the bathroom window at the coop to see if the chicks had come into the run yet. I then go downstairs to let the dogs outside, start my coffee, and head out to the chicken coop to check on them, their food water, etc. They day goes without a hitch. Dogs and Chickens co-exist and for the day, there isn't any worry in my mind. I check on the Chickies for the night and head to bed. Day three I start my routine. Brush my teeth, check the window, let the dogs out, start my coffee. I head out to the coop and immediately freeze in the doorway.

Standing in the coop with four lifeless 1 month old chicks around her is Rey.
​

Due to the A-frame design of the coop, I can't lift her out, and honestly? I had a hard time even looking at her. The coop was too heavy to move on my own. In that moment, I was so overwhelmed I just sat on the ground and stared. Crying. How'd I get so attached to these tiny chicks?? I knew that there was always the likelihood they would die young, but this young? and this quick? I just saw them as I brushed my teeth! It's not fair!
Ten minutes pass. It's raining now and I know I have to figure out how to get Rey out. I let myself sit there for another 10 minutes before getting to work. I carefully step into the coop so I can lift Rey out, since she can't go back out through the hole she made in the chicken wire 2 feet off the ground. Slowly I take little clay foot prints of each chick before burying them in the front yard so they cant be dug up. Rey goes to her kennel in the garage for my husband to take care of her when he gets home from work.
I was so angry and sad and at first, I felt like I failed them. I was supposed to protect them so they had the chance to grow up and make their own chicken brain mistakes. I have since come to an understanding that I couldn't of expected my livestock dog to rip a hole in the chicken wire where it met the wooden frame of the coop.
Rey was taken care of by my husband for the next three days, as I couldn't bring myself to touch her, let alone play with her. She didn't do it to be mean or cruel, I know that. She really thought she was playing, and these were new friend to play with. She is truly our happiest dog, I forgive her. She didn't know better. We are working and training with her before getting any new chicks.
We are also fortifying the coop with better fencing than just chicken wire and looking for any other weakness she may try to use to get into the coop. While I never want to repeat this experience, I am glad it is a problem I can solve. I have learned and I know there will be more death in the future as it is part of the Chicken way.

Thank you for reading, if you have any advice, I'd love to hear it.

Rest in Piece Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, and Weenie

 

[Ecarroll]

I've wanted to get chickens again since my parents had to rehome ours when I was a teenager. So when my husband and I finally agreed we were settled enough in our new home, I dove deep into research to pick the best breed for us. Living in the PNW, it doesn't get too cold but it does rain quite a bit and we can occasionally get snow. I wanted to make sure we were set up for success and my chickens wouldn't be too cold or too hot in the changing seasons.
With all my research on breeds, we landed on the Lavender Orpington. Without writing a full essay: they are a cold hardy, dual purpose breed that lays between 170-200 light brown/almost pink eggs per year. They have beautiful grey, almost purple feathers that, at least in my experience, puff up quickly and are quite soft. My girls were very sweet and would climb right into my hands.
We had been introducing our 3 dogs to them slowly since the day we got them. Rey, my Border Collie was never aggressive in the stereotypical way. I'd rather say she was strong willed about wanting to play with her new friends. She's always been a super playful, high energy dog. You know, like the border collie she is. She did try to nip at one, but of course we corrected the behavior and she was done visiting with the chicks for that day. My husband and I continued to introduce her and the other dogs to the chicks without incident.
About a month goes by. The Chickies are big enough to move from the brooder to their (half)heated coop. They spend the first couple days getting used to the roosting area, with very short visits to the run below them. They obviously loved it, and watching them run around and chirp made my heart melt.
The first morning, I start my routine. Get up, brush my teeth, look out the bathroom window at the coop to see if the chicks had come into the run yet. I then go downstairs to let the dogs outside, start my coffee, and head out to the chicken coop to check on them, their food water, etc. They day goes without a hitch. Dogs and Chickens co-exist and for the day, there isn't any worry in my mind. I check on the Chickies for the night and head to bed. Day three I start my routine. Brush my teeth, check the window, let the dogs out, start my coffee. I head out to the coop and immediately freeze in the doorway.

Standing in the coop with four lifeless 1 month old chicks around her is Rey.
​

Due to the A-frame design of the coop, I can't lift her out, and honestly? I had a hard time even looking at her. The coop was too heavy to move on my own. In that moment, I was so overwhelmed I just sat on the ground and stared. Crying. How'd I get so attached to these tiny chicks?? I knew that there was always the likelihood they would die young, but this young? and this quick? I just saw them as I brushed my teeth! It's not fair!
Ten minutes pass. It's raining now and I know I have to figure out how to get Rey out. I let myself sit there for another 10 minutes before getting to work. I carefully step into the coop so I can lift Rey out, since she can't go back out through the hole she made in the chicken wire 2 feet off the ground. Slowly I take little clay foot prints of each chick before burying them in the front yard so they cant be dug up. Rey goes to her kennel in the garage for my husband to take care of her when he gets home from work.
I was so angry and sad and at first, I felt like I failed them. I was supposed to protect them so they had the chance to grow up and make their own chicken brain mistakes. I have since come to an understanding that I couldn't of expected my livestock dog to rip a hole in the chicken wire where it met the wooden frame of the coop.
Rey was taken care of by my husband for the next three days, as I couldn't bring myself to touch her, let alone play with her. She didn't do it to be mean or cruel, I know that. She really thought she was playing, and these were new friend to play with. She is truly our happiest dog, I forgive her. She didn't know better. We are working and training with her before getting any new chicks.
We are also fortifying the coop with better fencing than just chicken wire and looking for any other weakness she may try to use to get into the coop. While I never want to repeat this experience, I am glad it is a problem I can solve. I have learned and I know there will be more death in the future as it is part of the Chicken way.

Thank you for reading, if you have any advice, I'd love to hear it.

Rest in Piece Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, and Weenie

I’m sorry for your loss I’m also glad you are able to forgive your dog, because as you said it’s not her fault, she was just being a dog. And it is definitely not your fault either, now you know better and next time you will have her better trained and a fortified coop. You are doing great.

Ps. You are a very good writer, do you ever do creative writing? I think you would be great at it!

 

[Seaslug]

Thank you for writing this. I hope that everyone who reads it recognizes that this was a tragic accident. It is tragic that your chicks perished (you have my sympathies), but punishing the dog will not improve the situation.

 

[Penpal]

I'm very sorry. My precious border collie was also very interested in chicks and chickens.

You can't let her get to know the chicks or chickens. Her herding instinct will kick right in and if they don't obey her she will nip, just like she would nip at a sheep. If she doesn't know "leave it", teach it to her. Use it a lot. When you get chicks again, introduce her to them by telling her "leave it." Repeat, repeat, repeat. She's smart, she'll get it. If she knows she isn't allowed to herd them she'll stay out of the pen.

Just like she would not be allowed the pasture unless you went with her, she would not be allowed the chicken pen. Ever.