My own dog, in my own house!

[Robin'sBrood]

I'm so sorry for your losses, Amy.

 

[Turtle]

My dog got one of my chicks when I first got some the chick had gotten out of the brooder because I didnt secure the sides right. Its really hard when that happens. Dont beat yourself up you did good and mistakes happen. Its a learning experience that teaches us to be more careful next time. I know I have and havent lost another to my dog since. So sorry for your loss.

 

[Lady Lavendar]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I had a similar experience. I keep my chickens in pairs in 10x10 dog pens reinforced with two kinds of wire but one of the doors had a 4"x4" space below it. I was going to cover it with a bit of 2x4 but figured I would get around to it later and just skirted it with some extra wire so the chickens couldn't get under it. That night my 11mos. Shepherd pup got bored and figured out how to unlatch the back yard gate. He let all the dogs out and while the others were too big to get in and just barked, my mini Daschund went right through that hole and killed my favorite pair of chickens. That was our first loss and we were devastated.

 

[sweetshoplady]

My older dog (shepherd) lately all of a sudden (I've had chickens for 3 years) has been stalking them and got a couple older ones and a duck. It's heartbreaking to have happen.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Yeah, see, this is what mean. You never know when or which it will be.

It may, in fact, be never and then you can say, "My dogs are angels and have never harmed a feather..."
And you would be lucky (or at least had planned well).

Then again it is like you say. Not if, but when.

===========================================

We live and learn. Im electrifying my yard this time around.

 

[AmyJ]

Sorry to hear about this. We have 2 dogs and 2 cats in the house so I am always worried about something happening too. We use baby gates to keep the dogs in the kitchen when we are doing anything with the chicks or ducks. We are also using the 2 dogs old crates for the chicks and ducks, so hopefully no one can get in or out accidentally.I just put cardboard all around the outside of the crates to keep drafts out. Hope you are able to replace your chicks and your kids are feeling better about it soon.

 

[Chicky Tocks]

I have two dachshunds...and a very interested cat. I've just hatched 12 babies and have been really worried about that. My chicks are on my enclosed front porch. No dog or cat is allowed out there unless I'm with them....

I'm sorry this happened. I know your heart must be broken.

 

[amyc]

I went this morning to TSC and picked up a couple replacements, just to keep little Cookie company (strongly thinking about renaming her Lucky), and I'm going this afternoon to buy a couple more birds to get back to what we had.

I'm hoping having the new chicks after school will cheer up the boys. Plus I'm going to take my 10 year old to help me pick out some wynadottes and polish crested.

And a baby gate has been installed - I know it won't stop the little weenie dog, but hopefully will slow him down.

 

[nzpouter]

have you consider training the dog?

 

[Davaroo]

Good luck with that training jazz!

My dogs are trained. I taught them to be obedient and restrained around the chickens. The birds, for their part, were doing well. All was at peace in the hen yard for some time.

Until the fateful day when I went out to the yard and found every last one of the chickens dead. Not dismembered or ripped up as a predator does, but just dead. "Sported," as I likes to say.
In the chicken fence, INSIDE the main perimeter fence, was a nice sized hole. A dog-sized hole, carefully worked open and passage thus made.

This was done with my back turned, when I wasn't there to stop it. Unseen by me, a cauldron was brewing. For some reason unknown, the dogs took it in their head... and the deed was done, the frenzy begun. Only death was left in it's wake, an entire flock wiped out in one fell swoop. All that was left for me was the shovel work.

SO train away. Read all the dog psychology books and buy Cesar Milans DVD's. Make a deep track in the turf before the chicken yard, "teaching" those dogs of yours. Really get up a lather.
I did.

But dont turn your back on them. Ever. Like chickens, dogs are a Force of Nature.

Again, I recommend this thread on the matter: Dealing with dogs