Need some advice

[steveandval]

The coop door was left open on our coop, the chickens (we had 16) 13 hens / 3 roosters got out and our dog killed 10 of them.. I AM SICK there is 1 rooster left he is limping / but there is one hen that I am pretty sure will not be alive tomorrow morning the other 3 are in the coop. they were just 3 months old, all very very healthy I can't even explain how I feel we had just doubled their outside pen to double the size, things were going so good

what would you guys suggest as far as replacing the ones we lost, I hate the thought of starting over from 1 day old chicks, can we get 3 month old hens? and if so how would we go about putting them in the coop with the others. I never realized how close I had become to all the ladies until tonight, I feel so awful, it makes me sick, and it isn't our dogs fault to him it was just a game. Any suggestions?

 

[kidd42]

Sorry about your loss, always rough considering how much work is put in to raise them. I would try Craigs list or see if you have any poultry sales/swaps in your area. Even post on Craigs list that your looking for pullets. You have to introduce them slow. I put a partition of chicken wire in our henhouse when I moved this years new flock in at 6 weeks old with our two year old flock. They stayed like this for about a month and then I put them together. There were a few days of the older girls bossing the younger ones around (still some of that going on 2 months later) but they all get along fine now. Good luck!

 

[roz]

Wow, I am so sorry. I can only imagine how you feel. We have dogs and could easily be in your shoes. I just wanted to suggest your local craiglist for possible places to get 3 month old hens. There are always chickens of different ages listed on ours. I've heard if you put them in the coop at night when they're all sleeping they'll wake up the next day and not have any issues. I haven't tried it myself yet though

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[chimneyrock]

so sorry for your loss. Like the others said Craigs list...I lost most of my flock 2 weeks ago....I've been so upset I just starting looking and I have been finding things on craigs list. I just got 6 keets...and they have been keeping me busy! Good luck!