Neighbors Dog Massacred My flock

[MandaRae]

I don’t know much about American wildlife. But here in Europe we have some predators that hunt in full daylight too. Of course the birds of prey and dogs. Foxes and wolves hunt in daytime too if they are hungry.

We have a lot of hawks and eagles here so I need to have the covered run. We let them free range while we are outside which is pretty often.

 

[NanaK]

I've seen fox in the all different times of day here too. Many times between 10am and noon. So far none have gotten into our covered run. They are very difficult to trap and sneaky.

 

[McChooky]

We have solar auto doors but they are still in a covered protected run.
I stopped using it temporarily.

I don’t know much about American wildlife. But here in Europe we have some predators that hunt in full daylight too. Of course the birds of prey and dogs. Foxes and wolves hunt in daytime too if they are hungry.

Yes but more predators hide under the cover of darkness so this window of time before darkness falls and after daylight is extremely important.Chickens have poor eye sight and can't escape if attacked in the dark.Her chickens were killed at 530 am (before daylight)

 

[LizzyIceTea]

Whatever you do, keep in mind that the guy, I'd hope, feels horrible.
I'm sure he will work with you to get your repairs done as well as the price of love and replacement costs.

 

[LizzyIceTea]

A hundred dollars should replace the birds.
I'd ask him to replace the birds and pay for the repairs to the run that the dog did.

The base price of a chick does not in ANY WAY compare to the end cost of a full grown and productive bird.

On top of the repairs I'd charge $25 for any girls who are still producing quality eggs. Minimum. That's what I sell a bird for once she hits the age where she can lay.

 

[McChooky]

Dogs can't push a hole thru 16 gauge hardware cloth provided its attached properly. Chicken wire will only keep dogs out if you put an electric fence around it.

 

[MandaRae]

Yes but more predators hide under the cover of darkness so this window of time before darkness falls and after daylight is extremely important.Chickens have poor eye sight and can't escape if attacked in the dark.Her chickens were killed at 530 am (before daylight)

It was daylight. Pretty bright out.

 

[MandaRae]

Dogs can't push a hole thru 16 gauge hardware cloth provided its attached properly. Chicken wire will only keep dogs out if you put an electric fence around it.

Actually it did ram the hardware cloth over and over until it got a hole

 

[Shezadandy]

Actually it did ram the hardware cloth over and over until it got a hole

I have a suggestion. Put 2x2s on the INSIDE seam of your run so the HW cloth isn't just held by staples or screws- if there is a 2x2 screwed into the existing frame on the inside, it's much much harder, especially if the screws go through the HW cloth too. i.e. where I've put the green lines, you add a 2x2 or 2x3 to pin down the seams.

Also this would be very easy to set up an electric fence for on the outside using https://www.farmstore.com/product/powerfields-black-screw-in-wood-post-insulator/ screw in insulators on the outside of your run with polywire.

 

[MandaRae]

I have a suggestion. Put 2x2s on the INSIDE seam of your run so the HW cloth isn't just held by staples or screws- if there is a 2x2 screwed into the existing frame on the inside, it's much much harder, especially if the screws go through the HW cloth too.

We will be double reinforcing everything. This was a prefab coop that we did originally reinforce the HW cloth. The other run are was regular chicken wire that it broke out of. The chicken wire run was closed off with a HW cloth door. We thought These coops were well protected but the dog rammed for 30min.
I want to get some guineas for alerting. That would have woke our asses up.
Although now I want a livestock dog.