Hello there, after reading your post I had to reply to it ,as I myself just went through this this past weekend.
2 monthes ago we bought 4 rhode island reds and 2 black sex links that were 2 weeks old when we got them. 2 days later we bought 2 white leghorn pullets that were 24 weeks old, that were laying every day their names were( april and miaugie ) we raised them little birds like our babies and also the older pullets were well trained to do tricks for treats.
we have lived in the hobby farm setting 3 monthes now,so were new at raising birds as pets.
prior to getting the birds , we have had a german shephard for about 5 monthes who was very loyal and showed no interest at all in the birds, though he did not like being left home, when we had to go out, we would leave him on the porch with the door closed, though sometimes he would chew through it to get outside but never bothered the birds, ever!
he watched us clean the pen every night and then close it up and also open the barn every morning, he also watched us handle the birds and talk to them and give them treats, though he also got treats as well.
last thursday we came home after being gone all day, my pullets ( leghorn girls were missing) i called them and called them, they never came!
it was clear the dog had got off the porch( through a hole he tore through) then went to the coop, tore apart the fance and got in to get my birds, but i had no proof except feathers laying in the yard as when we got home, he was on the porch. so at this point, i didnt have proof.. oh i should mention that on the porch there were little feathers,though no sign of the birds).
i was so sad, but had no clear proof he did it " until" the next day hubby and i were in the yard and found a foot of one of the girls and all the large wing feathers left over laying there and the dog chewing on one of the feathers, how we didnt see them the night before i dont understand but mabye we were in to much shock to really see clearly.
he never showed any signs of aggression to the birds ever.
then the next day hubby and i went out for 2 hours.
this time we put the dog on the porch and put tires in front of the hole where he got out of there before. so we thought it would be ok.
only to come home to,, the tires moved" the fence ripped through in the barn and now seeing a blood bath all over the yard all my birds laying everywhere ,with 2 of the babies still alive though suffering..( they had to be shot ) and one bird missing"
Again" the dog was on the porch, when we came home, though that dog was smart enough he thought" to go kill my birds and then get back to the porch so we didnt think it was him.
to our amazment" we were sitting at the kitchnen and all the sudden out of no where comes running this little bird " her name is rusty" 12 weeks old.( one of the babies we had) she had managed to run into the bushes somehow and go un noticed we figure and then got brave to come out.
well the dog was on the porch and must of heard her cluck" so he was in hot pursuit , trying to get her and kill her and this time" we seen it".. she was smart enough to run under the car and we ran out screaming to tell the dog ,, stop!! we rescued that little baby girl..
though how she got away and hid like that for 2 hours i have no idea.
having to pick up the birds as they laid lifeless and bleeding ,was heartbreaking and looking at the barn now is so hard.
the next day we posted a ad on a website and sold the dog,as we couldnt look at him the same anymore after what he did.
if it has been a new situation for him i would be probably a bit more understanding, though he watched the birds grow up for 2 months and i know he did it out of jealousy , it hurts to think of what them birds went through and i struggle with it daily, looking outside around the yard.
so the other day after keeping "rusty enclosed for 2 days to reduce her stress, i went to the barn and she seemed so sad, clucking and depressed that all her friends were gone, so i went and bought 2 rhode island reds that are 18 weeks old and put them in with her" right away she perked up and was wanting to see who they were, though so far so good,, no problems with the 3 blending together . its just me though " i cant look at these birds the same" im still so hurt over what happened and never cried so hard in my life, as i did that terrible day.
i dont know if she knows they are not the ones she was raised with, but i do know she is happy to have company.
though how do i put this behind me,, i have no idea.. as it just dont feel the same here now..
Any suggestions??? i would appreciate any advice.
