quick HELP please

[steve&kris]

Sorry for your loss. I would bring the chicken inside in a basket or dog crate in a quiet dim room. Place food and water near within reach. Some bits of scrambled egg would be good as well. They can be in shock for awhile after being attacked.

When my flock were pullets, they started jumping up on and over a 4 foot chainlink fence into out yard. Our gentle golden retriever could not resist investigating them. He injured one and later another a few weeks later, but both recovered with mild feather loss. The third time it happened, we had already purchased a shock collar to train him. The third chicken had the least visible damage, but she died 10 minutes later, possibly from internal injuries or a heart attack. We put the body down in the yard and put his collar on. After he was shocked twice, he would not even look at the chickens again. We removed the collar the same day, and he taught out other dogs to stay away from the chickens for the next 8 years. Eventually we had 2 chickens who lived inside our yard separate from the large glock. They were never bothered and would even sleep near the dogs or cats.

The only time after that which we lost a chicken was young chicks who got through our electric poultry netting. Most dogs will chase baby chicks, since they seem like wild birds. Our electric poultry netting (with the power off) has worked well to keep chickens from jumping our fence. It is only 30 inches high, but chickens cannot jump up on it to then hop to the other side.

Hey Eggcessive... you gave me a good idea for both my chicken run and my flight pen. When we don't let them out to free range, we have a fully enclosed run that is about 40' x 10'....but occasionally something will chew through the netting and get in. I lost 80 quail to a one night massacre one time from that. I don't know that I need the electric netting as they're fully enclosed....but I think I'm going to run a 2 strand electric fence at something like 4" and 10" so most predators couldn't chew at the netting. I'll put solar power to them and that should save 95% of breakins I would think. Thanks!
Side note... In looking at your profile block, I notice that you and I joined BYC about a week apart 10 years ago. In that time I have posted a whopping 80 or so messages, and you've been a slacker with a mere 60,000 or so.

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera, put it up and then you'll know what's lurking. I love my cameras. Good luck...

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss and the predator attack. Look everywhere for even the smallest opening in your coop or run. A weasel can get though 1 inch chicken wire or a space under a door. Raccoons can also reach through 1 inch openings, and pull apart a chicken part by part. Some predators can dig under fencing or inside the coop. I hope that you can keep the others safe until you can keep them locked up.

 

[steve&kris]

Sorry for your loss and the predator attack. Look everywhere for even the smallest opening in your coop or run. A weasel can get though 1 inch chicken wire or a space under a door. Raccoons can also reach through 1 inch openings, and pull apart a chicken part by part. Some predators can dig under fencing or inside the coop. I hope that you can keep the others safe until you can keep them locked up.

I also just saw you're from southern OH.... I live North of Pgh now, but am originally from Portsmouth and Athens (albany actually). My family is still in that area.

The coop they're in now is tight... I'm sure of that. I just didn't close the door in time. My wife went down an hour or so after dark, and it was dead inside the door. I'm going to beef up the run after I finish the new coop I'm building, it's definitely the weak point. For now though, I have them segment off in a temporary coop that is pretty bulletproof - it's just too little.

I have an automatic door, it's just off while I'm building the new coop. That would've probably saved the chicken.

My chx will always be in danger though. I live in the counry, surrounded by woods, and we let our birds free range a lot. They live happy lives.... they just occasionally get picked off, which unfortunately comes with the territory when you free range.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes I am close to the Ohio River near Proctorville. I also live on the edge of the woods and have lost the occasional bird out free ranging. Fortunately I have never lost one out of my coop at night.