Rollercoaster of a Weekend!!!-Graphic Video links

[chickenwhisperer]

So, where do I begin.

On Saturday, I had the chicks out, they were lookin great all feathered and loving the freedom of the yard.
My buddy showed up and needed my help, so I had to go.
We chased all 35 chicks into the tractor and left.

Here is what happened when I was gone . . .

So then, I go up to Auburn today to hang out, and this is the end result of that outing . . .

What a weekend, I totally knew better than to leave my dog with that much temptation.
I got the chainlink to section off the yard, and the dogs will be penned up not the chickens, I gave them every chance I could.
Next weekend, Ill put up the chainlink and make a gate.


I still nedd to get my wellsummers and cornishx again, I think Ill go with 25 cornish this time, because . . . whynot

I cannot hold my dog responsible without holding myself responsible, I knew better.
My dog actually did exactly what he was bred(and I have always encouraged) to do, go into there and kill the animal without destroying the hide, his only screw up(and this part really surprised me) was that he left most of the dead chickens in the tractor.
He should have brought all of them out, not just 3

Mods, please do not move this thread to predators and pests, I feel this falls under flock management.

 

[looptloop]

Oh NO! Those poor chickens!

I'm glad you got some new chickens though, just keep Jack far, far away from them.

I fear my dogs would do the same thing..... given the chance.

p.s. I'm just down the hill from you in Pilot Hill!

 

[SunnyDawn]

I had a similar experience when my DH left the chicken's gate open the other night. When the dogs were let out in the morning... well you don't need pics you just went through it. Luckily, I was home and heard the ruckus so I caught them after they had killed only 6 but there were two others that were injured so badly that I put them down rather than watch them suffer. So I am down to 8 hens and 10 babies right now (more baby chicks to come). Sorry for your loss!

 

[dawg53]

At the time you discovered what happened, I can imagine all the emotions you felt. Glad you got some new chicks and made some changes, a lessoned learned for anyone who reads this post.

 

[twentynine]

Responding from work computer station. I watched the vid via my black berry. Could not hear all the commentary.

Gee-- I can imagine you were very upset. I have been following the thread in the meat bird forum.

I ain't big on pitty parties. Get rid of the dog or do not get chickens again. Yes, it was your responsibility. Can you imagine the terror those chickens suffered in the way they died? Raised in the country myself, you learn very fast that, livestock protection can never ever never be relaxed. Not for one minute, not for a friend, not for anything.

Okay second vid-- you already got new chicks. Oh well! Hope these chickens are protected better than the departed ones.

Frankly I don't understand the wink. I can't for the life of me understand what the diffence is, he killed'em in the tractor and left them their or brought'em out. Killing the chickens in no way shape or form is worthy of a wink.

Telling it like it is. I have chickens and I have two dogs. The chickens are protected from ALL predators, specially my own dogs. I believe my own dogs to be more of a danger than any threat from racoons or possums. My beagle will always and everytime make a try for the chickens. The dogs have chain link backyard fence. The chickens are in now way enclosed with in that chain link, they have their own run/yard protected by electric fence.

Don't think you gave'em any chance at all! Sorry like I said I ain't big on pitty. If that would have been a nieghbor's dog that escaped his yard, I could well imagine how far you'd go to get justice. But it's your dog, still running around at your feet. In your words "proud of himself".

 

[Cindy in PA]

Quote:
Of course he still has his dog, it wasn't his dog's fault. He said it was his fault!! Some of us love our dogs as much as our chickens (or more) and have to deal with dogs that will eat chickens. He made a mistake & will learn from it, but nothing is 100%. If a neighbor's dog had done it, they would be responsible to reimburse him if he wished & then they would have the burden of keeping their dog contained. Since it was his dog, he must assume the responsibilty & the cost. It doesn't require getting rid of the dog.

Chickenwhisperer.........sorry for your loss. Hope it works out better this time.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
Was never asking for pitty, just showing the potential of what could happen, I dont see anywhere in my post where I was asking for pity.
I am the first person to Not blame the dog, dogs are dogs.

Ive made my feelings on this subject very clear thruought my posting, I would NOT shoot ANYBODIES dog over a chicken(mine, yours, theirs, none).


Unfortunately for me, I have always encouraged my jack russell to be a jack russell, I send him into holes, he goes to ground, he catches rats and mice, he kills squirrels and rabbits, thats just the way it is.
I am the one who threw chickens into the mix, he thought he was making me happy by killin all those little "varmits" for me.
He did his job and did it well, just so happens I wanted the chickens.
(The wink was because he was always trained to bring the animal out of the hole, in this case he left them all in, thats where he screwd up)

I have had the tractor for years, and the dog.
He has tried and tried to get in, I guess he finally found a weak spot.


This was MY fault, and I dont wanna hear anybody say anything bad about a dog here, especially mine!
This thread was not posted for yet another debate on dogs and chickens.

I do have more chicks, and I will raise them up, and I will protect them from the dog.

 

[twentynine]

Quote:
Of course he still has his dog, it wasn't his dog's fault. He said it was his fault!! Some of us love our dogs as much as our chickens (or more) and have to deal with dogs that will eat chickens. He made a mistake & will learn from it, but nothing is 100%. If a neighbor's dog had done it, they would be responsible to reimburse him if he wished & then they would have the burden of keeping their dog contained. Since it was his dog, he must assume the responsibilty & the cost. It doesn't require getting rid of the dog.

Chickenwhisperer.........sorry for your loss. Hope it works out better this time.

As stated before I have followed the OP's thread concerning these birds in the Meatbird forum. In that thread he made a comment or two concerning his JRT. I am assuming and from the dogs apearance he was refering to a Jack Russel Terrier. I watched the vids and listened to the commentary to the extent that I was able. I am not at all apologetic nor do I "feel" the need to be sympathetic after reading the post and hearing the commentary. The wink smilie---- anything really worth winking about? Some sort of riddle? Some sort of joke? Sure I understand he is refering to the capabilities of his JRT, that he was well aware of. The comment during the vid something about the little dog being "proud of himself". For some reason the context and manner in which it was spoken, gave me the impression that the OP veiwed the whole incident as no big deal.

As for the diference of nieghbors verses your own dog, well from the dead chickens point of view, I don't guess their is any difference at all. The point being ---- the chickens are dead. It matters not if it is a feral animal, a stray pet, or your own dog, protecting your livestock from that threat is never ending.

The OP new the dogs potential, was well aware of the dogs capabilities, after all he says he trained him to kill and return the kill with out harm to hide--Wink. Also revealed by the OP in the meatbird thread, is that this dog has evidently destroyed other birds unintentionally when either off the lead or not under control. The OP left his birds with what amounted to a loaded gun pointed at them, waiting to go off.

A little more than a simple mistake. Specially if you look at it from the chickens point of view.

 

[beckymom3]

I so feel your pain. I lost 40 chickens and 11 turkeys to predators last fall. A literal slaughter I had little to no defense against it happened so quickly. Mostly raccoons getting into the coop and decapitating and mauling my beautiful cochins, brahmas, silkies, bcm's...I've been in mourning ever since--it was October! I mistakenly left the coop door open while I was out of town so they could free range while I was gone. Their yard is fenced well, but I underestimated the determination of predators for climbing and/or leaping over fences and barriers to get to what they want.

I finally got up the courage to hatch some eggs and have bolstered my chicken yard and coop, but I'm afraid!!!! It's so devastating. Nearly all our chickens were named, and many were hand raised by my boys

Good luck to you!!!

I don't blame the animals who did it, either. I totally blame myself for newbie ignorance and letting my desire to free range my birds take over the practical knowledge that free ranging means exposure. From now on, my chickens will be kept locked in the coop while I'm gone, free ranging only when I can keep an eye on them. A good friend, very experienced in the ways of chickens and all manner of fowl, told me to lock up the birds or prepare to lose them! She was right. She keeps her birds in a literal Fort Knox!!!!!

Take care!

 

[twentynine]

This was MY fault, and I dont wanna hear anybody say anything bad about a dog here, especially mine!
This thread was not posted for yet another debate on dogs and chickens.

That's right, I do not blame the dog for following his nature. As stated earlier, I have two dogs, niether of which have the enegry level of a JRT, but still they are never closer than two containment fences to the chickens. Pretty much never allowed to stay out in the yard when we are not home anyway. Comment has been made about the dog being part of the family, sure I understand that, mine a treated that way. So I would never leave them where they are not protected. In my opinion in this case the JRT needed protection also, protection from his desire to kill your chickens.

My chickens are protected within their run by fencing and additional electric hot wires. This goes along way to protecting them from my dog, feral dogs, escaped pets and the natural preds. Do I think it's 100%, not on your life. For instance, with a JRT I would not be suprised to see a hole dug half way to china to get under both the hot wires and the dug in fence wire. They are persistant little creatures, leave one long enough, he will figure out how to steal an anvil from behind a steel door.

Ive made my feelings on this subject very clear thruought my posting, I would NOT shoot ANYBODIES dog over a chicken(mine, yours, theirs, none).

I agree up to a point. No I would not want to shoot any dog--- for any reason. But in the case of protecting my property and my livestock I would do what is required. To further explain, I have spent considerable time and resources in protecting my chicken flock. I have spent that time and money so I won't have to shoot anything-- dog, coon, possum or pet. I do not believe in "preventative trapping or extermination". It is up to me to protect my flock from those things who's nature dictate they are a threat to my flock. And I take it as a full time job.

Honestly however, I do not "rate" a dog over my chickens. I protect my chickens from the dogs. And I protect my dogs from their nature.

I have had the tractor for years, and the dog.
He has tried and tried to get in, I guess he finally found a weak spot.

What's the old saying--- Even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while.
With the persistance, inteligence and energy level that JRTs pocess you know that little dog was never going to give up, but you continued to allow him access to the tractor.
I garauntee you allow a possum or coon to constantly wonder up and down, back and forth along your fence wire, they will eventually find a way in.

My buddy showed up and needed my help, so I had to go.
We chased all 35 chicks into the tractor and left.

Why not put the dog in the house or bring him along or - or - or
Now you take the quote concerning the tractor and this quote, put'em together.

Most all flock owners understand just what kind of threat ALL dogs are to their flocks. We have had many threads here and in the Pred forum discussing just such a thing.

I promise I won't harp on this no more.