Something got my babies, I'm pretty sure a dog

[drafthorse39]

un Uhh i hate to hear this stuff, i hope you get the dog! so sorry your babies had to go through that

 

[cheepchicks]

I am so sorry you lost your little chickies.

Kim

 

[Betsy]

Ohhh! I'm so sorry!! I'd be devastated too-and boiling mad! It's definititely a good idea to call your local animal control to report that a dog killed your birds and to see what your options are regarding stray dogs on your property.
Hope you or your neighbor are able to catch that dog!

 

[Mulemom]

I am SO sorry!

The electric fence is a good idea. I use it for my mules and I don't even have to charge it anymore. They will knock over any fence, but they will NOT touch the white tape. My dog used to climb my 6 ft wood fence when I lived in the city. I put hot wire up, and it took her one time to know she did NOT want to do that again.
My chicks are just thee days old now, but we plan on hot wire around the outside of the chicken wire. Tractor supply has some pretty reasonably priced setups.
As for the gun, I would suggest a shot gun with birdshot or rock salt. If you pepper him good, and he still comes back, I would send him to the happy hunting ground in the sky. If you call animal control for advice, don't give them your name or address. If the laws on't keep your animals alive, then your children may not be safe either. You will have to take the law into you own hands.

 

[chickbea]

What a horror for you and your neighbor. I can't imagine. I hope you figure out what it was.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I'm so sorry for your losses...and your neighbour's too...Not much tops seeing your babies dead...
Animal Control will sometimes have traps to catch the wayward animals. If not, a lead vitamin does wonders.

If you find out whose dog it is, then you can hand them a bill for the damages and the losses.

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

I would suggest a shot gun with birdshot or rock salt. If you pepper him good, and he still comes back

IF he still comes back? How many more chickens is anyone willing to sacrifice letting him come round again? Who says you will be there if he comes around again, who says you will have a clear shot if he comes around again, or will you catch him BEFORE or AFTER he has more chickens or pets, IF he comes around again?

I can understand being hesitant about your rights to take "care" of the problem animal, but who is willing to FEED and ENTERTAIN someone else's dog till they would have no chickens left.

I don't know myself about other state laws, but is it illegal in some states to protect your animals and property? It is legal here.​

 

[silkhope]

Believe me when I say, if it comes back to our yard, he/she will be shot. (Even though that bluegrass song keeps going thru my head, about the hound dog who saves the baby from wolves but was shot, it's the innocent that pay - what if it's not the same dog...)

But, I have no issues about shooting a dog on my property who is willing to go thru that much trouble and do that much damage just to kill birds. I have a seven year old daughter who plays in the yard by herself at times and I have two dogs, who by the way, dutifully stay in my yard. I'm not willing to take the risk of an attack on either, most especially my daughter.

I'm still sad, and I can't get that horrible picture out of my head, but I'm just ANGRY today, so forgive me if I sound hateful!!!

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

I can understand silkhope, as I lost mine and had to find them one by one dead. and the horrible thing is mine were silkies and they couldn't fly

so they didn't stand a chance.

It does get easier as time goes by. You will grieve a bit, and then maybe consider getting some more.

I redid my coop with some super super heavy duty guage wire that NO dog is tearing up. I'm working on the gate now. It will be as much a fort knox as humanly possible. It is such a shame though because I want to frerange my birds-now they need to stay in the run I feel for safety.