Something killed my entire flock, didn't even leave a single chick

[Angelfire]

I wake up this morning, and it was abeautiful Sunday morning...except for the blood soaked yard. Something got into my coop overnight, the one night I didn't lock the door. I left the door open to the run because it was very hot last night and thought the chickens could use some fresh air.
There were bodies everywhere... of roosters, mother hens, and even the batch of Black Copper Marans chicks that my Silkie hen Powderpuff was mothering!

She got killed trying to protect her babies, and my Japanese roos Chao and Sonic died trying to save everyone. They were found near the coop fence, while everyone else was dead inside.
I had all bantams, except for the Marans chicks that my silkie adopted, so they really didn't stand a chance.
But they were all my pets... I didn't care about pure breeding.

I spent all day trying to find out who had killed them, and came across this forum while searching Google. I think it was the neighbor's Golden retriever, judging by some similar stories I searched up.
It dug under the hardwire cloth.

I am in ninth grade, and my mom said she spent so much money on those BCM's that she isn't going to buy me anymore chickens to replace these right now. She said if I could find a way to get some hatching eggs, then we could try again, because she loved one of my polish hens, Rosey. I would buy my own eggs to incubate if I had a paypal, but I am too young

Just thought I would join to let you guys know to always put fence below the ground surface!

I am still in shock, though its been almost 18 hours now.

 

[Break an Egg]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I would be writing a letter, with my mother's permission first, to my neighbor asking for compensation because of what their dog did. That and I would make a complaint to animal care services about the dog running at large.

 

[Wolfwoman]

First, I'm sorry to hear this happened.

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Second, she has NO PROOF that the dog did it, she is only assuming. There are LOTS of canine and feline predators that can get into a chicken coop, it doesn't have to be the neighbor's dog. The worst thing that can happen is to accuse someone of something they or their kids/pets did not do!!

I'm afraid unless you can see tracks from the coop to the neighbors yard, you're going to have to chalk this one up to a learning experience.

 

[Break an Egg]

Quote:
Second, she has NO PROOF that the dog did it, she is only assuming. There are LOTS of canine and feline predators that can get into a chicken coop, it doesn't have to be the neighbor's dog. The worst thing that can happen is to accuse someone of something they or their kids/pets did not do!!

I'm afraid unless you can see tracks from the coop to the neighbors yard, you're going to have to chalk this one up to a learning experience.

Well, I don't think that's the worst that could happen. I just figured she had maybe seen that dog coming into her yard and that maybe the dog had been somewhat problematic.

 

[Wolfwoman]

Actually, accusing someone of something they didn't do can get you landed in court with you paying the court costs, so yes it's about the worst that can be done in this situation. It's called slander or libel.

 

[Break an Egg]

If I thought my neigbor's dog killed my chickens, I would talk to them about their dog. If it was my dog, being a golden, I would see blood on the dogs face, around the mouth, and unless someone mentioned anything how would I know what my dog could have done? And she is right, the dog could have done it, but I'm sure only the owner could tell you for sure. If I thought my dog had possibly killed my neighbor's chickens I would feel responsible and I would either replace them or pay for them. My dog doesn't kill chickens, and I am the only one in the neigborhood that has chickens. I am responsible for my dog and her actions. I know what it feels like to have to put 2 out of the 3 chickens that you raised, out of their misery because a dumb dog owner, let their dog run around all night, coming into people's backyards and biting holes into your hen's chests.

And in this case, she wouldn't be accusing someone, she would be accusing someone's dog, which would probably be a little different.

 

[Wolfwoman]

I understand what you're saying, I have nine dogs, three geese and 31 chicks. My dogs don't kill anything or run loose...ever. But yes, it is the same if you get the wrong type of person. It's just like some parents who think NOT MY KID - there are dog owners like that too. NOT MY FIFI even if FIFI is 180lb mastiff.

 

[Break an Egg]

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I have pretty good neighbors, they have a pit that would likely go after my dog before my chickens, but they always keep her in. Hopefully, this poor girl gets some kind of restitution. I would send her some eggs if I had a rooster, and if the eggs were fertile.

And I hate those people who do that with their kids, they're not doing them any favors.

 

[Wolfwoman]

They sure aren't, I always suspected that my kids DID something before they DIDN'T ... lol

My chicks are only 2-4 weeks old, and I don't think they'd like the trip from Alaska even if I could send some...lol

 

[Joy Irwin]

It does sound like a dog. A hungry predator will eat what they kill, leaving the dead laying there says to me the killer wasn't hungry. I'm sorry for your loss, it sucks. Check your private messages. JOY