Stray Dogs

[bobhoke]

I'm writing this to share information.

We left our property to leave town for two hours.

We have a chicken run with a 360 degrees 6' tall metal fence, 360 degree sub surface "L" fencing (diggers), but one access door is/was 5' tall.

The run was believed to be a fortress against most predation threats until yesterday. The 5' door will become a 6' door today.

Two stray young adult alaskan malamutes jumped the 5' fence and dispatched:
- 60+ chickens
- 3 emden geese
- 16 Muscovy
- 7 turkies......during the time we were gone. Four chickens and 2 goslings survived as I dispatched the dogs.


In summary, 5' of fence is obviously not tall enough. There are some trained dogs that I'm aware of that can go even higher, but I'm not building a "temple". I chalk this up to Mr Murphy and his shit happens approach to mankind. Dogs were being dogs. I wish they'd just kill and eat a couple and leave, but I guess there brains get highjacked by the potential fun. Watch out for stray dogs. Keep a zeroed weapon in proximity to your coop and run. Mass burial. Tick tock. Good luck.

 

[Callender Girl]

How devastating! I can't imagine how horrible it must be to see all the aftermath and to have to bury so many. Especially since it sounds like you worked hard to keep everyone safe. And, your remaining birds must be terrified. I am so very sorry for your loss and wish you the best going forward.

 

[bobhoke]

How devastating! I can't imagine how horrible it must be to see all the aftermath and to have to bury so many. Especially since it sounds like you worked hard to keep everyone safe. And, your remaining birds must be terrified. I am so very sorry for your loss and wish you the best going forward.

Yes, the two remaining goslings are traumatized, I can see it. The dogs left a bothersome situation - yes! The remaining chickens don't seem to really care. They were running around eating scraps after I dispatched the dogs. I'm gonna hang out with the goslings today, and move on. Thanks.

 

[texsuze]

My (nearly) worst nightmare. I'm glad you got rid of the dogs. How horrible that this attack occurred despite your due diligence. Any legal recourse you can now take with the dogs' owners, or were they just strays from the typical un-spayed/un-neutered hoard of animals running around?