The worst had happened. Dog attack.

[Free Feather]

Sounds like electric fencing might be a good investment for you. Even though the dogs have been rehomed, other predators could get in the same way.

They are free range, so other predators could get them. I have never had an issue with any other day predator, just his dogs. I have already told myself that as much as I love to watch my birds free range, if I lose another bird to a predator in the day, they will not be allowed the freedom they have now.

 

[Binki]

I'm soooo sorry....

Have you considered antibiotics for the risk of dog bite infection?

Was your coop store bought? We got ours from TSC but it seems like SUCH cheap wood, I'm worried something will rip the wood apart even if we reinforce it with locks...

 

[21hens-incharge]

Really sorry for your loss.

I would suggest using siding sold for houses and reinforced with lumber in all areas that open. Even using a light weight 1x4 will help strengthen a clean out door.

I hope she is doing ok today.

Is your yard fenced? How on Earth did it get in your yard to get close enough to do that damage?

However it got in should be fixed right away.

 

[littlerae11]

We don't have a fenced in yard no. wish we did. Thank you everyone for your advice! Lavern seems to be doing ok. She is eating and drinking, but can't stand or walk very well yet. She tries to but is acting like her left leg hurts.. Nothing looks broken from what I can tell.
Yes my coop is store bought. Will NEVER buy one like that again. I'm going to have to build a new one anyways. It's all so sad and frustrating.

 

[littlerae11]

My coop has a door to the run and a door to the yard, but I never used that door. That's the door the dog broke into.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am hoping you have some skills and a few tools. It does not take much of either to make a secure coop.

I am glad she seems to be doing better.

I built a 4x6 dog house with new materials for around 300 dollars I am sure a similar sized coop would not be much more even using all new materials.

There are a lot of pallet coops out there where the pallets were kept mostly whole too. Just tossing ideas out for you.
Cost is always a concern of course with todays economy.

Tiny bit of additional info in case you are going to build a coop.... I have found that mice will sneak in through 1/2 inch hardware cloth and chew feathers off of sleeping birds. I used 1/4 inch cloth on the windows and vents to keep them out of the new coop. I thought this was important info since I have battled tattered feathers for 4 years before discovering what the heck was going on.

I am thinking perhaps she has some bruising or something and will heal up in time. Poor girl to have that happen. I would be so very upset as well.

A lower cost option may be to put the coop you have inside a dog run that is secured to the ground. Just a thought.

Best wishes,

Babs

 

[tdepointe]

You may also able to reinforce the coop you purchased. Sometimes reinforcing the joints between board with an overlapping board say a 1x4. Of cause this depends on what type of construction was used.

 

[littlerae11]

Thank you all so much! I'm going to be working this week on either building a new coop or reinforcing the one I have. So we will see how that goes! Either way I'm making sure no dog is getting into one of their doors ever again. That was just absolutely horrible.

 

[chickbird]

I had two stray dogs kill 35 of my hens while we were on vacation, my daughter and her husband came up at the end and called the police and one of the dogs was still killing in the pen. The police did not want to do anything, I had to call his superior to get action. I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[littlerae11]

Omg that's horrible.. chickens are so vulnerable. It's too bad they aren't like poisonous for dogs or something. That'd solve a lot of problems right there!