This Is Horrific....

[SimplyForties]

I'm so sorry. What a horrible thing to come home to. I hope you will decide to make some changes and then jump back in. Don't give up on keeping chickens. There are lots of good experiences out there to balance these horrible ones.

You want to have those too.

 

[City Gardener]

Is it possible the chickens are hiding in the woods? (wishful thinking, but maybe?)

It does seem weird that there are no signs of a rampage. Could you see where the dog got in?

 

[zowieyellowflame]

When I was a kid, my parents kept meat birds and one morning we woke to find ALL BUT ONE slaughtered. It was a neighbors dog, and it tore through the coop and just killed them. Ate none, took none, just sport. I don't think it was a dog, hon. Likely something wild because I think dogs do it for fun. The lone survivor was upgraded from "meat bird" to "pet" and was named Greenie. (It was white, no idea where that name came from)
I feel for your 6 yr old, about the age I was when this happened. But do start over. Reinforce your enclosure and start again or else it will leave a bitter taste in your mouth forever.

 

[omelette'smom]

I'm really sorry...if you're in N.H. I could give you a half dozen. Don't give up on chickens.

 

[consdrs]

I'm so sorry about your chicks. I had my chicks eaten by my own dogs. 3 blue silkies. They were about 5 weeks old. My fault, not the dogs. nothing left but a few feathers, and I had to hunt for those. I was just sick. But yes dogs don't just kill them and leave them some times they eat them. They didn't bother any of the other chicks just the silkies. I think they thought they were a rodent or something. My dogs are out with my chickens all the time and no problem but those silkies... I will never trust a dog not ever again with my chickens not even my own...

Connie

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Anything larger than 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth leaves your chickens or other birds vulnerable to racoons grabbing them inside their cage or pen and dismembering them.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
My girls live in fort knox...nothing has gotten it yet that has tried...including two large dogs. It is a must.



I am so sorry you lost your babies. Reinforce and start again...do not give up.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Ohhh, I'm so sorry for your loss, it's doubly disappointing since you hatched those chicks yourself. But I agree, don't give up! Figure out what went wrong, rectify the problems, and try again! Maybe you could get a few day-old chicks, or some started chicks, to enjoy while you hatch some more.

Now it's time for CSI: Poultry to figure out what could have happened to your other chicks. Although most dogs just leave the bodies of the chickens they kill, I think it's possible for a big dog to completely devour a small chick. But not 23 of them! Could you see a place where the dog or predator got into your pen? How did the chick you found look? Was it whole or chewed? Neck broken? Post your findings on the Predators & Pests forum, maybe the folks there could help you solve your mystery.

It is possible there could be a few who went into hiding during the incident, I hope you will find a few today. Don't give up!

 

[hinkjc]

I am so sorry this happened, but I am curious why 3 week old chicks would be out in the first place. Were they uncooped? How did the predator gain access to them?

 

[Backyard Hencam]

You will recover and heal. When you do, build a coop that is predator proof and there is such a thing. Use hardware wire up the sides and going into the ground 18" around the perimeter. Welded (at least 2" or smaller) over the top. Have double locks on all the doors and nest boxes. Close chickens in the henhouse at night.

Don't give up. Most of us have learned the hard way.