Traumatized Chicken after dog attacked another. Panting, lethargic

[User690263]

Ok, she's drinking now. and Standing. I feel better..... but will keep an eye

Good luck! I hope she recovers quickly

 

[Anon112]

Like others have said, it mostly sounds like shock. I'd consider offering a scrambled egg, some mash, and fresh water.

I agree with other posters that there's a chance she could have an injury such as a muscle strain from trying to get away or landing wrong. Once she gets more back to normal, I'd watch carefully to see if she is walking okay.

 

[Libbazoid]

Thanks so much. She's in a dark crate in the garage now, just added some treats with her water, she's still panting, but was able to stand on her own so that's good.
I"ll try to report back. Damn bird dogs.

Good luck!

Vera passed last night. I don't know what else I could have done. Its a sad day.

 

[FunClucks]

Vera passed last night. I don't know what else I could have done. Its a sad day.

Oh no! Sounds like she had internal injuries - it's not something you can treat at home, and most vets won't do it either. There really wasn't anything you could do. At least you made her last days peaceful. I'm so sorry you lost her. Sending you supportive thoughts.

If/when you feel up to it, if you post pictures of your coop and run setup and tell how the dogs got in, we can help give suggestions on how to make your space more secure. So sorry this happened.

It's always the ones we love the most that seem to die first.

 

[Libbazoid]

I had to build a cattle panel fence to separate dogs from whole chicken area. Dog got in at the very edge by that pink piece of granite (just put that there for now). The bigger tarped pen is wrapped in hardware cloth, the tunnels are hardware cloth but I get how they're weak points. I ordered a larger enclosure to house the whole coop, and will shorten the tunnels to cut out the weak points. I've had zero issues from wild predators, literally just this one dog that goes complete kamikaze. She found a weak spot in the tarped pen to tunnel, and got lucky. My remaining 2 ladies seem to be ok, eating, trying to lay. They have been the steadiest layers. I have 4 new chicks in my garage and I'll need to get another small coop, so just fortifying what I can.

 

[FunClucks]

I had to build a cattle panel fence to separate dogs from whole chicken area. Dog got in at the very edge by that pink piece of granite (just put that there for now). The bigger tarped pen is wrapped in hardware cloth, the tunnels are hardware cloth but I get how they're weak points. I ordered a larger enclosure to house the whole coop, and will shorten the tunnels to cut out the weak points. I've had zero issues from wild predators, literally just this one dog that goes complete kamikaze. She found a weak spot in the tarped pen to tunnel, and got lucky. My remaining 2 ladies seem to be ok, eating, trying to lay. They have been the steadiest layers. I have 4 new chicks in my garage and I'll need to get another small coop, so just fortifying what I can.

Consider a product called Dig Defense (found at the hardware store) to deter/prevent large digging predators. Or instead, consider using an apron outside your fence, in the area where the dogs are at, right at the bottom of the fence. So, secure cattle panels segments or hardware cloth to the bottom of the fence, move a bunch of mulch and dirt, and lay the apron out on top of the exposed ground. Use landscape stakes to secure the apron. That way, dog goes to where fence meets ground, starts to dig. Meets hardware cloth apron right beneath the mulch, stops, moves over, digs again, keeps hitting apron. Also, consider securing the fence edges more securely to the privacy fence it's butting up against. You could use hardware cloth secured to both, or attach a 2x4 to the privacy fence, and then use pipe hanger straps to secure cattle panels to 2"x4" that is directly connected to the privacy fence.

Check out how I used an apron around the outside of my greenhouse frame "hoop coop". The gravel has since been dug out and redistributed by my chickens, but the hardware cloth is securely attached to the bottom of the coop, and to the surrounding ground. Keeping dogs and other digging predators out for going on 4 years now. I put a thin layer of mulch, dirt, on top, or let a bit of grass grow through, and when I go out in the morning, I see where the raccoons or coyotes dug the night before by where the mulch is disturbed. I also have a bird dog.

For my actual cattle panel hoop coop, I used pipe strap, wrapped it around the bottom of the panel in a loop, and screwed it into 2"x4" at the base of my coop using 1" radial washers. You might consider lining the base of your cattle panel fence with 2"x4" and securing the hardware cloth apron to those, along with securing the cattle panels to the 2"x4". Put the wood on the side facing the chickens so the dog can't destroy them.

Good luck sorting things out!

 

[PatriciafromCO]

Vera passed last night. I don't know what else I could have done. Its a sad day.

am very sorry for your loss. In this situation your did all that you could do. over the last 25 years of having birds and raising new pups/ dogs, accidents have happen and injury and lives lost. Best to move forward and see what changes you can improve on for prevention. (over management, secure chicken areas, secure dog areas, time spent in areas that your dog is triggered by) My dogs whom had caused a death did move forward to be bird/fowl safe for the rest of their lives. You have many years ahead with your dog, find the positive support that will help them be better.

 

[Libbazoid]

Consider a product called Dig Defense (found at the hardware store) to deter/prevent large digging predators. Or instead, consider using an apron outside your fence, in the area where the dogs are at, right at the bottom of the fence. So, secure cattle panels segments or hardware cloth to the bottom of the fence, move a bunch of mulch and dirt, and lay the apron out on top of the exposed ground. Use landscape stakes to secure the apron. That way, dog goes to where fence meets ground, starts to dig. Meets hardware cloth apron right beneath the mulch, stops, moves over, digs again, keeps hitting apron. Also, consider securing the fence edges more securely to the privacy fence it's butting up against. You could use hardware cloth secured to both, or attach a 2x4 to the privacy fence, and then use pipe hanger straps to secure cattle panels to 2"x4" that is directly connected to the privacy fence.

Check out how I used an apron around the outside of my greenhouse frame "hoop coop". The gravel has since been dug out and redistributed by my chickens, but the hardware cloth is securely attached to the bottom of the coop, and to the surrounding ground. Keeping dogs and other digging predators out for going on 4 years now. I put a thin layer of mulch, dirt, on top, or let a bit of grass grow through, and when I go out in the morning, I see where the raccoons or coyotes dug the night before by where the mulch is disturbed. I also have a bird dog.

For my actual cattle panel hoop coop, I used pipe strap, wrapped it around the bottom of the panel in a loop, and screwed it into 2"x4" at the base of my coop using 1" radial washers. You might consider lining the base of your cattle panel fence with 2"x4" and securing the hardware cloth apron to those, along with securing the cattle panels to the 2"x4". Put the wood on the side facing the chickens so the dog can't destroy them.

Good luck sorting things out!

This looks amazing. This is kind of what I ordered, and I have aprons and cloth under the coop. Dog hadn’t dinner the cattle panel barrier but I’ll definitely do the 2x4 at the fences for that kind of protection. They also have E collars which helps keep them away from the fence. I’ll be blocking their view too with privacy screens so they can’t perseverate. This is always an evolving effort.