Turns out I love them more than I thought!

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MaiBee

MaiBee

Chirping
Dec 26, 2019
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Hi there! This is my first post, as up until 3 days ago I thought I had this backyard chicken thing pretty wired. We got our first batch last spring, so my 6 girls were all laying nicely and we're drowning in eggs (4 golden comets, 2 easter eggers). They were doing ok with the unpredictable Colorado weather and were big and fat and happy. Three days ago my two 9 month old Newfoundland puppies got into our coop. I heard them squawking in the backyard and they sounded distressed so I ran into the yard and found my bigger pup with a chicken in his mouth. I called to my husband and we shoved the dogs into the house. No chickens in the run. We kept finding badly damaged chickens. Two were clearly dead. Four were breathing. The pups didn't eat them but they were torn up. It was really really bad. I told my husband I didn't think they'd live and he got an axe out of the shed. I realized he was fighting back emotion and offered to just take the survivors to the vet, so that even if they couldn't be saved the vet could euthanize them. My husband admitted that he'd prepared himself to cull chickens when we decided to get them, but that it wasn't supposed to be like this...with them in pain and bleeding. I threw the four that were still alive into a cat crate and took them to the emergency vet near our house. One died on the way. The vet doesn't treat chickens but agreed to try because two days before Christmas we couldn't find a vet who did treat chickens to take them. My teenaged daughter was sobbing, I was sobbing. They had to euthanize one who was too far gone. But the vet did a great job with the two survivors. They both needed a ton of staples to close their wounds and she couldn't be as thorough as she wanted because she wasn't comfortable with bird anesthesia, but she managed to make it work.
Currently my two girls are getting pain meds and antibiotics 3x a day (pilling chickens isn't as scary as I thought!) and they're both eating and drinking. Their wounds have dried out and are far less inflamed. I have an appointment with a chicken vet next week to get established and remove their staples.
Moral of the story is these girls were "just chickens" who we had for eggs, until we found them cold and dying all over our yard. Now we know...they're pets! Other moral of the story...Newfie pups are huge and dog proofing is harder than expected!
Anyhow, appreciate anyone who read this whole giant intro post, but it's been stressful and not many people understand. Love these girls!
 
I am SOOOO sorry you had to go through all of that! Don't be too hard on your pups, though. They haven't yet learned about chickens. You'll get them there, I'm sure. In the meantime, I'm awfully glad that the remaining ladies are improving. You may want to add an electrolyte to their water for a bit. It'll help save off shock. If you don't have Chick-Saver, or something along those lines, Pedialyte (for infants/kids) GatorAde, or even plain sugar water can help. Please keep us posted on how they're doing.
And aside from all of that ... Welcome to BYC! It's absolutely the BEST place to sound off and ask "chicken questions!" Despite your rough introduction, we're all glad you're here!
 
Aw thanks. And electrolytes are a great idea. I still have some of those electrolyte packets left over from when they were babies. I'll just add some of that. As a nurse for humans that never occurred to me so thank you!
I had the dogs at their vet today for some boosters and I told her that it's tough because it was so rough but they didn't know any better and basically played with the chickens to death. At 9 months and 80 pounds each they just don't know their strength. Husband is working on turning the coop into Ft Knox while the girls heal up in a big cardboard box in our basement.
Anyhow, very glad to find an active forum on backyard chickens. We live in the heart of suburbia and we're the only people with chickens around. Neighbors all love the idea but they don't have them. Finding advice isn't easy!
 
Very sorry you had to go through that. Our young dobe attempted a chicken massacre but since we were right there we chased her around while the chickens sought shelter. They made it through.

Since then we have made determined moves to help her lose interest in the chickens but it’s day by day for sure. :fl

Please keep us posted on your healing girls! :)
 
I definitely will! Very anxious to hear from the chicken vet next week. But nothing made me happier than seeing Ghost, the more badly injured of the two, eating yesterday. When I found her she was in the coop hiding her head under a nesting box with a huge open wound on her back. She was barely breathing. I almost didn't even bring her with me to the vet because I was sure she'd die. It's amazing to see her up and about and even fighting a bit when I try to give her meds. Love to see that little bit of spunk!
 
Oh no! So sorry for your losses! We've all been there, and no matter if it's purposely culling for meat, or because of injuries, predators, etc. it's never easy. They have a way of really getting us attached! Thanks for introducing yourself! Best of luck with your girls, I'm sure they will be back to their normal antics in no time!!

:welcome
 
Hello and welcome to BYC! :frow Glad you joined.
Heart wrenching and uplifting story. I'm so sorry you experienced this and had to see most of your girls die. :hugsi hope the remaining 2 survive.
My dogs would do the same but with intent to kill. I keep my flock contained behind electric fencing. Two of my dogs got one pop to the nose each and that's all it took for them to not so much as look at the chickens.
 
Your story made me wonder how I got so lucky. Our dogs love the chicken and strive to keep them safe. The chicken leave chicken candy all over the place for them as a reward for good dog behavior even though us humans are grossed out by it. I will never understand why after eating chicken leavings a dog needs to love and lick me. Welcome to BYC and so happy to hear all is not lost!
 

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