Ugh.

[Gregschickens]

So I've been dealing with a sick flock recently. I've been running all over the place getting medicine and treating my chickens. So I've been dealing with a lot of nasty poop covered chickens and swollen eye chickens. Anyways, I wake up this morning to my dogs in the chicken coop and 3 of my not sick (and favorite) chickens having been killed. I can't tell you how disillusioned I am at this point. This is getting really ridiculous.

 

[saddina]

How did the dogs get into the coop?

 

[flowergirl60]

Sorry you are going through this. Sometimes we get faced with some difficult challenges in our lives. Keep taking care of the rest of the flock like you are doing. That is all you can do. When they are better you will be rewarded.

 

[Gregschickens]

They busted through the chicken wire at a height that I thought they couldn't reach.

 

[bevsbirds]

I'm sorry things are so rough right now. I am new to this too and haven't had to deal with any illnesses yet but I did lose 4 cornish roasters last week altogether at once (we think it was CHF) which was really upsetting. As a newbie, we work extra hard to learn what we can and do our best so it is discouraging when things don't go right. But... don't give up. Your hard work will pay off and, this too shall pass.

 

[lowry075]

Quote:
I am so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how awful that feels. I get upset when my cat kills wild birds (even though I know it's natural).

If I may suggest something though, I will say that the most valuable piece of information I have learned from this forum is that chicken wire is only for keeping chickens in or out of an area. If you replace the chicken wire with hardware cloth, you should be spared this anguish again, and it will keep all other furry predators away from your flock as well.

 

[ChicKat]

gregschickens,

also sorry you are going through this and sorry for your loss.....

lowry075 - very well said, and advice that we all need to be aware of.

Hopefully by changing your coop/run that problem will be solved, then hopefully you can cure your other chickens of the illness. Although it is hard, and discouraging, don't give up, hang in there. Hopefully you are nearing the end of the troubles.

 

[mrpekinduck]

I'm so sorry hopefully things will lighten up just try not to think about it and take care of the rest of your flock

 

[Gregschickens]

Thanks guys. I have 2x4 fencing on the bottom up to about 3 feet (which they can't get through, trust me they've been trying) and my dogs aren't that tall but I should've known. I chained them up and hit them with the dead carcasses as I hear sometimes works but my golden retriever broke off of her leash and she went and got them out of the bag they were in while I was gone. She either ate 2 of the bodies or hid them. They killed my andalusian rooster and my two rhode island reds. The retriever has some scratches on her face that I'm sure are courteousy of the rooster. My boxer is the one that ripped the fencing, that much I am sure of because the retriever has bad hips and wouldn't have been jumping up against a fence. They really are a dynamic duo because the retriever is the one I'm sure that killed most or all of them, but she couldn't have done it without the boxer. I took them into the coop on a leash to scare them from ever going near the coop again by smacking them every time they went for a chicken. The boxer wasn't all that interested in getting the chickens, but when I brought the retriever in there she immediately tried to get to the chickens but slowed down a bit after I started smacking her. I know they're on better behavior because of me being there but it gave me something to go on. I really want some new dogs. True to form though, the three chickens that died were my top 3 favorites. And a fourth chicken has an injured leg. Any ideas on how to chastise the dogs?

 

[aubreynoramarie]

I know how you feel right now. Hang in there