Warning to newbies

[BigSkyChickens]

I'm sorry for your loss. I just lost my first chicken a couple weeks ago, and I know, it's sad. This is a good message board, becuase people here understand thay are not "just chickens".

Good luck rebuilding your flock. If you add to your flock, be sure to quarrantine for 30 days.

 

[Mahonri]

Ah shucks.

Hang in there!

 

[Wildsky]

Quote:
Well gosh perhaps she'll come back when it gets dark.

I had two dogs attack back in May - and one of my chickens was half way carried off but she got away and hid in the tree's around our property - I actually had to take my dog out to go find her, my dog won't attack my chickens and she was handy enough to sniff out where the one hen was hiding.

I hope the human society doesn't just give the owner a warning, be sure to call again to find out what happened.

 

[BWchicken]

I also love my chickens way too much and I'm so sorry for your loss, my heart goes out to you. I'll be watching this thread hoping the other hen is found alive. I agree with the other posters about your hen needing some buddies. She won't be happy all alone. You can rebuild your flock, but with a negligent dog owner as a neighbor, you'll have to predator-proof your run and coop like Fort Knox. That's always a good idea anyway.

I too think you did the right thing about the dog. It's not really his fault, he was just doing what dogs do. It's the owner's fault. If they won't take the proper care and precautions for their dog, they shouldn't have him. Many people in your shoes just shoot the dog. I agree it's totally justified and often the chicken owners have no other choice, but it's too bad when the dog pays the price for their owner's negligence and the owners get off scott free. Animals don't know any better, people do. A negligent dog owner should be held responsible, financially and otherwise, for what they allow their dogs to do. But unfortunately that's easier said than done.

Again, I am very sorry for your loss, and please keep us posted on the missing hen and let us know how things play out with the dog owners.

 

[cw]

yea dont give up

 

[TomKat]

Depending on where you live, you may have a legal right to shoot the dog. I live in the rural area of Eldorado County in California. There are signs up in the county indicating that dogs "worrying" livestock may be shot and killed. In other words all the dog has to do is harrass your livestock (i.e. chickens) and it is justifiable to shoot the dog. Now I'm a dog owner myself, so I would not be real quick to pick up the gun since it really is dog's owners that are at fault. However, you may want to let them know in the future you plan to take this kind of action. Hopefully, this would get them to restrain the dog. I've also found a wrist rocket (slingshot) with some pebbles is effective in chasing off dogs (and deer).

 

[DAFox]

I had the misfortune of having only one hen after her buddy died. I did not get chicks right away since it was January. It was June or so, by the time I successfully introduced 3 year old Henrietta to a flock of youngsters.
She and I became great friends during that 5 months and I treated her like a queen. She had been shy of people before that.
Sorry for the loss of your chickens.
Dale-Ann

 

[Akane]

In iowa you can pretty much do whatever you want with a dog that comes on your property. Shoot it, return it, take it for a ride to the nearest shelter without telling them the owner (done it).... Not illegal. Only illegal to perform inhumane torture or dump it elsewhere in the country. The law is even worded to make it your duty or the duty of a police officer to shoot any dog off it's property that is not wearing tags. Livestock owners are highly favored in legal issues around here. If it were me that dog would already be gone and hopefully to a more responsible home but I'll shoot them if necessary.

 

[The Sheriff]

Quote:
Hey Tom Kat, you guys must have gotten your power back on!

 

[jany]

Update. Bella is still missing but I'm still looking. Just can't figure out how she'd get over a 6 ft fence if she was hurt badly enough to go off and die, so I keep hoping she'll show up. The dog was picked up by the humane society... the owner willingly turned him over. The part that bothers me is the officer said it wasn't up to him, but it was possible that they'd put him up for adoption instead of putting him down (if they did adopt him out they would disclose to the new owners that he had killed poultry). There are so many nice animals needing homes I can't imagine why they would adopt one out that had killed??? I got a new little chicken to keep Penny company and kept them separated for a few days, but eventually let them out together. I'm worried about not quarantining them for the 30 days, but it was pretty hard to keep them separated and both secure at the same time. I'm pretty nervous about it and hoping I haven't killed my last hen. The flocking instinct is pretty amazing... they stay within a few feet of each other. Penny will make a half hearted move toward her sometimes, but doesn't really chase her or peck her. The new little hen even follows Penny into the coop when she lays her egg each day. She was pretty wild at first but she'll take scrambled egg out of my hand now. The dog owners offered to replace my chickens so I sent them a letter telling them all about my chickens and how tame they were just to let them know they couldn't replace them. I asked for $300 for the loss of eggs until I get a new flock laying again (Penny hasn't missed a day). They sent me a check for $300 and a really really nice letter and even went to the feed store to find out about ordering the breeds I had. After crying for a week I'm feeling a little better. I'll just have to wait until spring to start again with new chicks. I had the idea of buying fertile eggs and getting Penny to sit them, (I don't have a rooster)but read on the forum that Barred Rocks don't go broody so I guess that's out. Our yard is surrounded by a 6 ft chain link fence with pipe wired to the bottom. The chickens are way out back and we had left the front gate open at times, but not anymore - that's where the dog came in. The coop is like fort knox so they're absolutely safe at night, but we let them out during the day, so hopefully the chain link is enough. I appreciate all of your concern and advice - it's good to know people understand that chickens aren't "just chickens". Thanks so much, Jan