Well, something bad happened today!

[Kentucky Steve]

My little flock of six, 2 EE, 2 BSL 1 of which was a cockerel, and 2 RIR are free range and would have been 16 weeks old this Friday. I've let them out for the day every day for about 2 months and every day I come home from work and count heads. Today however the gals aren't in any of their usual haunts. I was walking my property and found the cockerel. He was not torn up from what I could tell but he was dead. I also found a pile of black feathers and no sign of the rest of the flock. I will wait until dark and hope they make it back to the coop on there own. :-(

 

[satay]

So sorry. Hope you find some of your girls alive and well still.

 

[tellynpeep]

Sometimes a fox or dog will come by and scatter the flock; I've had them come home 24 hours later.
So sorry though... I've learned the hard way that my girls and boys don't free-range when I'm not here.

 

[Kentucky Steve]

Well the neighbor knocked on my door. His **** dogs got all my chickens. There is still one unaccounted for but I am not holding out any hope as it was the black one whose feathers I found in the yard. He offered to pay for the birds or replace them. I told him I would think about it. It is not that they were "pets" but I did enjoy watching them. How do you put a price on that?

 

[satay]

I would make him pay for them at least the cost to get some more. Hopefully he will keep his dog in is yard from now on. I am so sorry this happened to your girls .

 

[Oceanseve]

Sorry about your flock That was really great of him to come over and admit his fault and offer to pay. That's a very rare thing, even tho it's frustrating you should cherish a neighbor like that!

 

[Snow mom]

Sorry about your flock That was really great of him to come over and admit his fault and offer to pay. That's a very rare thing, even tho it's frustrating you should cherish a neighbor like that!

I agree with this. It was very honest of him to step up and admit that his dog had done it without any accusation or questioning. I'd think if he's willing he could pay for either new chicks or if you'd rather slightly older pullets. I wouldn't ask for any more than what you had originally paid. Sorry about your flock.

 

[tellynpeep]

I wouldn't ask for any more than what you had originally paid.

I disagree with that. You should add in how much you've spent in food, bedding, electric bills (that brooder light is expensive to run) and any other associated expenses you spent to get them to 16 weeks. You will have to spend that all over again if you get new chicks.

 

[Life is Good!]

First, I'm so sorry for your flock. Be thankful for a generous, honest neighbor. You're a lucky, lucky owner.

But, not knowing if you're urban, suburban or out in the sticks - your neighbor may or may not know exactly how much chicks cost. Nor how much it truly costs to grow them up to 16 weeks! If you can recall how many bags of feed you've used (roughly) and cost of initial purchase - I'd ask for that amount. Bedding and electricity and treats and and and - well, that's quality of life. (Ok, I personally think bedding is essential - but I use so much, it'd be hard to average costs for that!).

Then, use those funds to build yourself a real nice fenced in run, dug down at least 12-16" and up at least 5' (1/2" hardware cloth dug down as deep as you can and a 48" tall farm field fence above that to 5' tall is what we've done). For that dog is going to be back. And try again and again and again. I know, I personally have installed a perimeter fence around 2 acres to keep a neighbor's dog out of the yard - thankfully, the run was strong enough to withstand her repeated body blows into the fence to get to the chickens. Now, she has two fences to get through, and she's not been back since.

When the run is done - and only then - contact any reputable hatchery to replace your flock. Many offer sexed chicks - nearly all year round. But first things first. Make sure they're safe. (This coming from a chicken owner with two runs to seperate flocks and one impromptu run inside a run for some "hey, you're not supposed to get that big yet" chicks!)

 

[zazouse]

I agree with this. It was very honest of him to step up and admit that his dog had done it without any accusation or questioning. I'd think if he's willing he could pay for either new chicks or if you'd rather slightly older pullets. I wouldn't ask for any more than what you had originally paid. Sorry about your flock.

Totally agree you got a good neighbor there, most would not take responsability like that.
let him pay to replace them at that age, In my area that age goes for 7 to 8 dollars. check out your local adds to see what they go for or just tell him what you think sounds fair.
Sorry you lost them like that sure you and the neighbor both learned a lession hard as it was.

Wished you lived close to me i would give you some birds.