What do I do?

[kari_dawn]

Meyer's hatchery has chicks in small numbers...I just got my easter egger babies from there.

 

[darin367]

You need to build a secure run...... not trying to be negative, but this dog is a repeat offender so something has to be done differently... either no dog, no chickins, secure dog, or secure chickens...... i've heard once they taste blood it's going to repeat..... good luck... i recently lost 18 to coons so i know it's tuff losing birds.....

 

[dandydoodle]

Xs 3

I agree with this also. We have 3 dogs that would kill our chickens in a heart beat if let out at the same time. It isn't their fault they are breed hunters. We had the dogs before we knew we were gonna have chickens. We do a yard time share and I keep a baby gate on my porch so they can go out when the chickens are out but, can't go in the yard. I always make sure the dogs have plenty of outside time before letting the chickens free range. As this poster said a closed in run is possibly a good option. I wouldn't get rid of a family member for doing what unfortunately comes natural. So sorry for your loss. :0(

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[Bear Foot Farm]

Don't think training him will work,

How's that "not training" working out for you?

A shock collar will most likely solve your problem if the dog is intelligent.

If he's not, you'll have to decide which you want more, the birds or the dog (and maybe your wife)​

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Are you looking for adult birds, or chicks? How many do you want? If you want chicks, can handle 25 or more, and want to wait until spring there are many hatcheries from which you can order. If you want fewer than that, adults, and want them sooner, try craigslist, the buy/sell section here on BYC or maybe take out an ad in your local paper. You could also search the internet to see if there are any breeders in your area.

It is a hard lesson. Unfortunately, most of those are learned through experience. I learned the hard way to put a cover over my run. How did I learn that? I had a dog that would catch the chickens, carry them around until they were dead, then started all over again. I put up 4' chicken wire. The dog figured out that if he ran around and around outside the coop, the chickens would panic and fly out over the fence. Well, how much more fun could that be? Not only did he still get to catch and carry the chickens, he could jump up and catch them out of the air! So much more fun than frisbee. I learned the hard way that when one lets the chickens out of the run for the first time in their lives, it should be when one is home because the 10-month old lab wasn't quite as trustworthy as I thought. Came home to find my 12 dead pullets piled up on the back step. Wasn't it nice of him to catch them and bring them to the house for me? I've learned alot of other things the hard way, too. As will you. The most important thing is that you (and your family) LEARN from the mistakes.

 

[C17]

Please reread the post Oregon Blue, it wasn't my daughter, it was my step son. I am slightly offended with your post.
Air planes don't crash just becuz of a single incident, nether do chickens die from a single incident.

 

[C17]

Thanks Bobbi-j
Your right..

 

[mhwc56]

Quote:
X2

 

[Wisher1000]

C17 -- I had two dogs before I got chickens. The dogs didn't bother the chickens for eight months even when left alone all day with them free ranging. One day, I came home to carnage. After that, I kept the chickens out during the day and the dogs out at night. That worked out, but I still lost a couple due to carelessness on a human's part, sometimes mine, sometimes the kids. One of the dogs died and the other again seems to care nothing about killing chickens. I will let him out when we are outside but don't trust him completely. The chickens will often fly into his pen and eat his dog food. He growls and snaps at them (I don't blame him) but so far has not killed anymore. I did no training with the dog specifically to leave the chickens alone, I think he just figured out that I don't want them killed. He could kill more today and it wouldn't surprise me, all I am saying is that even if the dog can't be retrained, it can still be done. You can keep chickens and a chicken killing dog at the same time. You just have to understand what has to be done and accept that you can't be lax, because chickens will die. Build a dog-proof coop/run, and a dog-proof dog pen and make a schedule.

 

[rmh0508]

Seriously? Get rid of the dog? What is wrong with some of you? A dog is not a disposable item/material thing. I am sorry but when I see posts that say shoot the dog or get rid of the dog I get very angry. They are family members too. Its not hard to train the dog, its actually harder to train the children. The dog is just doing what dogs do naturally, its up to you to lay the foundation as to how you want the dog to behave. OP I am sorry for your loss. Try looking into obedience classes for the dog or getting a trainer to come over and work on specific issues. Also make this a family thing, everybody needs to be on board with training the dog so the dog isn't getting 10 different commands to do essentially the same thing. That way the dog and family is trained and in the long run happier.....