I lost one of my girls on Monday.
I got home from work and started my new after work routine - let the dogs out, put the dogs in, let the chickens out, let the dogs out again (because they never do all of their business right away the first time.)
After opening the chicken door intot he run, I started the head count to make sure everyone was accounted for. I only come up with 10. I open the coop door, see the naked necks hanging out eating and talking to each other. Hmmm...I must have counted wrong. So I rechecked the outside chickens, sure enough, only 10. As I'm heading back into the coop, the two stragglers headed outside. One is still missing.
I go into the coop, and see one of the girls laying in the corner. It was one of the Australorps. They were all fine when I checked on them in the morning - or at least they were all still huddled together in a corner (stupid things still don't roost at night).
I picked her up and started looking for any trauma. No pecking wounds and no bite marks (I'm fairly confident it had nothing to do with Kenny's terror spree). Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. It doesn't seem like an illness, as I should have noticed something in the other chickens. I'm not sure what happened. Only thing I can think of is maybe she ate something or was just born with bad genetics. Either way, I'm not sure I'll be able to find out short of a chicken-topsy. I'll just chalk it up to a mystery death and keep an eye on the rest.
**Update - at first I thought this was a random chicken, but then it turned out to be Aussie. **
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Dogs Will KIll a Chicken - No Really
In thinking back to when the first set of eggs hatched, I knew there may be issues with the dogs. Exhibit A, B, and C. Yet, I didn't factor in Kenny's determination to get to the chickens.
There was a perfect storm of ineptitude that occurred while putting up the run. Not being an expert in chicken behaviors yet, I didn't really think about how the chickens were going to react while the run was going up. Once the panels were in place and the locking mechanisms were finger-tightened, the chickens were invited into the run.
Well, there were still people in the run holding up the panel that hadn't been affixed to the coop. So the chickens were just milling about doing chicken things, but on the other end of the run.
Then the dogs were let out. The yard has an invisible fence. The bad dogs (Kenny and Izzy) had their collars on, the old dogs (Betty and Bailey) didn't as they panic when they get buzzed. Anyway, Kenny ran towards the coop/run area, stood and barked at the chickens. But only because there's a line where the invisible fencing cuts across the yard. The chickens are all "what? you can't touch us".
Well, Kenny doesn't like being tormented like that. And he bolted through the invisible fence. It was at this point that it was learned that the battery in his collar was out. Oops.
So now Kenny is right up at the run barking at the chickens. Remember, there are still people in the run area, too. So the chickens were trying to get as far away from two different sets of danger. They ended up crowding next the fence in the corner where it was currently being held up and not attached.
Oh no. Easy pickin's for a tenacious dog who's nose can fit through a kennel fence. Sure enough, Kenny got himself a chicken. I'm not sure which chicken he got, but he pulled out a mouthful of feathers. The non-captured chickens ran to the opposite corner of the run and pressed themselves against the fence. Oh Lord. I'm sure you know what's coming.
Lots of screaming and kicking at the fence ensued. Rat-bastard dog would not relent. Finally, the chicken got away and ran to join the rest of the flock.
Being a fast little dog, Kenny ran to where the chickens were and got himself another (same?) chicken and pulled out another mouthful of feathers. They got away from him and settled in the middle of the run so they couldn't be reached.
I left the run, swearing at Kenny, picked him up and put him back in the house.
Lessons learned:
If Kenny is outside being a jerk, people can't be in the run
Little dogs - specially badger dogs (that's English for Dachshund) - are bred to hunt. And will (see exception below)
Little dogs with pointy noses can get said nose through chain link very easily. This tells me I need to put the predator proofing netting a little higher up that I originally wanted. In fact, I may even electrify the fence - that'll teach him.
Yelling at a determined dog will not deter him from his task.
Old dogs can't be bothered with hunting.
There was a perfect storm of ineptitude that occurred while putting up the run. Not being an expert in chicken behaviors yet, I didn't really think about how the chickens were going to react while the run was going up. Once the panels were in place and the locking mechanisms were finger-tightened, the chickens were invited into the run.
Well, there were still people in the run holding up the panel that hadn't been affixed to the coop. So the chickens were just milling about doing chicken things, but on the other end of the run.
Then the dogs were let out. The yard has an invisible fence. The bad dogs (Kenny and Izzy) had their collars on, the old dogs (Betty and Bailey) didn't as they panic when they get buzzed. Anyway, Kenny ran towards the coop/run area, stood and barked at the chickens. But only because there's a line where the invisible fencing cuts across the yard. The chickens are all "what? you can't touch us".
Well, Kenny doesn't like being tormented like that. And he bolted through the invisible fence. It was at this point that it was learned that the battery in his collar was out. Oops.
So now Kenny is right up at the run barking at the chickens. Remember, there are still people in the run area, too. So the chickens were trying to get as far away from two different sets of danger. They ended up crowding next the fence in the corner where it was currently being held up and not attached.
Oh no. Easy pickin's for a tenacious dog who's nose can fit through a kennel fence. Sure enough, Kenny got himself a chicken. I'm not sure which chicken he got, but he pulled out a mouthful of feathers. The non-captured chickens ran to the opposite corner of the run and pressed themselves against the fence. Oh Lord. I'm sure you know what's coming.
Lots of screaming and kicking at the fence ensued. Rat-bastard dog would not relent. Finally, the chicken got away and ran to join the rest of the flock.
Being a fast little dog, Kenny ran to where the chickens were and got himself another (same?) chicken and pulled out another mouthful of feathers. They got away from him and settled in the middle of the run so they couldn't be reached.
I left the run, swearing at Kenny, picked him up and put him back in the house.
Lessons learned:
If Kenny is outside being a jerk, people can't be in the run
Little dogs - specially badger dogs (that's English for Dachshund) - are bred to hunt. And will (see exception below)
 |
| Bailey not bothering with instinct. Unless that instinct is eating poop. |
Yelling at a determined dog will not deter him from his task.
Old dogs can't be bothered with hunting.
Many Many Updates
I have been remiss in my duties as a blogger by not providing timely updates for my faithful readers.
To summarize the past few weeks (full details will be added as individual posts):
1.) The coop is "done"
2.) The chickens have moved outside
3.) The run is up and the chickens get outdoor time every day
4.) The boys are getting ready for freezer camp - they haven't packed yet, but they are demonstrating interest in going every day.
5.) Two out of four dogs would kill a chicken if given an opportunity
6.) I'm turning into a chicken hoarder (but I promise to stop at my max)
7.) One of the original girls died.
8.) Non-chicken related stuff, too
To summarize the past few weeks (full details will be added as individual posts):
1.) The coop is "done"
2.) The chickens have moved outside
3.) The run is up and the chickens get outdoor time every day
4.) The boys are getting ready for freezer camp - they haven't packed yet, but they are demonstrating interest in going every day.
5.) Two out of four dogs would kill a chicken if given an opportunity
6.) I'm turning into a chicken hoarder (but I promise to stop at my max)
7.) One of the original girls died.
8.) Non-chicken related stuff, too
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