How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Dead Rooster and Doves

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Dead Rooster and Doves - HELP!

Diane -

Thanks for the reply. I should have clarified... They free range in our yard... It's a fenced in like .75 acre... So they technically are fenced in... We don't really get stray dogs in our yard, so I would be really surprised if that's what it was. We do get coyotes, but they eat chickens, not kill them and then leave them behind... I don't know... I guess it is possible... I just find it really strange that it was the rooster AND two wild doves... I guess something could have come and attacked all of them...

When I picked up the rooster to examine and dispose of him, his neck was really limp. Not sure if that's normal, but the rest of his body was pretty stiff.... So maybe it was a broken neck....?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate it.

Katie

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 10, 2014, at 10:14 PM, "'DianeStraight' straight6@earthlink.net [CHICKENS-101]" <CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Sounds like a dog.

Many dogs kill by grabbing the animal at the neck and giving it a hard shake which breaks the neck. Nothing much shows. That toy stops running and making noise and being fun so they look for another one that's more exciting.

I'd keep them in tomorrow. He'll be back, guaranteed. And will keep on coming until all the "toys" are broken. Those are kills, not sickness.

Don't freak out. Cope! Try to catch the dog, there are lots of ways. You won't have a minute's peace until you do. Either trap it or shoot it or catch it inside a fence or coop or something. Tie him up, look for an ID, call the owner, call the police. You are entitled to recompense for the loss, and the owner will pay a fine. If it ever comes back, there's always the 3S chicken preservation treatment.

But you really need a fence. Free range sounds nice, but it just doesn't work. A free range chicken is simply a dead chicken waiting to happen. Seems like every predator there is likes a nice chicken dinner, and the longer you have them the more the word gets around.

Sorry,

Diane S.