4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[LesleyH]

We adopted an ex racing greyhound 2 months ago. Last night one of out girls Charlotte escaped. We did not realise until it was too late...Evie had played with her - to death.

We were so upset...but it was not Evie's fault - she did not know better.

What to do - do we keep the chickens and just hope it does not happen again - or do we give them up?

Evie does not normally pay them attention and she is fine with our cat...I think that Charlotte must have flapped about and Evie thought it was a game.

 

Any advice?

[Redwing]

So sorry about your lost girl

 

I would see it as a tragic accident and try to move on, many dogs will go for flapping birds. If you normally make every effort to keep them apart as it sounds like you do then just double check the fencing and get back to enjoying your chooks

[Olly]

So sorry to hear that. I know someone else on here lost a hen to a greyhound - they just can't help themselves, and it only takes a moment when your back is turned or when one or other of them is not where you expect them to be.

 

I agree with Redwing - write it down to experience, and move on. It will make you extra-vigilant in future.

[Egluntyne]

What a shame.

 

I would keep her on a lead whilst she is anywhere near the hens, or make sure that the hens are safely locked in the run whilst she is in the garden. Now that you have had this nasty experience, you know what the limitations are, but there is no reason why, with a bit of planning, you should not be able to keep both the chickens and the dog.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I'm so sorry to hear that .

[Jools]

Sorry to hear that, it's horrible isn't it. I have two terriers so I understand the problem because mine don't even feign dis-interest, they make their motives perfectly clear.

 

Having separate areas of the garden works for me. If you don't want to go that far, have a think about electric poultry netting .... electrified of course. My two beasties won't go near it now and I don't even have to have it turned on. Once zapped, twice shy.

 

Good luck.

[LesleyH]

Thanks everyone - it's helpful when you are upset and irrational to have somew sensible views levelled at you - much appreciated

[Guest]

Most dogs enjoy the chase so its just instinct, my completely soppy cocker spaniel however is a crafty thing and has killer all over that soft silly face! He would love to eat my chickens and any other animal if he could.

 

I just shut him in doors if I go into their run as he is very quick. However I did introduce them to him right from the start and he has got fed up looking at them through the wire. They are use to him whinging at them from a young age.

 

Just keep them apart as now the dog has done it he will do it again. But not a reason to give up the chickens. Keep them secure

 

good luck indie

[carrie]

I don't have a dog but maybe a dog trainer may be able to help to train your dog not to touch the chickens

[Chucky Mama]

I am sorry . I never thought I would be able to trust my dog with our chickens (if fact sometimes I wonder what possessed me to get them!). She had had a couple of close encounter with local chickens in the past. She has now however decided that they are part of her pack and will lie out in the garden with them and has even been bullied by them for s"Ooops, word censored!"s of food, something I would never have imagined possible. However...when we hold them and they get flappy she is not to be trusted and will have a halfhearted go at them so I never trust her then. The flapping really does seem to release that natural instinct to attack. Ex racing Greyhound are notiorious for problems with chasing cats because of their history so I think that whilst it is possible for you to train Evie it may be that you have to keep them seperate indefinately. I would start by regularly taking her out on the lead and walking her around them when they are calm and then slowly build up the contact until she is so bored with them that she is conditioned to ingnore them even when they flap. Good Luck.

[CluckyBucks]

Sorry to hear that, but as you said, she didnt know any better. I would think as this as a one off, but keep an extra eye on things just incase it happens again.

 

{HUGS}

 

 

xx xx

[hilda-and-evadne]

I don't have a dog but maybe a dog trainer may be able to help to train your dog not to touch the chickens

 

I don't think that one could ever train an ex-racing greyhound not to touch the chickens. The greyhound probably sees the chicken as just another "lure" (the sort it was trained to race after during its "professional" life").