Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[grracee]

My cocker, Charlie managed to get to the chickens today and killed my little blue pekin, Betty Don't know how he got there, my Nan was up the garden at the time and I only got there once he had her in his mouth and she had unfortunately already gone, also had to pull her out of his mouth aswell as he just wouldn't let go I feel awful and really angry at myself, I guess I never realised how much of a temptation they were for my dogs (2 cockers!) and just so sad about my little girl, she had only just started laying too I can't risk it happening again (I'd already reinforced the netting as they got up there the other week but managed to get them in time before any damage was done!) so my auntie may take the other three on for me and have them up at hers with her other girls

[Ain't Nobody Here]

So sorry to hear that, what a shame .

[cheekymonkey68]

I was so sorry to hear your news, you must feel awful. Cockers are gun dogs and unfortunately quite a lot of them have quite a high prey drive. I'd dearly like a dog and my partner would love a springer having grown up with several,although we may have to change our choice of breed and age of the dog to fit with my girls.... brother in laws lab will happily sit in with them!!

I hope you will feel a bit better soon, it must have been a horrible shock.

 

Hugs

[jennym]

So sorry for your loss

[nikkichick]

Thats so sad. x

[lillybettybabs]

Is he a working cocker or a show cocker?

[mollyripkim]

So sorry to hear about losing your girl, it must have been horrible for you and as others have said it is the dogs instinct and I am sure they are both lovely dogs so don't be too mad with them. Sad that you may have to rehome your remaining girls as well although at least if they go to a relative you will still be able to see them.

I have a cocker too (show type), she is really dopey and will happily sunbathe in the garden with the girls all around her so it can work but I think like cheeky monkey said it depends on how prey driven they are.

Hope you are all ok.

[Alis girls]

So sorry - hugs Ali x

[Chortle Chook]

I'm so sorry grracee . At least if your auntie takes the other chickens you'll be able to go and see them so they won't be totally gone from you for good and all. An alternative might be if you could manage to persuade someone that a good strong WIR is a good idea rather than just netting. That way you would have a safe chance to train your dogs and tell them off every time they go up to it and take too great an interest. Spaniels are intellegent and can learn that your chickens are not just any chickens and are not to be tampered with.

[grracee]

Thanks for the messages, it's really odd without her as she was the boss of the group, bless her

 

Is he a working cocker or a show cocker?

 

Charlie's a show cocker

[Lavenders_Blue]

So sorry to hear this, I know just how you feel as my dog (terrier cross) chewed her way into my chicken pen last year and killed one of my girls. The pen has now been reinforced with the strongest weldmesh we could get, but that does't stop her charging at the pen and frightening the hens

Whilst she is so, so much better with the hens than she used to be, I still can't trust her in the garden at all as she just throws herself at the fence when the hens come close and no amount of distraction/telling off/rewarding her when she does behave will stop her when she gets over excited, her prey drive is just so strong.

I really hope you can find a solution to keep you girls safe, it's heartbreaking to lose one in such sad circumstances and to feel that you can't trust a beloved pet either. I want to be able to have my patio doors open this summer so we can all go in/out of the garden as we please, but don't see how I am going to be able to with Tango being as she is with the chickens - I am all out of solutions right now

[grracee]

So sorry to hear this, I know just how you feel as my dog (terrier cross) chewed her way into my chicken pen last year and killed one of my girls. The pen has now been reinforced with the strongest weldmesh we could get, but that does't stop her charging at the pen and frightening the hens

Whilst she is so, so much better with the hens than she used to be, I still can't trust her in the garden at all as she just throws herself at the fence and no amount of distraction/telling off/rewarding her when she does behave will stop her when she gets over excited, her prey drive is just so strong.

I really hope you can find a solution to keep you girls safe, it's heartbreaking to lose one in such sad circumstances and to feel that you can't trust a beloved pet either.

 

That's exactly it, I think as he's done it once now (and nearly twice) he will always try to do it and I couldn't trust him or leave him up the garden without me being there. As many have said he obviously has a high prey drive, Charlie was the one that I thought wouldn't do it, I thought Toby (my other cocker) was more capable of it but he was just having a good time running around! I would never blame the dogs, it was just an accident that they got up there and a very sad event

[Goosey Lucy]

Sorry to read of your loss, my neighbour's dog saw off 13 of my 17 girls. Like you I rehomed the remaining 4 as I couldn't bear it to happen again.

[miller30]

Im sorry to hear about what has happened to your little chicken i have 2 working cockers who just run the garden with my 30 birds i even leave them alone with my birds they know that the chickens live here but see any wild birds off the only trouble i have had is when i have broodys with chicks they get really excited about the babies so i dont trust them with chicks but i think you are doing the right thing as it maybe be harder to train your dog now he has killed one of your birds leanne.

[sparkysmum]

grracee, I am sorry to read this. How do you feel about stepping up the dog training and perhaps keeping your hens? It is hard but depending on your dogs age & nature it can be done. Take care. Alli x

[Cheeky Chooky]

So sorry to read this *hug*

[ZoeBunny]

So so sorry to read this... I've just lost 4 of my girls to a fox so know how you feel *hugs*.

 

Is there any way you could create a dog-free corner of your garden for your girls? Maybe put up some wooden fencing and a gate... that way you won't have to give up your girls. We have a dalmatian who's bonkers, but are very lucky as he's a complete softie when it comes to our chickens, but of course we would never leave him 100% alone with them just in case.

[The Dogmother]

I'm so sorry to hear that

 

I wouldn't let any dog near chickens - the latter are inclined to flap, which incites the dog's natural instinct to get their teeth involved my two lurchers are certainly NOT to be trusted around chickens, so the laydees are in their run before I let the dogs outside.

[Lewis]

Sorry to hear it

 

Maybe consider a weldmesh WIR or extended eglu/cube run so the dogs can't get to them.

 

We looked after a cocker puppy for most of Summer last year and think as he was so young he was fine with them. We introduced him to them FRing on a lead but he never went for them, guess we were lucky!

[grracee]

Thanks all, I've had them in the ark today so that I am 100% sure the dogs can't get near them. They have always been separated off from the dogs whilst free ranging anyway as we have a fence across half of the garden, dogs on the bottom half and chickens on the top but they aren't very happy at all today. Makes me feel awful I think they are still in shock as the dogs gave the remaining three a good chase around the garden too so thought it would give them a rest today too in the ark. Ivy, the chocolate pekin is struggling the worse as she was constantly glued to Betty. She hasn't come out of the bed area today and to me looks very depressed... will she come to terms with it soon and get over it?? I'm pretty worried as she definitely isn't herself. Seems lonely, even though she has the other two.

[Luvachicken]

Sorry to hear about your lovely girlie.

Sending hugs to you xxxx

[grracee]

Sadly found my chocolate girlie had passed away this morning I think it was all too much for her, what with being chased and also loosing her best friend. Gutted

[scubababe]

awwww how sad ((hugs)) My puppy got hold of one of my girlies and shook her like a rag doll. Luckily she had no damage and survived....they went on to become friends to the degree she used to come into the house and eat her food!!

 

I hope you manage to get things sorted

[jennym]

Oh no, what a horrible double tragedy. So sorry for the loss of your girls

[Lavenders_Blue]

So sorry to hear that Grace, what a horrible upset