Wendy Swore, co-owner of Swore Farms on Ballard Road, awoke Wednesday to a massacre in her hen house.
Swore said 172 of her hens were killed by dogs sometime Tuesday night. The dogs pulled the chain link fence away from the barn to gain access to the coop.
“All our gentle, favorite hens are dead. Cochins, Araucanas, Silkies, Rhode Island reds, Cuckoo Marans, Wyandottes,” Swore said.
The laying hens are valued at $15 to $20 each, but Swore said she had about 20 specialty breed hens that will cost $30 to $35 each to replace.
Swore said she slept with the air conditioner on and did not hear the dog in her hen house.
“There were a lot of dogs barking that night,” Swore said. “Neighbors reported the same thing. It was just an active night.”
To make matters worse, Swore said she moved about 50 chicks hatched at Swore Farm in with the hens Monday night.
Swore reported the incident to Idaho Fish and Game, and she said the carnage is typical of what happens when dogs are dumped in the country and left to fend for themselves.
“People who dump dogs in the country, and people who let their dogs run loose at night, should not own dogs,” Swore said.
A year ago, Swore lost 18 hens to dogs at her farm located on Ballard Road.
The Swore family owns 35 acres and leases an additional 80 acres, and the farm hosts an annual Ag Days event sponsored by Idaho Farm Bureau and Idaho Soil and Conservation each year for three days in September so children can learn more about agriculture.
(3) comments
Maggie,
The evidence that it was a dog(s) is:
1. The chain link fence pulled away from the barn, a smaller animal (badger, racoon, skunk or fox) would have dug under the fence leaving a hole.
2. The massive killing. Coyotes typically kill to eat, they are quiet and don't create a panic. Coyotes are very intelligent and will return to a good food source until depleted.
3. Skunks are egg eaters. And yes we just caught one ( I live on this farm).
4. Racoons love corn, and we have acres of it. It would be readily apparent if there were racoons here.
5. While it is legal to shoot stray dogs on the property we do not. If we knew for certain that a particular dog was killing chickens (i.e. caught in the act) then maybe, but we prefer non-lethal options. (i.e. removal of the animal to another location)
Unless there is evidence that it was a dog, we cant assume it was a dog. It could just as easily have been a badger, a racoon, a skunk, a fox, or a coyote. To blame a dog immediately begins the slaughter and the shooting of animals (dogs).
People abandon animals because they find the Pocatello environment hostile with the greedy pound creating havoc in their lives with arbitrary harassment. They mistakenly think that leaving them out in the country like some goofy pocatello journalist told in a story a year or so ago that it was O.K to abandon animals on a country road if you either don't want them or can't care for them.
Sad very sad.
You're kidding, right? You clearly don't know what you're talking about. A badger, racoon, skunk, fox, and likely a coyote would maybe kill a few (usually to eat), but that'd be about it. Chickens can be quite ferocious when they are threatened and to kill so many would require a large animal. Yes, POSSIBLY a coyote, but highly unlikely. Domestic dogs tend to kill for fun, especially when in a pack.
I've also lived in Pocatello for decades and have never had any problems with the animal shelter.
Really, really confused by your post.
But to the Swores, I'm very very sad to hear this news and will definitely be donating to your cause. Your family provides a lot to this community and I'm hoping the community can rally together to return the favor.
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In