3 of my chickens murdered--What are they worth?

[country chick]

I live in a suburb that allows chickens. We came home last night, after being at Grandma's for the day, to find three of my six chickens dead in the yard. There were huge dog tracks all over the yard. (We have about 3 inches of snow on the ground.)

The dog had torn through a seam in the run and it looked like three must have gotten out and were murdered one by one. There were feathers all over the yard and we had to hunt with the flashlight to find all three girls. Looked like the other three had run back into the coop. They
were fine--not a scratch on them.

We have leash laws in our town for both cats and dogs. It makes me SO mad that people do not control their animals! I know now that the run wasn't as predator proof as I thought. Had never had any trouble for going-on two years now.

Anyway, this afternoon I was sitting at the dining room table and I hear a dog bark. Went outside, and sure enough, there was the murderer, barking at my chickens! Of course, I can't be 100% sure it was the same dog, but I do have pictures of the paw prints from the previous night, so I suppose I could prove it if necessary.

My DS and I went outside, caught the dog and chained him up. He was very friendly and "sat" when he was told to. I called Animal Control and told them that we had caught the dog that had killed three of my chickens. Just as they arrived a guy comes driving up the street and says, "That's my dog." He got a ticket for having his dog loose. The officer asked me if I wanted to be reimbursed for my loss. The dog owner said he was fine with reimbursing me and apologized for his dog. He gave me his phone number and I told him I would let him know what he owed me. The officer said to be sure and let her know if he didn't settle up with me. He did keep saying, "Bad dog", like it was the poor dog's fault. I know the dog was just doing what dogs do. Wish I would have said, "No, bad owner, bad!"

My question is....what are my three girls worth? Of course, to me, they are irreplacable! My sweet little Loretta, a beautiful Silver-laced Wyandotte, almost 2 years old and laying almost every day....then my two young Easter Egger's, Ruthie and Ruby.....just got them in the spring and they just started laying the beginning of November--those beautiful green eggs. I was also getting an egg from each nearly every day.

These girls would have never gone to "freezer camp". Now, dog-gone-it, I have to wait until March to get more babies and it will be fall before I have green eggs again!

How do you calculate what a productive laying hen is worth? I do want to be fair in what I tell him he owes me, I just don't know what amount that is? I'm anticipating that I will have to justify whatever amount I come up with.

(I have posted this on the Poultry Forum also.)
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[sellis]

country chic this is how we do it on our ranch , figure the cost of your feed into each of the 3 chickens dead ,plus the egg production for a year and the price its going to be to replace and feed the new chickens untill they sart laying add these costs up and you will get a price , trust me when i say that the price may shock you and him both BUT i promise the dog wont be allowed to roam again , scott

[seedspreader]

Just be aware the above formula is good if you get someone who agrees to pay it. In court, there is a good likelihood that it wouldn't hold up. First of all a years supply of egg production (if you were to go to court) is unreasonable. You can have new hens up and producing in 5 months.

The variable cost of feed, cost of the chicken, etc. would be offset on what it would cost to buy fresh layers already producing.

My guess is if you get $15.00 out of each chicken you would be doing fine.

[Ole Man Legrand]

They would lay 30 doz. each in a year equal 90 doz times $2. a doz equal $180. That should teach dog owners a lesson.

[Windy in Kansas]

Eggs are currently selling for $2.99 per dozen in the grocery store which is basically $3 or 25¢ per egg.

Let us assume that since your hens were young they would lay 300 eggs per year.

So 300 X 25¢ = $75. Since there were 3--3 X $75 = $225.

For the sake of argument lets us assume production costs and feed would add up to ⅔ of that amount meaning at the least he would owe you $75. Presented to him this way I don't see how he could deny such a claim. I would also state to the man that should the killing occur again you would seek then entire $75 per chicken killed without regard to production costs.
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I know that you are quite upset by the loss of your chickens. I do however believe you should be using a different term than murder. My dictionary defines murder as being between humans and I agree.

Even using slaughter would be pushing the definition of that word.

I believe the simple term of kill or killing would be more appropriate.

[PrettyPaisley]

I'm sorry to hear about your chickens. $180 sounds good to me. I had 3 of mine slaughtered in my neighborhood, but it was by an owl. Since then the other 3 haven't given me one egg. That was the end of Septemeber and they had been laying for about 2 months. I guess they are shell-shocked.

[sammyd]

I think you'd be lucky to get what it costs to get point of lay replacements.

[comfortablynumb]

can you "murder" a chicken?
I thought the proper term was "killed".

[JJ Grandits]

"Doing what dogs do", I think involuntary manslaughter is better.

[wwubben]

You can buy ready to lay pullets for five or ten dollars around here.I do not think you can be paid sentimental value without going to court.

[BillHoo]

Thinking in terms of farm equipment. If someone trashed your lawnmower, you would only be able to legally be reimbursed for the cost of replacing the lawnmower and not the income you would have made through its utility throughout the year.

"Yea, my lawnmower cost me $150, but I coulda made $10,000.00 this summer mowing lawns, so that's what I want!"

$15 per hen is reasonable. You might be able to get $20 for mental anguish.

[Goatguy]

hhmm... All those calculations DO make sense... but I think you'd have a hard time getting anything CLOSE to that kind of money if the guy was smart enough to look into the matter himself. For instance, you can get 17 week red star pullets from McMurray for 10.95/each . $11 is quite a bit different than $60-75/each. Even if you facter in the feed and egg loss for the 5 weeks it takes the 15 weekers to start laying themselves, might be at $20 a piece.

http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/prod...d_pullets.html

The fact of the matter is that that chickens are cheap and all but disposable. Just because WE value/love/care for our animals doesn't mean we can put unrealistic values on them, its just a sad part of having a cheap pet.

[OkieDavid]

You can't base the value on future production "POTENTIAL".....The rascals could have just as easily caught a cold and been dead next week on their own. Value of each hen is $5-$10.

[BlueHeronFarm]

Around here adult layers are sold at the feed stores for between $12 and $15 each. That is what I would ask.

I'm sorry about your girls. Ours are like pets, too - so I understand the heartache, but realistically, and for the sake of good neighborly relations, I wouldn't go crazy and ask for more than $45. (Or whatever you can buy hens for near you) It sounds like the guy is trying to do the right thing and that he was properly apologetic. I would ask that he replace the hens and repair the dog run and say thank you when he does both.

[bob clark]

out here in the sticks. i would have just killed the dog and went on

now i know things are different in the city . i have lived there as well

if i were you, now that it seems you passed on shooting the dog, i would tell them you want 30 bucks per bird.

it is customary for damages to be 3 times the acctual loss due to it being lost during a criminal act

[wy_white_wolf]

Might check your local ordinances. Some already have the value set.

[big rockpile]

Southwest Missouri you would only get what it cost to replace which is $7 apiece

big rockpile

[greenhaven]

I think if the owners are being that copperative about paying damages I wouldn't want to take advantage of that. No need for "teaching a lesson" in this case, apparently. I would charge the dog owners exactly what it would cost you to exactly replace the chickens of the same ages and breed.

$15 apiece seems just about right. Why create an enmity when one exists? Over-charge deliberately and you are asking for increased tensions...not an easing of them.

[edcopp]

$5 each is about fair.

[fantasymaker]

What I hate about this deal is its a time waster for you, I have said in the past dont worry just bring me 3 6 month old laying easter eggers(or what ever they were)AND 3 fertile eggs a day till they are replaced.
Thats fair. Or I will do it for the same cost and $75 an hour.(whatever you make at work)
It always galls me that noone values the time put into getting a "Deal"