Today, when I arrived home from visiting my husband in the hospital, I found that my dogs were NOT in their fenced (escape proof) backyard. I heard barking near the barn, and thought "oh God...my birds". My greatest fear was realized when I made it to the barn. My 2 Boston Terriers had dug a 2 foot deep tunnel into one of the juvie runs. I grabbed the dogs and put them back in their yard. They had killed "Pistol Pete" a gorgeous young Splash cockeral full of promise; a Lavender cockerel I had purchased from Bren; a striking Splash pullet who was just going to be a pet because of an earlier injury.....I also found a black pullet I was growing out, mutilated, but I may be able to save her.
Here's the kicker-----as I was doing a head count while putting everyone to bed, I discovered my Lavender cock--Frank--was missing----HE HAD BEEN STOLEN !! It is physically impossible for any bird in that pen to exit the pen on their own.....they can only be "carried" out of that pen. I grabbed the flashlight to check the exterior, just to make sure Frank had not been a victim of the dog attack----nope. It also explains HOW my dogs escaped their backyard---the theif unlactched their gate to get to the area where the barns are.
I contacted the Sheriffs Dept., and believe it or not, they DID send an officer. The officer took the theft very seriously. He & I examined the run and Lavender house together to see that there was no evidence of dog attack, and that only a HUMAN could remove a bird from that house. He completed a report, and told me it would be available for pickup wednesday.
There, unfortunately, have been quite alot of Silkies stolen in the past year.....I thought we were safe from such an act. We live in the middle of nowhere.......unfortunately, I have allowed buyers to come to my home in the past----there will definitely be none of that in the future.
I live in the mountains of western North Carolina.....so please be on the look out for a "newly acquired" Lavender cock. I bought the bird from Judy King---Three Cedars Silkies---and will ask her to post his pic on this thread.
The hardest part of this to deal with is that my husband has been in the hospital for almost 3 weeks now......so I'm a bit stressed from that......I really did not need to deal with the murder of 3 of my birds, nor with the theft of my Lavender cockerel......
Here's the kicker-----as I was doing a head count while putting everyone to bed, I discovered my Lavender cock--Frank--was missing----HE HAD BEEN STOLEN !! It is physically impossible for any bird in that pen to exit the pen on their own.....they can only be "carried" out of that pen. I grabbed the flashlight to check the exterior, just to make sure Frank had not been a victim of the dog attack----nope. It also explains HOW my dogs escaped their backyard---the theif unlactched their gate to get to the area where the barns are.
I contacted the Sheriffs Dept., and believe it or not, they DID send an officer. The officer took the theft very seriously. He & I examined the run and Lavender house together to see that there was no evidence of dog attack, and that only a HUMAN could remove a bird from that house. He completed a report, and told me it would be available for pickup wednesday.
There, unfortunately, have been quite alot of Silkies stolen in the past year.....I thought we were safe from such an act. We live in the middle of nowhere.......unfortunately, I have allowed buyers to come to my home in the past----there will definitely be none of that in the future.
I live in the mountains of western North Carolina.....so please be on the look out for a "newly acquired" Lavender cock. I bought the bird from Judy King---Three Cedars Silkies---and will ask her to post his pic on this thread.
The hardest part of this to deal with is that my husband has been in the hospital for almost 3 weeks now......so I'm a bit stressed from that......I really did not need to deal with the murder of 3 of my birds, nor with the theft of my Lavender cockerel......
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