I worked late in my yard one evening and got interupted by a phone call. My DW was also reminding me dinner was ready. Somewhere in all of that I absent mindedly left the front door on a coop unlocked. After I had eaten dinner I began to doubt whether the bird's were secured. When I went to make sure the door was locked I found about that many birds dead or dying and some missing that I found. In about 45 minutes to an hours time we lost that many. We did not hear anything.
I sat up that night hoping the perpretator would be back. I sat about 75' away with a loaded shotgun. About 3 Am I was giving up and was going to check the latches before I went in. As I approached two dogs that were on the opposite side of the house trying to work a carcass out of the fence that I left out as bait took off. I was right there and did not see them approach (quite a few trees) or heard them. One got away. Two dogs later, I figured out a routine a group of dogs worked in our area. Right after dusk they would run the peremiter to see if the coast was clear, and then quickly work across the yard. If there was oppurtunity they would take it and if not, move on. These things were not stupid. There was approximately five in this group and all owned by someone nearby. They did make it down to two dogs, but a litter of puppies or so later their numbers are back up.
I had no luck with the owners or animal control. I can dig however and have. They can't get into our houses and I do not think I will ever leave something not shut and latched again. The point is that it does not take long. Also coyotes and dogs are not much different, especially when they are in a hole. I love dogs, but some dog owners leave you with no choice. I like to let my birds out to run in the afternoons, and will not let someone else dictate what I do or not. I have not seen any of those people's dogs near us in a while, hopefully they have learned to fear the place, and now I have a dog.
I sat up that night hoping the perpretator would be back. I sat about 75' away with a loaded shotgun. About 3 Am I was giving up and was going to check the latches before I went in. As I approached two dogs that were on the opposite side of the house trying to work a carcass out of the fence that I left out as bait took off. I was right there and did not see them approach (quite a few trees) or heard them. One got away. Two dogs later, I figured out a routine a group of dogs worked in our area. Right after dusk they would run the peremiter to see if the coast was clear, and then quickly work across the yard. If there was oppurtunity they would take it and if not, move on. These things were not stupid. There was approximately five in this group and all owned by someone nearby. They did make it down to two dogs, but a litter of puppies or so later their numbers are back up.
I had no luck with the owners or animal control. I can dig however and have. They can't get into our houses and I do not think I will ever leave something not shut and latched again. The point is that it does not take long. Also coyotes and dogs are not much different, especially when they are in a hole. I love dogs, but some dog owners leave you with no choice. I like to let my birds out to run in the afternoons, and will not let someone else dictate what I do or not. I have not seen any of those people's dogs near us in a while, hopefully they have learned to fear the place, and now I have a dog.
