Thought I was going to have to deal with a tragedy tonight!
I was out for a bit, and when I got home I checked on the chickens and prepared to close everything up for the night. I about lost it when my Belgian Sheepdog, Riot, met me at the gate to the chicken yard...as in he was IN the chicken yard! Oh no. It was dark, so I couldn't see anything until I got my light. So I took Riot out and put him in the house, checking him for any signs of carnage. Nothing. At this point I'm still staying calm on the outside, but a little panicky on the inside.
I then headed outside with my light, expecting the worst. Nothing in the yard.....so far so good. I then went into the run, and to my complete relief, 7 big and 2 little sleepy but unharmed faces stared at me from the top of their sleep coop. Just need to find the last 2 BCM babies. And they were snug in their grow-out coop. Whew!!!
It was cute how 2 of the babies were allowed to sleep with the big girls. I still moved them into their coop, just to be safe. And after I got everyone shut in for the night, I checked out the fence between the back yard and the chicken yard. Nothing looked compromised, and the gate there was shut. I'll have to look more carefully in the daylight.
Riot has always respected fences to the point where he won't even step over the 2 ft high gate that keeps my daughter's Yorkie out of our kitchen (long story, lol). So I really can't imagine he jumped what would be 5ft. And it's not the kind of fence that could be climbed. I guess anything is possible, but it doesn't make sense. Especially because it looks like there wasn't even a ruffled feather with him in the yard. As a protective herding breed, maybe he "gets" that the chickens are not to be harmed. I strongly believe he's the reason I've not had predator problems. But he's still a dog. I've wanted to put in a camera in the chicken yard to be able to see what goes on in there, and maybe this is the time to do it. For now, Riot won't be in the yard that borders the chickens...he gets the side yard. So glad I have the room to work out some options.
Now I believe a glass of wine is calling my name. Night all!
I was out for a bit, and when I got home I checked on the chickens and prepared to close everything up for the night. I about lost it when my Belgian Sheepdog, Riot, met me at the gate to the chicken yard...as in he was IN the chicken yard! Oh no. It was dark, so I couldn't see anything until I got my light. So I took Riot out and put him in the house, checking him for any signs of carnage. Nothing. At this point I'm still staying calm on the outside, but a little panicky on the inside.
I then headed outside with my light, expecting the worst. Nothing in the yard.....so far so good. I then went into the run, and to my complete relief, 7 big and 2 little sleepy but unharmed faces stared at me from the top of their sleep coop. Just need to find the last 2 BCM babies. And they were snug in their grow-out coop. Whew!!!
It was cute how 2 of the babies were allowed to sleep with the big girls. I still moved them into their coop, just to be safe. And after I got everyone shut in for the night, I checked out the fence between the back yard and the chicken yard. Nothing looked compromised, and the gate there was shut. I'll have to look more carefully in the daylight.
Riot has always respected fences to the point where he won't even step over the 2 ft high gate that keeps my daughter's Yorkie out of our kitchen (long story, lol). So I really can't imagine he jumped what would be 5ft. And it's not the kind of fence that could be climbed. I guess anything is possible, but it doesn't make sense. Especially because it looks like there wasn't even a ruffled feather with him in the yard. As a protective herding breed, maybe he "gets" that the chickens are not to be harmed. I strongly believe he's the reason I've not had predator problems. But he's still a dog. I've wanted to put in a camera in the chicken yard to be able to see what goes on in there, and maybe this is the time to do it. For now, Riot won't be in the yard that borders the chickens...he gets the side yard. So glad I have the room to work out some options.
Now I believe a glass of wine is calling my name. Night all!
)
If they are females I will keep them, but I thought I'd start looking for homes now if they end up being males. They look like males now at only three weeks of age, so... 
