Well today I left open the door to my chicken run so the girls could do some freeranging. I come home at around 1 pm and I notice my neighbors small, mixed breed dog out by my coop. I go down there and shoo the dog away back to its house. When I came back to my coop to check things out, I noticed one girl by my barm who was a little scared but ok. I get her back to the coop and noticed barred rock feathers everywhere inside my run. I think it can't be possible. I find the barred rock in the enclosed part of my run hunkered down and scared. I pick her up and did a quick once over and put her in the coop. Since I had two that were initially in the vicinity of the dog, I do a head count. I count 15 (out of 16). I am looking everywhere and then try to determine who's missing. Its my wife's lone chicken Mocha. In this now freezing weather, I look for over an hour for this bird, thinking she might have gotten scared off and hopefully would come back later. I come back to the house and periodically look out the back window to see for any movement of the missing bird. I go out about a half an hour later and look to see if she's back. No luck. I again look in the edge of my property and I find her, she is dead with a bunch of tail feathers pulled out to the skin. A large area. She was still a little warm so I figured the dog got her first and then went after others.
Here's my questions- My barred rock is still a little shaken and she isn't favoring any injuried. A 50 cent piece size area near her tail is missing all its feathers. She's timid (expected since her trauma). About 15 minutes ago, I brought out a large container of yogurt for all the girls. She walked right over and got her a few beakfulls. She was also seen drinking water too so she is at least keeping hydrated. I gave the girls a few handfuls of cracked corn and she was eating this also. I did notice that the nest box I put her in for a safe haven for her part had an egg in it. When I picked up the egg, I noticed some blood smears on the outside shell. I checked her vent and there is no blood or injury there. Should I be concerned or just watch her? Any feedback on my situation would be appreciated.
PS. We are very good friends with these neighbors so I told them I did not want any compensation for my bird(s) just for them to take care of their dog. Thansk BYC'ers. Ken
Here's my questions- My barred rock is still a little shaken and she isn't favoring any injuried. A 50 cent piece size area near her tail is missing all its feathers. She's timid (expected since her trauma). About 15 minutes ago, I brought out a large container of yogurt for all the girls. She walked right over and got her a few beakfulls. She was also seen drinking water too so she is at least keeping hydrated. I gave the girls a few handfuls of cracked corn and she was eating this also. I did notice that the nest box I put her in for a safe haven for her part had an egg in it. When I picked up the egg, I noticed some blood smears on the outside shell. I checked her vent and there is no blood or injury there. Should I be concerned or just watch her? Any feedback on my situation would be appreciated.
PS. We are very good friends with these neighbors so I told them I did not want any compensation for my bird(s) just for them to take care of their dog. Thansk BYC'ers. Ken
