Help!! What is wrong with my chicken??

[loanwizard]

Ahh, the battle between free range and penned continues. Mine free range with the knowledge that something can happen at any time. The way I look at it, is a prisoner can get sunshine but is never free. I would rather live a shorter life of freedom than to live a long life in prison.

That said, I just built a kennel for my beagles because they were running their legs off, the neighbors, while accepting for the most part, probably weren't all that happy.

Sorry for your loss. Maybe you ought to let that dog out a little bit more if only to mark territory. When my dogs start carrying on at night, even at 3 am, at least one are two are let out with me close behind to check my animals. Woe to the animal causing the disturbance. I would rather pay a vet bill on the dog then to let a possum or coon get my birds.

 

[kara_leigh]

Ahh, the battle between free range and penned continues. Mine free range with the knowledge that something can happen at any time. The way I look at it, is a prisoner can get sunshine but is never free. I would rather live a shorter life of freedom than to live a long life in prison.

That said, I just built a kennel for my beagles because they were running their legs off, the neighbors, while accepting for the most part, probably weren't all that happy.

Sorry for your loss. Maybe you ought to let that dog out a little bit more if only to mark territory. When my dogs start carrying on at night, even at 3 am, at least one are two are let out with me close behind to check my animals. Woe to the animal causing the disturbance. I would rather pay a vet bill on the dog then to let a possum or coon get my birds.

I agree. I understood the risk that goes with free ranging chickens when I made that choice. They are definitely happier, and I feel fine with my decision. It still sucks to lose them.

Olive (our dog) is a chicken dog. She is outside pretty much 24/7 to protect them, and she has free roam of our 5 acres just like they do. She does a pretty good job, as we have lost two other hens randomly to birds of prey in the past year. That's what makes me think they were attacked off of our property because she barked but there wasn't anything happening on our property. There are coyotes that roam around here, along with fox and racoons, and such, but we have never seen any of them on our property, especially during the daylight hours. At night they are cooped up. We've had a couple skunks around, but our dog killed them. She also kills rats and other critters like that.

 

[leadwolf1]

So sorry for your loss

I am still holding out hope that they come home. Sometimes it takes them a while to come out of hiding. Mama was gorgeous...her last pic brought tears to my eyes. I'm sure she will be greatly missed.

 

[kara_leigh]

So sorry for your loss

I am still holding out hope that they come home. Sometimes it takes them a while to come out of hiding. Mama was gorgeous...her last pic brought tears to my eyes. I'm sure she will be greatly missed.

Thank you, she will definitely be missed.

I keep holding out hope also. I go out occasionally and try to call them, and my remaining chickens all immediately come running over, and look at me like "Well, where are our treats???" and then act all dejected when they don't get any. haha!

We have 5 chicks hatching (one of our pullets is sitting on them) this coming weekend, and I think at least one of them is a rooster. At least that is what the guy who gave me the eggs said, based on the shape of the egg?? I hope so, maybe he will help keep them safer also.