In Mourning

[CoopedUpChicken]

When we moved here a few years ago, there was one free range chicken. She wouldn't come close to us at all. I'd throw her food and make sure she had water. She began to trust me more and more, but never would get closer than a couple of feet from me. This spring we decided to try out raising chickens and I built the most secure pen with no gaps and our 12 week old babies are doing great!

Unfortunately, the free range hen was attacked by a neighbor's dog and I saw it happen. There was nothing I could do. He had her in his mouth and ran off with her (she was still alive at that point). I'm in mourning for her today. She was a good chicken.

 

[N F C]

That is sad, any idea where she came from or how she came to be alone?

Now that you know there's a dog in the neighborhood that attacks chickens, it will be doubly important to have your predator proof coop.

Sorry for the loss of that girl, that must have been very upsetting to witness.

 

[CoopedUpChicken]

Thank you. Yes, the people who lived here before us, Mexicans, they had a bunch of free ranging chickens. They apparently couldn't catch her so they left her behind. I know the dog's owner - I will have to talk to them because their dog almost killed an old lady last week also. The dog ran down the street from a block away and jumped up on an elderly neighbor walking in the street. That old lady almost fell (and by almost I mean truly almost). The old lady is about 80 years old and usually a fall for someone that old means the end.

 

[N F C]

Maybe it's time to call animal control too. Loose dogs spell trouble for everyone...chickens, elderly folks, kids, everyone. They are a menace and if the owners won't be responsible to contain the dog, they shouldn't have it.

 

[chickensamazing]

Wow, oh my goodness, that must have been horrifying for you to see, I hope they catch that dog before it tries to hurt anyone else!

 

[Monkeybean415]

I'm so sorry for your loss. We're mourning the loss of some of ours this week too

 

[N F C]

@Monkeybean415 , sorry for your losses too. It's something you just don't get used to. So sorry.

 

[Monkeybean415]

Thank you. I appreciate it. I put everyone in the garage for a few nights to keep them safe. It sure was interesting with 4 different groups/generations of chickens in there) luckily we got an electric fence up though because the bears came back and got one of our neighbor's chickens but didn't get ours even though they were wandering around our yard for at least a few hours. I hope they got a good shock from our fence!