Got home from work to news from our neighbor across the street that we had a visit by someone's loose dog yesterday. Of course, Gandalf offered himself and fought the dog according to the neighbor. He managed to get away three times after the dog caught him, but another couple of visits that dog got my buff chantecler, one of my red sex links, and we are not able to find Flap, the IaB girl we just posted a photo of. Gandalf has lost all of his fluff feathers, some side feathers and some skin off the left side of his body.
Gandalf is still alive, his left thigh and his back above it is deeply punctured and he is limping. We cleaned him off with soapy water and poured Betadyne all over. Later, we wrapped him in a towel and placed him in our cat carrier to rest. This am, he actually clucked a bit at me and was semi standing in the carrier. Poor guy.
Do you think we should allow him to heal? It is hard to tell if he is suffering...this type of thing makes me so sick...
We have coyotes, coons, possums, skunks, weasels, fisher cats, fox, hawks and owls in great abundance around our property.
In a little over a year, we have lost birds only to other peoples loose pet dogs...
Rollo is alive as well as my foundation hens Sweetie, Betty, and Boop. The grow out pen was locked up so June Bug, Cocoa, and Tiny Dancer are all safe as well as my wonderful surrogate momma Delaware.
sigh. I have no idea how to protect against big dogs that come into my yard and have fun killing my birds. I know that poultry electric fencing is not tall enough to keep them from jumping in. I do not wish to confine my birds as they are so good about staying on our property to free range. I guess we have to make the choice.
anyone have any suggestions? I am so depressed....
