It finally happened to me....Pet Dog vs Pet Chicken

[ZooMummzy]

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Thank you

I think it was just that mothering instinct that kicked in...one of my girlies needed help. Lol the neighbors have finally felt comfortable enough to ask what was going on in my yard. I think they were afraid I finally went off the deep end or something and wanted to wait till I had calmed down and put the sticks away

 

[ZooMummzy]

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Thank you for the advice, I hadn't thought of that. I will catch her today and take a look. I didn't see any deep bite marks, just pulled out feathers that were bleeding, but I will look closer today now that I am calmed down. There is a spot on her back about 3" x 4" that is completely bare. She doesn't seem to mind though, but she is a lot more timid now, which is probably a good thing.

 

[rebbetzin]

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That made me laugh out loud!! I can understand your feeling completely!!

 

[chickenannie]

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I'm sorry your family was not more empathic to your situation. That must have been really hard to hear their comments.

I had to end a date early a few months ago, when my neighbors called me on my cell phone to tell me their dog had attacked one of my guineas and the guinea was lying bleeding in the bushes. I was embarrassed to tell my date why I had to go home immediately, but fortunately, the guinea healed after a few weeks and was just fine, despite having a big chunk of flesh bitten out of it's side. My date was very understanding, thankfully!

 

[ZooMummzy]

*JustChicky* :

I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. My chicken are only 13 weeks old and I just lost 2 the same way. Someone else in the house let 2 of the dogs out when the roosters were out. I have a pretty strict routine, I have 2 dogs that can't go out together and 2 sets of chickens that take turns free ranging. So I let the old dog and the beagle out together, then my little dog goes out after them because the beagle and the little dog will run off together and the old dog gets scared when she is by herself. Then the hens and nice roosters go in and out of the coop all day and I just lock them in the coop when I take the dogs out. In the evening I let the mean roosters out until dark, they put themselves up and I check on them when I let the dogs out at night.

I have never had a problem with this routine, but this is the second time that someone else has let the dogs out while the chickens are out. The dogs whine at the door because I have a rooster that sits right next to the door and crows, but I guess they think the dog needs to go out. I'm not sure what they are thinking. I tell everyone that I always let the dogs out.

I'm sorry about your loss

Up until this event, I have never given it a thought about the dogs being in the yard when I'm out there in the run because my coop is inside my run and it's completely fenced in. I can't let my chickens free range due to neighborhood cats and of course, my dogs and other creatures, but they have a really nice run area. The chickens have also never tried to get out the gate before. They usually go to the other end of the run whenever I come in the gate. It was one of those fluke moments that really opened my eyes. It has me thinking far into the future when I redo my coop and run area and how I can make it even safer.​

 

[ZooMummzy]

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I'm sorry your family was not more empathic to your situation. That must have been really hard to hear their comments.

I had to end a date early a few months ago, when my neighbors called me on my cell phone to tell me their dog had attacked one of my guineas and the guinea was lying bleeding in the bushes. I was embarrassed to tell my date why I had to go home immediately, but fortunately, the guinea healed after a few weeks and was just fine, despite having a big chunk of flesh bitten out of it's side. My date was very understanding, thankfully!

I am so glad your guinea was ok! It's cool your date understood too. My family,and friends for that matter, have never really understood my love for animals. I have cats, dogs, ferrets and now chickens. I grew up in the country surrounded by animals and loved it. They seem completely put out by the whole animal thing and I just can't understand since I am the one who does all the work! I can only hope that someday something kicks in and they understand just a little how happy these creatures make me and how nice they can be if you just let yourself enjoy them. My best moments of some days are when I can just sit in my run with the chickens and watch them. It is so relaxing.

 

[chickenannie]

Years ago when my mom had chickens I didnt like them and thought they were annoying and poopy. I didn't even want to eat their eggs. But when I got chickens myself, it was a different story -- I truly enjoy them now. Part of the reason I got them was because my friends had some and I thought they were so cool because they free-ranged and were people-friendly. Somehow that changed my mind! So it might have something to do with ownership.
I hope at some point, your family warms up to them.

 

[amazondoc]

I dread the thought of this happening at my place! I have a herd of large, fast dogs with high prey drives, and disaster could strike at any time. (we need a smileycon for biting fingernails!)

One thing you might work on with the dogs, in case something like this happens again, is a very solid sit/stay command. And/or a very solid "leave it!" command. Things like that can really come in handy in unexpected moments!

I'm glad this turned out okay for you and your girl. Thanks for reminding us how easily it can happen!

 

[ZooMummzy]

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I totally agree and I've already started working on them. The strange thing is my black lab wanted nothing to do with it. It was my pit bull/terrier mix and my lab/great dane mix who went for her. The black lab was scared to death. Lol maybe he was scared of me swinging that big stick

 

[ZooMummzy]

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I hope so too. I think my kids will come around someday when they have places of their own. Right now they are teenagers and they see nothing fascinating about chickens. They thought they were cute as babies, just like kittens or puppies, but now they find them ugly and scary. My husband could care less, he just wants eggs for his breakfast! Lol I know that sounds awful and he's really not a bad guy, he was just never raised in a "farm-like" setting (total city boy) so he does not have the same appreciation I do.