Just 5 minutes ago this happened.
I was writing an email to a fellow BYCer and heard a SLAM into our sliding glass door. I thought it was my 2 year old getting into mischief, but then I heard my 2 year old say, "A doggy at our chicken!"
I ran over to see a big white husky dog carrying our very first chicken, a black australorp / RIR mix away. I ran after it and the dog dropped the chicken which struggled for a minute then died. I chased the dog away and I think I know where it lives.
We have a very secure fenced in area for the hens and then a wide yard, then another fence that isn't as secure. The chicken flew out of the first area and the dog got into the second area.
I've NEVER seen stray dogs anywhere around us and I guess this is just another one of those learning experiences (like when the coons got a hen). The constant battle between allowing chickens a bit of freedom and predators that are anxious to have at them.
I don't think I'll trouble to go after the neighbors. I may tell them what happened and tell them to fix their fence and make sure their dog stays in their yard or it might get a pellet sting to it's side if it comes into our yard again.
Here is the story of our very first hen if anybody is interested:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/new-chickens.php
I was writing an email to a fellow BYCer and heard a SLAM into our sliding glass door. I thought it was my 2 year old getting into mischief, but then I heard my 2 year old say, "A doggy at our chicken!"
I ran over to see a big white husky dog carrying our very first chicken, a black australorp / RIR mix away. I ran after it and the dog dropped the chicken which struggled for a minute then died. I chased the dog away and I think I know where it lives.
We have a very secure fenced in area for the hens and then a wide yard, then another fence that isn't as secure. The chicken flew out of the first area and the dog got into the second area.
I've NEVER seen stray dogs anywhere around us and I guess this is just another one of those learning experiences (like when the coons got a hen). The constant battle between allowing chickens a bit of freedom and predators that are anxious to have at them.
I don't think I'll trouble to go after the neighbors. I may tell them what happened and tell them to fix their fence and make sure their dog stays in their yard or it might get a pellet sting to it's side if it comes into our yard again.
Here is the story of our very first hen if anybody is interested:
http://www.nifty-stuff.com/new-chickens.php
