for probably the first time, I was close to
ing over loosing a bird.
it rained yesterday evening for probably several hours, so i was unable to go check on the momma's and their babies who are allowed to freerange all day because we've started putting momma's and babies in the spare rabbit hutches.
anyways, around an hour before sunset I went out to find that Dino, our cocker spanial was happily reducing a chicken to skin and feathers. I obviously had no idea who it was, then I saw Lilies four 4 1/2 week old babies scattered all over the yard chirping for her/each other whatever, and still didn't put two and two together..when Lily didn't show, and I didn't find her ANYWHERE thats when it finally connected and I just about started to BAWL.
am i mad at the dog?, no I'm not, he's a BIRD dog, only doing what he's breed has been trained to do for as long as the breed was developed, plus he's 12-13 years old, i'm not going to beat him to death, or get rid of him.
I think partly the reason I'm not so mad is that unlike other dog attacks you hear about, he actually EATS the chickens he kills.
I just can't understand how he got Lily, she was one of the smart ones, and usually started closer to the back field and away from the dogs.
I'm also glad her babies are as old as they are, they were slowly starting to become more and more independant.
they've got lots of company now, they're now living in the chick room with every one else.
I actually found myself thinking about this all night, wich cause me to sleep rather crappy
I'm not usually this attached to the chickens, but i think it's different when you spend as long as I have catering to her alone and you form a "bond" she actually trusted me enough that she would not bite at me once she heard my voice when I went to put her and her babies away for the night.
it rained yesterday evening for probably several hours, so i was unable to go check on the momma's and their babies who are allowed to freerange all day because we've started putting momma's and babies in the spare rabbit hutches.
anyways, around an hour before sunset I went out to find that Dino, our cocker spanial was happily reducing a chicken to skin and feathers. I obviously had no idea who it was, then I saw Lilies four 4 1/2 week old babies scattered all over the yard chirping for her/each other whatever, and still didn't put two and two together..when Lily didn't show, and I didn't find her ANYWHERE thats when it finally connected and I just about started to BAWL.
am i mad at the dog?, no I'm not, he's a BIRD dog, only doing what he's breed has been trained to do for as long as the breed was developed, plus he's 12-13 years old, i'm not going to beat him to death, or get rid of him.
I think partly the reason I'm not so mad is that unlike other dog attacks you hear about, he actually EATS the chickens he kills.
I just can't understand how he got Lily, she was one of the smart ones, and usually started closer to the back field and away from the dogs.
I'm also glad her babies are as old as they are, they were slowly starting to become more and more independant.
they've got lots of company now, they're now living in the chick room with every one else.
I actually found myself thinking about this all night, wich cause me to sleep rather crappy
I'm not usually this attached to the chickens, but i think it's different when you spend as long as I have catering to her alone and you form a "bond" she actually trusted me enough that she would not bite at me once she heard my voice when I went to put her and her babies away for the night.
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