OMG! I just experienced the most terrifying yet amazing instance today... My chickens are part of my family like any other pet we have. It breaks my heart when something bad happens to them. Well, today I let them out of their coop/run to free range a bit under my supervision. I decided to bring some treats out for them and as I'm doing handouts, my [favorite hen] EEmix decides she rather go over and dig in the dirt a few yards away from me. All of a sudden my Red Sex-links scream in alarm and go darting into the tomato plants (my Polish girl lays down in a potted plant). I look up to see what the trouble is to find a hawk full throttling it towards my EEmix! It all happened so fast and there was little I could do. I jumped up and started waving my arms yelling "NO! NO! NO!" hoping to distract the hawk, but to little effect. I swear that bird came within feet of my hen - it was so close, it had it's legs stretched out at her and wings already pulled back. All of a sudden my dog goes shooting over towards the hawk, viciously growls, springs up in the air - all four of her feet off the ground, and just barely misses it with her teeth. She then held her guard a moment, giving my hen enough time to dart into the tomatoes with the other girls and then proceeded to patrol around the property, making sure the hawk was really gone. My heart was beating like crazy. It's one thing to lose a chicken, but to see it all unfold right in front out your eyes knowing that there isn't anything you can do within that instant, is just horrible! I was shaking, I can't believe that almost happened! I am so proud of my dog! She is really turning out to be an awesome chicken guardian [despite her breed....] OMG, thank you so much Sabina!
WOW! My heart would have come out of my chest right up my throat! Your dog is WONDERFUL! (My dogs, while they don't harass the poultry, probably would have to pretend to be sorry about some aerial raptor snatching up one of our chickens. They're pretty jealous of the birds and the attention I give them.)
D'Angelo N Va. : Close call..good thing you saw it and even better thing Sabina jumped up at it....what kind is she? She's a Carolina Dog It's a southern breed, not very common at all. It originated by crossing sighthounds with wild 'north American dingos' - which between the sighthound and dingo, I'm surprised that she is so wonderful with my chickens...
Hawks can be pretty brazen. Once while pheasant hunting, a hawk swooped down in front of one of our party and nabbed a pheasant right in front of him! He thought the thing was going to take his head off when it came in. It was fascinating to watch.
Wow what a story and I love your dog. That must be the best watch dog in the world. You should clone him and sell them on BYC!!! I was chuckling to myself, we should put together these stories for a book and call it "Chicken Soup For The Chicken Soul"!!!
