Almost too exhausted by this topic to write about it.
Because of prior dog attacks (thankfully no losses) I've restricted my birds freedom so much that they are penned except for brief periods now and then when I let them out to stretch and explore other parts of my yard, with me standing right over them. $10K in property taxes for my little place and I think my pets should be able to use my own yard but I don't let them at this point, except for the very brief supervised periods. Their run is the only fenceable part. My roo and hen are so bored and want to explore much more, indeed are so joyous when they are able to do so.
Recently 2 dogs from 2 neighbors (not neighbors involved in prior incidences) ran into the yard and thankfully the birds were indoors at that moment. The people belonging to the dogs came and collected the dogs promptly but had my birds been outside they would have been toast.
Things are not good with the much more irresponsible neighbors (the kind whose dogs run loose and they blame me and my 2 little birds, saying if I didn't have enticing creatures that attract their dogs there wouldn't be a problem), so I could do without alienating the above-noted-no-prior-incidence (and generally nice) neighbors too. So I wrote them a very nice note thanking them for collecting their dogs so promptly and letting them know that now that it's getting warmer out I'll need to let the birds get some exercise...and that unfortunately there's really no way to assuredly prevent calamity once a dog has a bird in its sights because dogs are just so fast..... (thinking this would gently convey that I can't be having dogs running into the yard).
To my disappointment I did not get quite the hoped for response:
"Just so we have a complete picture - are the chickens running loose all day in warmer weather? Or are they usually enclosed and when free, supervised by you? What times of day would that be?
Our dogs are not supposed to be in your direction, and we will be especially vigilant - just want to know the details. How many chickens are there?"
I just wish people would understand it is their responsibility to have their dogs under control at all times. My schedule is very difficult - I never know in advance when I'm going to have a window of opportunity to let the birds out. Also, I've learned that standing over them cannot assuredly prevent catastrophe. Less than 2 years ago I was standing less than 2 feet from hen Ellie - trying to ensure her safety - she was having such fun grabbing worms as I was turning over soil -when a dog appeared out of nowhere on my property and mowed me down, resulting in multiple hand fractures and a continually worsening foot injury, and also grabbed Ellie and dislocated her foot (she would have been dead if a friend wasn't with me to help get the dog to drop Ellie). As close as I was standing to Ellie, it was impossible to control the situation. Since then the birds are penned up much of the time. They're sad. I'm sad and mad.
I have to think on what my response will be.
JJ
Because of prior dog attacks (thankfully no losses) I've restricted my birds freedom so much that they are penned except for brief periods now and then when I let them out to stretch and explore other parts of my yard, with me standing right over them. $10K in property taxes for my little place and I think my pets should be able to use my own yard but I don't let them at this point, except for the very brief supervised periods. Their run is the only fenceable part. My roo and hen are so bored and want to explore much more, indeed are so joyous when they are able to do so.
Recently 2 dogs from 2 neighbors (not neighbors involved in prior incidences) ran into the yard and thankfully the birds were indoors at that moment. The people belonging to the dogs came and collected the dogs promptly but had my birds been outside they would have been toast.
Things are not good with the much more irresponsible neighbors (the kind whose dogs run loose and they blame me and my 2 little birds, saying if I didn't have enticing creatures that attract their dogs there wouldn't be a problem), so I could do without alienating the above-noted-no-prior-incidence (and generally nice) neighbors too. So I wrote them a very nice note thanking them for collecting their dogs so promptly and letting them know that now that it's getting warmer out I'll need to let the birds get some exercise...and that unfortunately there's really no way to assuredly prevent calamity once a dog has a bird in its sights because dogs are just so fast..... (thinking this would gently convey that I can't be having dogs running into the yard).
To my disappointment I did not get quite the hoped for response:
"Just so we have a complete picture - are the chickens running loose all day in warmer weather? Or are they usually enclosed and when free, supervised by you? What times of day would that be?
Our dogs are not supposed to be in your direction, and we will be especially vigilant - just want to know the details. How many chickens are there?"
I just wish people would understand it is their responsibility to have their dogs under control at all times. My schedule is very difficult - I never know in advance when I'm going to have a window of opportunity to let the birds out. Also, I've learned that standing over them cannot assuredly prevent catastrophe. Less than 2 years ago I was standing less than 2 feet from hen Ellie - trying to ensure her safety - she was having such fun grabbing worms as I was turning over soil -when a dog appeared out of nowhere on my property and mowed me down, resulting in multiple hand fractures and a continually worsening foot injury, and also grabbed Ellie and dislocated her foot (she would have been dead if a friend wasn't with me to help get the dog to drop Ellie). As close as I was standing to Ellie, it was impossible to control the situation. Since then the birds are penned up much of the time. They're sad. I'm sad and mad.
I have to think on what my response will be.
JJ
