Yay on the hatch, Miss Utah!! I haven't managed to find the spot where you talk about how many made it but I saw the picture of Caboose - what a cutie!!!! Yay!!!!
That's great news about the goose eggs, QJ!
I have to tell you about what happened yesterday. I had gone up to Sydney to help a person build part of a chicken coop (worked out really well!!!). I got back home yesterday morning from the trip. I backed the car into the carport through the driveway gate. Got out to close the driveway gate when a passing woman's Staffie got away from her and ran in and attacked my ducks who were all out in the yard (this is in the backyard - we are on a corner and the driveway goes into the backyard). It was horrible. I grabbed the dog and Damon (hubby) pulled a duck out of its mouth - miraculously she (the duck) seems fairly ok - just bruising, swelling and missing feathers. I gave the dog to the women and then went inside to get some paper to take her details. After that it got bizarre - the woman would not leave my yard. She was trying to get the dog to sit. I asked her to take the dog out of the yard and she said no, that she needed to "calm the dog". I said "Sure, you need a moment to catch your breath". I waited a short time but she just kept trying to get the dog to sit. The dog wasn't having a bar of it - it was in a frenzy of excitement and trying to get away from her. The women had a poor grip on its flimsy lead and I was very frightened that it'd break free and kill a duck. So I said (polite but firm), ok, you need to take the dog out now. She gave me a filthy look and repeated that she was just calming the dog and was getting it to sit. At that point I semi-lost it and said (at elevated volume) that her dog had attacked a duck and that she had to take it out of my yard right now. Again she refused and just kept saying to the oblivious dog "Sit, good boy, come on, calm down, it's ok, sit, good boy". The dog was still going mental. By this time so was I. I fully lost it and shouted that she 'HAD TO GET THE [insert expletive] OUT NOW". Finally that got her out the gate. Damon went with her to get her info (I stayed behind the gate and went to check the ducks to prevent myself from punching the women in the face). I could hear her complaining that I had yelled at her even though she had been really calm and that she had been unfairly treated when she was (direct quote) "Just trying to use it as a training opportunity for my dog". Unbelievable. Anyway, I've reported it to Dog Control who sent two rangers round almost immediately. They were great. They're going to speak to the woman, who could be fined for the dog attack and also for trespassing (not leaving the property when asked).
Outraged sympathy appreciated.
