WORST day of my life(so far)

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

I woke up this AM to crows very noisy.

Got up to make sure my birds were okay as I have 7 large birds and 13 8-week-olds free ranging.

Well I see 2 dogs outside of me back window. I run outside and they TAKE OFF off the back of the property.

well I find feathers and birds EVERYWHERE... I'm at this point, histerical. I call my BF and he comes home(an hr drive from work!!!!) just to make sure I'm okay.(worlds BEST boyfriend!!!)

I found 2 of my big birds mauled, and 2 little ones. Not to mention feathers in areas I didnt even find bodies. well I called and called for the birds. one by one 4 little ones and 3 big ones came home.

I'm still missing my rooster and one large hen. (I can hear him crowing WAY far away, I KNOW its him.. but I think he might not know where home is?? I live on 3 acres that is heavily overgrown. He sounds really FAR away. and then 8 little ones are still missing. So 10 birds M.I.A.

I grabbed the shotgun but the dogs were very fractious one came back but ran into the thick as soon as he saw me so I didn't get a shot in..

I've never seen the dogs before and they're not my neighbors..

My boyfriend made sure I was emotionally stable and helped me collect bodies and lock the remainder up. then he had to drive the hr back to work.

I'm SOO sad. they were such great birds. I hope the Roo and other 9 make their way home. I have 17 in the brooder and 11 in the bator but the large girls I was WAYYY too emotionally attached too.

Shotgun and .22 are loaded and at the ready..

ETA: OH and I'm missing a cat too. one of my 6 month old kittens... He NEVER waders away for this long... Him and his brother are about attached at the hip... his brothers home now..

 

[SunnyDawn]

So sorry you had to deal with this! Is there a way to fence in an area for the chickens that is dog-proof? Good luck on finding the missing animals alive and well!

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Hope you find them! Sorry for your loss.

 

[Sunny the Hippie Chick]

Oh my.. I sure hope more critters come home.. Maybe feed the remaining birds some treats. that way they will make noise eatting, it might lure the other birds home..

 

[sarahsark]

I'm sorry honey.

 

[satay]

I am sorry for your loss. Yesterday I lost 5 muscoveys to dogs that had gone to the effort of digging under my dog proof fence (Boundry fence), It breaks your heart to see your babies all gone.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OH gosh, brings back bad memories for me...same thing happened to me and we found four bodies (three dead one barely clinging to life

) It's SOO sad and I feel so bad for you because I know what it feels like. Ours could have been worse too but I caught the dog red handed and it was the neighbors so he comes running over to me wagging his tail becuase before we had chickens he would come "paw at our door" for attention and we love this dog, it was so hard to be mad at him. It was SO hard to ask the neighbors to keep him away.

I sure hope yours return and you are able to find the dogs that did this so your birds are able to free range again. My thoughts are with you

 

[Overeasyplz]

Here's to hoping the rest find their way home! Get those dogs a lead injection!

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

thanks guys!!

I wish the birds WOULD eat treats.. I think they're just as depressed as me. I gave them tomatoes.. didn't even finish 'em, and cat food.. turned up their beaks!!! WOW-cat food is 'chicken crack' for them!!!!! At least I have some birds still! hoping the rest return safely!!

can birds get lost and not know how to find their way home in this situation??

 

[LarryPQ]

Casey, I am so sorry!