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Update: To my surprise two of the Appenzellers returned home by 2pm. One was denuded on the back and a nasty scratch/puncture from a bite, but otherwise quite active. So the attack tookout 7 birds, none consumed, just killed for sport. I visited a neighbor, thought to be responsible, and it deteriorated into a near brawl. (did not like my dumping dead birds on his drive, for dramatic effect.) Any way, when the County officers showed up upon my request, they were a bit vexed to be at a chicken call, and did not view the MURDER scene, as Rose put it. (Mom to all the feathered and furred animals.) well neighbor H. ambled down, and we had a meeting by the road, and it turns out that his boxer was NOT the dog involved as I had clear sight at 20 yards. Brindle loooks black in shadows, but wrong dog at any rate. The report I needed was informational in nature, for future problems and to document the loss on accounting for predation. After meeting with a third neighbor, Jr, the black Pitbull looking dog with white sox was identified as to owner. Once my cooler head returns, there will be further discussion with this long time personage, whom I have known for over 20 yrs. I could not work in the yard much today, as my inspectors that follow me around are corpses, and the joy of their antics missing. (Ya I enjoy simple things.) Only spots and piles of feathers, like a bedding shop blew up. We often let the girls to run free on the property when we are around, and they are funny in various ways.
I cannot believe he destroyed so completly the door with the hardwre cloth on it. Chicken wire has been know to fail under concerted attack by Racoons and dogs, and heavier hardware cloth is the normal substitute. Most of our pens are built with 1x2, and 2x4 wire wrapping, 14 ga. It has proved its worth, as another pen was breached with teeth pulling the chicken wire apart, last winter.
As far as destroying the threat, I had opportunity, but did not want the burden of harming someones pet. I diid not know the carnage created at that time, but am comfortable with the snap decision erring on life. Armed with a full report and knowledge of the probable repeat, as this probably was a repeat of other losses, I dont think such quarter will be given again. But we are animal lovers, even if we get a chicken sandwich once in a while. Somewhere earlier in the posts for last year were the rarer speckled Sussex that were pets, Tattletale, and Sassypants, who just disappeared within days of each other. The losses of the named pet birds are more upsetting. In the open topped pens, we harbor a rooster or two for security and defense of the flocks, as a rooster can put up a heck of a battle for a chicken(losing usually) to protect his hens from any threat. So they usually are named, Rufus, Jack, and Brando are examples of such birds in the general population of mixed egg birds.
I take pride in the small flocks we have of some traditional, and rare Birds with all the work put into salvage materials, for stylish, but economic coopage to keep them comfortable and safe. Such losses are hard on the otherwise glowing spirit, of life and ownership. Thanks for the kind words about the lil guys in our charge.
PS: Oh, and reading back, he opened the egg dor that acessed the nest boxes for the apps, not the main door with its tripple lock. Still he is learned enough to know where locks are, and chances them open.
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Big Dave
Be Alert! The world needs more Lerts.
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Would love to have had that dog in my sights. Again, sorry for your loss.
