Thursday, March 04, 2010

~ A Sad Day on the Homestead ~

This morning , my dogs started barking , I thought they were barking at the cats. After awhile I looked out and saw a couple of strange dogs near the dog lot , I went outside and hollered at them , they headed up the driveway and went on up the road. I thought everything was fine , but when Little Missy and I walked down to the coop later , we discovered the



the dogs had killed Mya. Apparently they weren't hungry , they just killed her and left her lying in the garden. Curious J named her Mya , she was his hen , haven't told him yet . We've had our chickens a little over a year now and this is the first time we've lost one. It's sad but I know it's part of the farming life unfortunately.



We spotted Chief Little Roo and the new girls ( his flock now ) hanging out in the edge of the woods.



After we came back from the chicken coop , we went to check on Ms. Camellia. She had melted quite a bit , lost her eyes , nose and her left arm that held the watering can.
As you can see , Little Missy tries to put Ms. Camellia back together again (LOL).



We found some buttercups blooming among the patches of snow and picked a few for Little Missy's Mom , my oldest daughter's birthday was today.



When I went to close up the hens for the night , I realized I had another hen missing. One of the older black hens is missing too. We didn't find her body or any signs of a struggle , feathers or such. So I'm not sure if the dogs killed her , something else got her or she's hurt and hiding somewhere. The hens will be confined to the fenced area from now on unless I'm outside with them.
Update ~ I found the other hen this morning , she was dead too. I found her on the other side of the house , the only place I didn't look yesterday afternoon. The hens are confined to the coop area today , they're not to happy about that. I hope I can find out who the dogs belong too , if not I will call animal control the next time I see them roaming.

~ Blessings ~
JoyceAnn

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am sorry for your loss. From others with chickens I hear it is something you need to take many many precautions about, or accept. we are still in the "discussing" stage, whether or not to add chickens.
Looks like you are seeing signs of spring. Gives me hope that it may be on the way.

Jeanne said...

So sorry to hear what happened! My heart goes out to Curious J! I hope you locate the owners of the offending canines or at least get animal control to pick them up!

Poor Miss Camellia...she's having a meltdown!

Callie Brady said...

Oh, dear, I hate to have to worry about predator problems and keep the hens locked up. Sorry you lost the hens.

Hope you can find out where the dogs belong or trap them with some live traps and call animal control.

I caught a wolf hybrid once (lured him with food) after he attacked and killed dairy goats (for the second time.) Animal control came and got him and he ended up being sent out of state after we went to court.

I used to know someone in years gone by who would shoot and bury dogs or other predators that came on his property. He would never say a word about it. I found out years later. I can't see myself doing that, but I guess he had lost too much livestock over the years.

Glad to see the grass and that Spring is visiting you.

Flassie's Fil'a said...

Oh no! Feel for Curious J!
Poor little hens.

Hope your dd had a blessed
birthday!!

Sweet Missy trying to put
poor Ms Camellia back
together again. So cute!!

God Bless You and Yours!!!

Leasmom said...

Oh, I'm so sorry. I feel sorry for you and I feel sorry for those dogs. I hope they get picked up.

Leasmom said...

That is a blessing, what a beautiful thing to see something growing. And I hope your hens will be okay.