Debbie Vail, NC
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The Dogs are Back

8/8/2013

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As many of you know, my flock of hens had grown to around 50 and I thoroughly enjoyed caring for them and selling eggs.  I even had two hens, Scarlet and Carlos, that stayed close to the house all the time.  

About a month ago a pack of dogs killed Carlos at the house (but it was not even the first attack) leaving me to work with Scarlet to integrate her within my flock of hens or finding a new home since they are social creatures.  She would not fit into my flock and so Scarlet was relocated through the work of my friend, Debbie B. where she was accepted.  

Immediately after that was done, the pack of dogs returned and this time broke into the chain link fence by pushing the gate hard enough to bend the latch.  I can't tell you the devastation they left behind.  I was in tears for days over the loss of half the flock as they were actually considered pets but also they were a $2,000 loss according to estimates.  The horror of seeing the poor suffering hens with the flesh torn off their bodies and still alive was more than I could stand.  We shot and killed one dog that was still in the pen and the others were tracked down but did escape.  I needed a friend at that point and Debbie B. again comes to the rescue.  We loaded up chickens and carried to the vet.  Some were euthanized and others were treated and brought home.  

Since then we have sunk a panel fence underground around the chicken pen so as to thwart digging and also put an extra chain wrapped around the gates hoping it would hold the next attack.  For the past few days, now we have noticed that the fish food can near the pond was turned over and something was eating the fish food. 

And now this morning, I was rudely awaken by Walter dashing into the bedroom making lots of noise getting a gun out as I said "Please, I'm still trying to sleep!"   He said "the dogs are back!"  With heart pounding as I sprang forth, I was hoping that our hens that remained were not attacked again. 

 He quickly jumped in the car in pursuit of the pack.  They were so fast that he did not catch up to them until they made it back to the neighbors home panting on the porch.  He went up to them and told them what their dogs had done and told them that if it happened again he was going to call the law.  They said they would do away with the dogs today.  I don't know what that statement meant and I hate to speculate but I wonder do they really care about their dogs anyway.   

Walter also called a friend who is a game warden and he said that there has been a task force recently set up that may can help us and he said they would call us.  And they did call us within the hour and will be coming out to check on the situation soon.

I am happy to say that the fence held this time, and my remaining flock is safe for now.  My story about my chickens being attacked was the subject of of an article in the O-A News by Karlene Turkington as she is a writer on the subject of caring for dogs called Ruffly Speaking (scroll down to "A Loose Dog Problem") and it was also a post  in my chicken pal friend Debbie B.'s blog called A Tragic Day for a Dear Friend.  

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Nipped in the Bud

3/6/2013

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Poor Carlos, her tail feathers will never be the same, but she is alive and well and acting as if nothing happened.  She and Scarlett are best friends, and they roam freely around my house.  Scarlett is a Rhode Island Red just like Carlos.  And yes, Carlos is a hen. That was her name when we received her from a friend.

One morning last week, two stray dogs appeared in my yard and were determined to have chicken for lunch.  I ran out the door to see what all the commotion was about and saw a clump of tail feathers with skin at the front steps.  I chased the dogs off and ran to find out which one of my feathered friends had lost her tail.  It was Carlos, and she was hiding under the car.  She had a gash in her backside and I knew it needed stitching up.    

So off to the vet I went.  I have the most wonderful vet around, Dr. Mark Moore, in Union Springs, Alabama.  I held Carlos and he put her to sleep and then sewed her up.  I brought her home and she stayed in a box in the house.  In about two hours she woke up and poked her r head out of the box, all fit and ready to go.  Upon her release back out in the yard, Scarlett was so glad to see her.  Later on, she was found doing her normal routine of scratching in the ground searching for bugs.



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A Chicken At My Feet

5/14/2012

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Here is a little update on Scarlett.  She rules the roost in her little world.  She let's Buffy, my dog, know when she is not welcomed and if other chickens come down from the hill for a visit she also lets them know they are not welcomed either.  
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She does have a friend that she tolerates and that is Carlos.  They are two peas in a pod.   
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Here's wishing all my chicken friends could enjoy a chicken at their feet.  I got down on the ground for a good picture and Scarlett thought she would just come and join me.
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Meet Carlos

4/18/2012

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Carlos joined the flock yesterday and Carlos is a female chick - the name is just misleading.  She really enjoys her new perch in the coop as you see her in this picture.  She comes from Auburn from a sweet family with two little boys that will surely be missing their pet.  Carlos was raised with another little chick but unfortunately a dog got this one and Carlos needed a new roommate and this sweet family bought the chicks with the intention of giving them to me when they got older.  So the time has come for Carlos to leave the city and become a country chick.  We have one half grown chicken named Scarlett who was given to us a few weeks back and so Carlos and Scarlett are in the same coop now.  At first Scarlett didn't like Carlos but things are much better and it looks like they will be friends.  Both of them eventually will be integrated into the bigger flock.   To the sweet family who is missing Carlos right now - don't worry - she is doing just fine.  

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