Used Omlet outdoor rabbit run Width 2.2m Height 2.05m Length 3.1m vgc.

[Aunty e]

I knew it would happen at some point - my silly MiL left her silly dog alone with the chickens and it killed one of my pekins. I'm trying to be grateful that it wasn't a kitten or Imogen. It's not the dog's fault, she's a nice little terrier cross, and she's not a year yet and not properly trained, which rather begs the question why she was left alone in the garden with my chickens, but ho hum. These things happen. Hope it was quick, it rather sounds like she broke her neck, and I hope that's the case. We had one pekin die of a heart attack when frightened once, so it could have been that I suppose. Won't know until I get home.

 

Poor little Penny. Now I have one pekin on her own - she's quite old, so not sure it's worth getting her a bantam friend. We've always tried to keep the pekins in twos and threes so they have company among the big hybrids but Bob is five if not six, and probably doesn't have all that much time left. I don't know if she'd accept a new companion, any thoughts?

[bronze]

I'm sorry

 

I hope Mil was suitable embarrassed, apologetic and all the other things she should be in her position.

[Aunty e]

Well she had to ring me at work to tell me, so I couldn't say some of the things I quite wanted to. She was very apologetic, but having talked to my OH (who was at home) I'm even crosser as apparently Poppy had been chasing the chickens and he'd asked his parents to put her away or at the very least on the lead. I don't know why he didn't put the chickens away, but I don't think he'll make that mistake again. My poor neighbour saw the whole thing and came screaming round to the front to tell OH what was happening

 

It's just so unnecessary really. I get quite cross when Duncan's mother insists on not physically restraining her dogs, but using 'dog whisperer' verbal and hand signals, but it's never really had a significant impact before. Don't think Imogen will be staying with them again for a while. I was a bit worried last time we let her stay over, but Poppy is quite a bit bigger now and I don't think I trust them anymore.

[Mercedes55]

I am so sorry about your little pekin. I can't believe your MIL was so irresponsible as to let something like that happen, especially as it seems she was warned by your OH about the dog chasing the chickens. We have a dog and we are always careful to not let her be out in the garden with the girls unless we are out in the garden too. Ours is a labrador and I have to say I do shout at her when she does things wrong as I don't go for all this dog whisperer stuff either and we have a very well behaved dog. In fact our girls have the upper hand over the poor dog and when she goes past them she takes a wide berth as she is quite wary of them. However I know it's never a given to assume that any dog would never harm a chicken given the right circumstances which is why we are always cautious with the girls and the dog. It never ceases to amaze me how stupid some people are

[beach chick]

so sorry to hear that, and I am sure you must be fuming.

[the bradley bunch]

gosh how awful...and what a terrible phone call to get while your at work

if it makes you feel any better my MiL is a dopey annoyance to say the least too

 

i'd certainly say your feelings with regards to imogen are justified...especially if your MiL continues to believe 'dog whispering' ( ) is the way to go.

 

as for poor bob...maybe see how she goes on her own for a month before you make the decider, she may be happy with the bigger girls for company but you'll be able to tell if she's lonely and in that case perhaps you could find her an older mate who needs rehoming?

 

good luck & sending some big hugs x

[sari]

My Stafford is not alowwed untethered in the garden whilst the chhoks are FR yet...She's fine with them i the run..but does half heartedly chase most things i the garden..including an aggressive robin, which flies at her red collar...I feel awful for you, as I have a frustrating MiL...I would bore you with tales of annoyance and down right fury...we could swap tales if you like! Make us feel better....I had to stop going round to MiL when her sister was there, due to an untrained Jack Ruseel which used to jump up and nip/mouth my children's faces..."language" was used to get my point across.

 

Sorry about your Pekin, I think I would be devastated, knowing it was preventable. HUgs x x x

[Janty]

Sorry about your little girl. I love my pekins and would hate anything to happen to them. I admire your restraint with MIL. I think I'd have killed mine.

 

My hubby says that you need to use this as an excuse to get whatever you want as your hubby will be feeling awful.

Cubes, extra chickens, etc. etc.

 

I worry that I married him sometimes.

[Charlottechicken]

Oh my word

 

So sorry, what an unnecessary death

 

I would take Janty's advice and ask for the moon

[Heidi-Hi]

I call mine 'the Outlaws'

 

I'm so sorry about your chook. It made me very sad reading that. See how Bob goes, you will know what the right thing is, but I would have thought that she won't like being on her own, bless her.

[madchickenlady]

Oh, that's awful

[Plum]

Sorry about your pekin how infuriating for you all.

[Chucky1]

Aunty E - I am sorry for your loss - poor little thing.

 

I do have some rather good MIL recipes though.

[Cheryl]

Hmm, Thats a terrible shame, Im so sorry to read about this, i'm sure she feels bad for letting it happen. But i'm suprised she didn't know her own dog, we have two Cavalier Spaniels who are docile by nature and frequently go into the walk in run and wander around with the chickens, in fact they are scared of them.

A lesson learned here, but a sad one..

[Aunty e]

I'm afraid the day got worse - I got home to find that my idiot OH hadn't locked the run door properly, (he says he was distracted by the dog going for the cats in the house ), and Mr Fox had gotten two more chickens, including Maggie, who was our first chicken and five years old and lovely and my favourite. I let him have what for down the phone, but I'm not sure he really understands how incredibly angry I am with him. An hour later I heard a commotion and found the other one hiding behind the shed, but Maggie is still gone and I'm distraught. In addition, MiL's dog has worried the bum of my bluebelle, so I've sprayed it with the antiseptic purple stuff and have to hope for the best really.

 

I actually don't know what to do right now. Since we moved, we've lost four chickens to the fox in the space of six months, having never lost a single one in four years at our old house. I've spotted the hole in the fence, but I've seen them come over the top before now too, so that's not much of a deterrent. I'm not keeping chickens to provide easy meals for the neighbourhood foxes. There's not much point killing them I suspect, as there are plenty more where they came from, but I'm not prepared to lose a chicken every couple of months because my OH is careless.

[Egluntyne]

Good gracious. What a saga. You have every right to be fuming with both MIL and OH. I'd make it plain to MIL that the dog is not to set foot on the premises again. You have your baby to think of too.

[The Dogmother]

Good gracious. What a saga. You have every right to be fuming with both MIL and OH. I'd make it plain to MIL that the dog is not to set foot on the premises again. You have your baby to think of too.

 

I couldn't agree more

 

So sorry to read this Eirean; I hope that MIL and OH are suitably mortified/repentant, and that you get the fox situation sorted.

[the bradley bunch]

what a terrible terrible ordeal for you & your poor chooks

i can't imagine how you must be feeling...sending lots more big hugs your way xxx

[Chucky1]

You really are going through the mill right now Aunt

 

I hope things get better for you soon

[daxigirl]

That's just heartbreaking.

 

I have 3 dogs and although they are improving with the girls, I wouldn't trust them if opportunity arose.

[The Dogmother]

.... I wouldn't trust them if opportunity arose.

 

Nor me with my dog; it's not fair on the dog to put it in a situation where it follows its instincts and hence fails you, nor the animal/child it attacks.

[kinsk]

what an awful day.

 

You have every right to be fuming with the lot of them.

 

The dog would be banned from my house to start with.

 

So sorry x

Edited September 28, 2010 by Guest

[Aunty e]

She's a nice little dog really, and not yet a year old, but she is a cross of two different terrier breeds, and I wouldn't have left her alone with the chickens for a heartbeat. I didn't think I needed to say that to either of them, but what seems obvious to me isn't obvious to everyone I suppose. I don't blame Poppy at all, but I am very angry with the inlaws and OH. We had a similar problem with their whippet cross going for the cats, but the cats at least can get away. We have asked them not to bring the dogs before, but as they were doing us a favour it seemed a bit mean to specify no canines. As for Imogen and doggies, I'm hoping this incident will bring home to them that you can't put a dog in that sort of situation, no matter how well you think you know them. Our westie went for my little brother once, and he was the loveliest, soppiest dog in the world. At least with the cats the worst that will happen is Mog gets scratched (and has been a couple of times), but even then I don't leave her asleep in a room on her own with them, or leave her nursery door open. Sigh.

 

Thanks for all the support, it's making me feel a lot better (unlike OH ).

[kinsk]

I'm sure she is a nice dog. My two are nice dogs, they are lovely and I adore them but the collie cannot be left alone with the pigs for one minute, the rottie is great with the pigs and can be left out all day on his own with them, The rottie cannot be out if the hens are at all, the collie can come over with me whilst I let them out and walk back with me, he can also sit out with us if the hens are out but has to be supervised. Neither of them can be off a lead around horses.

 

When I take my dog to someone elses house I make sure there is absolutely no way he could get into trouble, it's just common courtesy really, no more than you'd let them cr*p on someone elses carpet!

[ClaudetteDay]

I'm so sorry to hear this. Really upsetting.

 

I got my first flock of chickens a few months ago, I couldn't bare the thought of one of them being killed

It would absolutely devaste me. Especially if one of them was killed by a friend's dog

 

We have a German Shepherd, Eve, who is 8 years old (but still acts like a puppy ) and I trust her with my life.

She's a fantastic dog and great with the chooks. Every small pet she's been great with. She would even babysit the hamsters

Anyway, besides the point. I really am sympathtic and let's hope your chooks are having a ball in chicky heaven

 

Hopefully karma will bite your MIL and OH hard for being so stupid ...