ali-s Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 One of the Speckled Sussex has been attacked by a Dog I think. The Newbies were let out just before 5 O'clock for a bit of free ranging. I was watching them from the kitchen for a short while and then they wandered out of sight. As I went to go outside I could hear a male voice shouting angrily and lots of swearing, I thought Jack had left his X box game on so ran up to his bedroom to have a look but everything was switched off. When I got outside I saw masses of feathers all over the lawn. Four of the newbies were in the run but one was missing. I looked across the field and saw a man running across the field away from the cottage with 8 gun dogs in tow, he bundled the Dogs into two cars and both cars sped away. I eventually found Speckled Sussex huddled behind my Chicken shed. Lots of feathers missing including wing feathers and tail feathers. I cannot find any wounds thankfully. Obviously in shock as I was able to pick SS easily, the newbies are not used to being handled and I have only had them a week. I am so angry I do let my Chickens free range un supervised and I know the risks regarding Foxes (which I have never seen or heard here) but to have a Dog or Dogs come into my garden and attack my pet is not on, and as for the coward who was walking the Dogs and ran away ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I don't blame you for being angry I'd be livid. Stupid man, we had a dog in the garden a while ago, it couldn't get to the girls but chased them up and down the netting. The dogs owner said oh the dogs ok its not doing any harm, OH had to come out and calm things down. Hope your girls ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Hope she's ok. Yes I am as worried about dogs as foxes, I've had one run through the garden you just never know what will happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Glad she is not wounded and hope she recovers from the shock. Walking that many dogs is always a recipe for disaster even if they are trained - although sounds as if some were young, they have not been fine tuned enough not to chase any bird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 I am still livid. I keep thinking what if? If it had been my other girls day for free ranging little elderly Bubbles would have been out. she is nearly 7 years old and not very good on her legs. she sits somewhere sunny or sheltered and watches the world go by, she wouldn't have stood a chance. Archie my Papillon free ranges with the other girls. He would have ploughed in there all 2.8 kgs of him. The two Cats also mooch around as well. All three were inside at the time of the attack because they are not yet used to the Newbies. Speckled Sussex is now back in the Eglu with her room mates. Fingers crossed for the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 What a horrible man . I'm so glad your little girl is just missing feathers - it could've been so much worse . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 OMG! What a horrid man to just leave like that! I do hope that she is unharmed and recovered from the shock in the morning. Jilly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Crikey! How dreadful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 How is she this morning? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 28, 2010 Author Share Posted October 28, 2010 She is still here. Hobbled out of the Eglu this morning but has since gone back inside. This morning I can see she has lost more feathers than I first thought, she has a bare patch on her back near the start of her tail. She looked hunched up when she was in the run. Going into town this afternoon so I will buy some rescue remedy to put in the glug. The other 4 are also quiet this morning and have also retreated back into the Eglu. I think I will keep them in the run for the rest of the week to get over their shock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Oh dear what an awful thing to happen. Hope she makes a speedy recovery. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Really sorry to read about what happened Hope your girl picks up a bit today. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Oh Ali, no wonder you're cross I'd be too and I'm a dog owner as well. That man sounds very irresponsible if you ask me. Could you put a sign up at your garden edge saying dog-owners please keep their dogs on a lead or something? Glad that SS is okay, if a little shocked - hope the rescue remedy will help perk her up a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bradley bunch Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 what a cowardly man not to come & check your girls were ok i am glad your little SS wasn't hurt too bad, hope they all get over the attack & start to enjoy splashing around in the rainy weather soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Thats awful. Do hope she will be ok. What a nasty man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 I really hope she picks up asap!!! Poor lil thing!! Just to play devils advocate... It may be a case that your hen was actually been grabbed by something else, perhaps a cat or a fox, and the dogs were after that? If it was a cat, the dogs owner may have taken a quick exit because of that... If it was a fox, then he would've been at risk of arrest under the Hunting Act for pursuing a fox with more than two dogs. If he knew a hen was involved, and still ran, then I agree that he was very cowardly. Perhaps the lesson from this is that foxes aren't the only problem and that unsupervised free ranging isn't safe for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted October 28, 2010 Author Share Posted October 28, 2010 Speckled Sussex now named Rose because I can actually tell her apart from the other two now she is missing feathers is still looking shell shocked. she eventually came out of the Eglu and has spent the day sitting in the run in the sunshine. She is looking quite pale in her face I am sure it was a dog or Dogs that attacked her. I could hear the man shouting "leave it", "drop it". I am sure I would have seen a Fox running away as all the fields are bare at the moment and no hedgerows or anything to hide a fox from view. Not a Cat either as no other Cats around here except my two and they were asleep on my bed at the time of the attack. I don't know the man but recognised the two cars as they are often parked in nearby fields and I have seen a man walking in the fields with several dogs. I have never seen him walking in the field behind the cottage. None of my girls have been let out of the runs today and Archie Dog has only been outside under supervision. The Cats are also inside, their choice, they have spent the day sleeping as usual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Perhaps he will avoid walking past your garden in the future now he knows that there are chickens resident. (If it had been me I know I would). Give her a squish from me and my girlies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Glad she's ok..poor little thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 28, 2010 Share Posted October 28, 2010 Ali, have just read of this. How awful. It's hard to believe there are such unkind, arrogant yet cowardly people out there. Shame on him. Hope your little hen pick up soon. Alli xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Unfortunlely the worlds full of idiots who don't give a flying fig about animals..makes me cross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Unfortunlely the worlds full of idiots who don't give a flying fig about animals..makes me cross Yes me too Powerlady, it makes my blood boil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkBevBen Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 How are you all today and of course little Rose, Ali? Hope things are a bit brighter for you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clur Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 Can you leave a sign on your gate or other prominent position: "To the coward who ran off after his dog attacked my chicken - I have your registration number, so may I suggest you come and apologise and let me know what you are doing to prevent this happening again, before I report you for tresspass." Hope she recovers ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted October 29, 2010 Share Posted October 29, 2010 I did this..my little dog got hit on the side of the road by a hit and run..so I put a sign up saying " To whomever hit my little dog on 25 Aug..shame on you and hope you can live with yourself" Didn't help of course but made me feel better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
