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Yes it's happened to my girls,dog attack this afternoon. OH phoned this PM and he never phones just for a chat so knew something was wrong. Even joked to my friend that somethings up with the hens, they've got out or something and as soon as I heard his voice knew it was bad.New neighbours dogs had found a hole in their fence and found their way to my peaceful garden. I was only thinking this AM how lucky I have been, no illness or any probs. Anyway, there is some humour to this. OH happened to be home early working on the house when he heard almighty commotion and thought but that's coming from over the road, only to look out and see neighbour fighting off a staffordshire bull terrier! Her son had heard knocking at the front door, opened it and said 'it's a chicken!' My Babs ran up the stairs and hid in a book case, bum sticking out(found her later in the same position) Martin( the son ) shut the door quickly , catching the dogs head in the door and then fought it off with broom and lots of expletives!! ( that's all the humour,love the idea that she found a safe haven!) OH ran over to help. Neighour caught hold of dog and found phone number and OH phoned owner. Meanwhile they heard more commotion in our garden.On the way back to the garden, OH ran into Staff. chasing Belinda, he grabbed her and threw her into house and shut the door. Last hen was being chased around the veg patch, ( there was a collie type dog as well, owner has two little darlings!) as OH arrived dog grabbed chook by the neck and shook but dropped her when everyone started yelling. Again OH grabbed chicken and threw her in the house. At this point he phoned me. I didn't know what I was coming home to and nor did he. He really thought he would need to be doing the deed of putting out misery. But, this is how we are now. I checked all over. Babs absolutely fine,no damage as she had the sense to run to my neighbours house ( of course she knew they would be in!). Betty, lots of bald patches but no actual damage,just very quiet and jittery, Belinda is the worry. She has a broke wing and skin damage,I was covered in blood after holding her to check her. Has lost loads off feathers, so I am not holding out much hope for her. I have shut them all in the coop and given treat type food, Belinda the only one not eating. If she does last the night, has anyone else had hen survive with a broken wing and have they been OK? I have been so lucky that my oh was here and I have wonderful neighbours, and that Babs picked their door because I don't think the others would have been so helpful. Despite the stress of all this, I am still laughing inside at the image of Babs knocking at their door and teenage boy answering to terrified chook!! Priceless.
I know any breed can be dangerous in the wrong hands but in our area there seem to be so many Staffies/Rottweilers & Dobermans & other big terrier looking dogs,allowed to run off leads in play parks,poor fencing in gardens so can escape easily & my "favourite" loosely tied right outside shop doors,left to growl at anyone daring to want to leave or enter the shop!
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