I came across this story, from March 2018. Taffy was the star, as we searched for the chickens that woke us up with their squawking!
"5:00 this morning, still dark outside, Taffy and I wake up simultaneously to the loud sound of a chicken clucking/screeching outside of the bedroom window. The sound is traveling towards the road... I figure a fox got in somehow, but there are other birds to check on.
Boots and jacket on, flashlight in hand, we dash outside. I remember that the Bielefelder roo and several hens had not seemed willing to go into their coop the night before, and I hadn't followed up...
Taffy is off like a shot, pinpointing where the chicken left our fence and (likely) crossed the road...as we could still hear it cackling but the sound is getting fainter. It seems to be a lost cause (except that Taffy is still intent on the now-distant location).
We start looking for the others, and my heart sinks when I can't find any of them. Taffy has found them, though. They are huddled next to the fence in a corner, far away from where they should be. She is whining and wanting to make them move (they need to be herded back to where they belong, don't you know...), but she waits for me to pick up the roo, carry him to safety inside the barn, go back for the others, carry them inside as well. Taffy is usually quite beside herself with concern when I have a squawking chicken in my arms, but I think she knew this was different.
She dashes back to the fence, and I have a small hope that the other one simply flew over in the darkness and will be back, but...I call her in and we try to get a few more minutes of sleep.
Once the sun is up, Taffy gives one insistent bark and fixes her eyes on me until I get out of bed (she is good at this)...
Outside the window, I can see the stray chicken frantically searching for a way back inside of our fence. Right next to the busy road.
Taffy does not get to join me in retrieving the stupid hen. I won't risk her life next to the traffic... But Taff is the hero of the day, for sure.
No chickens were lost, and who knows what may have actually spooked their tiny bird brains before day. Taffy may have scared something off that put them on the run in the darkness.
First thing after the lost bird was back to safety and away from the road, I let Taffy out, and she dashed along the entire inside of the fence-line, making sure all was well.
It's a good way to start the day. Proud of our girl!"
Photo is Taffy. March 14, 2018
"5:00 this morning, still dark outside, Taffy and I wake up simultaneously to the loud sound of a chicken clucking/screeching outside of the bedroom window. The sound is traveling towards the road... I figure a fox got in somehow, but there are other birds to check on.
Boots and jacket on, flashlight in hand, we dash outside. I remember that the Bielefelder roo and several hens had not seemed willing to go into their coop the night before, and I hadn't followed up...
Taffy is off like a shot, pinpointing where the chicken left our fence and (likely) crossed the road...as we could still hear it cackling but the sound is getting fainter. It seems to be a lost cause (except that Taffy is still intent on the now-distant location).
We start looking for the others, and my heart sinks when I can't find any of them. Taffy has found them, though. They are huddled next to the fence in a corner, far away from where they should be. She is whining and wanting to make them move (they need to be herded back to where they belong, don't you know...), but she waits for me to pick up the roo, carry him to safety inside the barn, go back for the others, carry them inside as well. Taffy is usually quite beside herself with concern when I have a squawking chicken in my arms, but I think she knew this was different.
She dashes back to the fence, and I have a small hope that the other one simply flew over in the darkness and will be back, but...I call her in and we try to get a few more minutes of sleep.
Once the sun is up, Taffy gives one insistent bark and fixes her eyes on me until I get out of bed (she is good at this)...
Outside the window, I can see the stray chicken frantically searching for a way back inside of our fence. Right next to the busy road. Taffy does not get to join me in retrieving the stupid hen. I won't risk her life next to the traffic... But Taff is the hero of the day, for sure.
No chickens were lost, and who knows what may have actually spooked their tiny bird brains before day. Taffy may have scared something off that put them on the run in the darkness.
First thing after the lost bird was back to safety and away from the road, I let Taffy out, and she dashed along the entire inside of the fence-line, making sure all was well.
It's a good way to start the day. Proud of our girl!
"Photo is Taffy. March 14, 2018
