A Killer in the Henhouse

Well, yesterday was a difficult day at the farm, but it somewhat explains why I have been finding dead birds. When I arrived at the henhouse last night to tuck the girls in, I was greeted by the gruesome sight of dead chickens everywhere. At least 6 hens dead. And several badly maimed birds that will probably die, although I have to say I have seen chickens survive some very traumatic wounds. I was just at a loss as to what had happened, they had some puncture wounds, but were not eaten like they would have been if the hawk had gotten them. Well, it turns out there is a dog that has a taste for chickens that broke into the pasture. Fran's parents received a visit from our neighbor, Pete, who is adjacent to us. He apparently lost 5 of his hens yesterday, and had spotted some of mine dead in the pasture, and he saw the dog running up our farm hill. This is a terrible thing, as once the dog gets a taste for killing chickens, they will not stop, not to mention I have lost more than 10 of my prime laying hens. So, today the chickens spend the day inside and until we catch this killer, that will have to stay that way. Not to mention I need to find where on the fence line the dog busted through, or I will have hens getting out...3 or them were so terrified yesterday they got over or through the fence somehow to get away from the dog. My poor girls.