Daisy Dog Rescues Hens from Coyote

I let my chickens free range when I'm going to be out and around the yards.

This particular day I heard several times my hens squabble.  Hens squabble with each other frequently.  I'd investigate and saw the chickens all in different directions.  My laying hens don't chum about with their younger roommates, so I didn't think much about it.

The next squabble had two of my adolescent chicks begging to come in to the house through the back door. I decided they need to go back into the coop.  I don't know what is pestering my birds, maybe the neighbor's cat?

Daisy Dog found the younger chickens hiding in the brush.  We put them inside the coop. David came out to help us find the rest of the chickens.  We heard a chicken scream & shocked to see a coyote run through the pasture with a white Leghorns in it's jaws.

A Leghorn was running towards us, up the lawn dropping feathers all the way.

Daisy Dog ran after the coyote, do past the frightened hen coming for help,  I caught up to Daisy in the pasture and saw a disappointing amount of white feathers on the ground. 

Daisy ran through some very thick brush heading out towards the swamps. The brush & briars were too thick for me to get through.  I felt my hen was gone for sure. 

Daisy found our Leghorn named Suzie and got her safely into the coop with the younger Rhode Island Reds.  I left the run open hoping my lost chickens to come home. I hoped to have one more Leghorn come home.

I walked around with a heavy heart for a while, looking around places I've seen the Leghorns in the past.  The barn, the cherry tree, the pine trees, and no sign of them.

I walked past the coop, and I couldn't blink.  TWO White Leghorns were in the run.  I was totally amazed.  I sprinted for the gate, closed it and Daisy Dog came in with me and chased the girls into the coop. 

Daisy Dog is a hero, rescuing her hen from a coyote.

The hens came home on their own, when they felt safe. 

Inside the coop the hens were settling down and shaking off loose feathers.  Maybe a little food and water would help them settle down and feel safe at home with the other chickens. 

I expected to see a brutally damaged hen, sick, or dying.  I thought it would be obvious which hen got a close up of the coyote's fangs.  I didn't see blood, or broken wings or legs. 

I got a good look at a Leghorn on the perch and looks like Topaz was caught by her tail feathers. The coyote fumbled the hen, and Daisy rushed the predator off, saving the hen.

I was relieved to have my birds home and safe again. 

To my surprise my two laying hens, Suzie & Green, both left eggs for me the next morning.  Topaz hasn't laid eggs for a few months, now . I thought for sure, I'd never see another egg from my frightened Leghorns, who've been the best laying hens. 

I'm very proud of my Daisy Dog for chasing off the coyote, and making it drop her chicken. 

Daisy has been an amazingly wonderful guardian dog for her chickens. 

Last year, Daisy found these Leghorns when they were scattered by older hens.  Daisy Dog also pinned down each Leghorn chick until I got there to catch them and put them into their cage.  Suzie and Green are the two Leghorns that spent two nights out in the briars before we could lure them out and catch them.