Learning The Hard Way.....

Today we have two chickens missing feathers.  Two guesses just why that happened.  Dennis was at the door when the Beast was ready to go out to collect the eggs and lock up the chickens for the night and shot out the door between his legs and the opening.  He was down in the yard like a shot and grabbed a chicken.  The Beast, who really didn't believe he couldn't handle him, was down and chasing the dog around like a crazy person.  He finally chased him under the deck (which is not easy to get under with the flower boxes in front of the openings), where Dennis had the chicken under his paw and was proceeding to pull her feathers out like he wanted to see her naked.  He retrieved the poor, traumatized chicken (in shock but actually unhurt) and got her into the coop along with the other chickens.  They had all run inside when Dennis started his running towards them, except for the poor hen that got caught.

When the Beast came back into the house (without collecting the eggs, of course), I really thought he was going to have a heart attack.  He could barely stand after chasing Dennis around.  Why the dog was still alive actually surprised me.  I made the Beast sit back in his recliner until he could catch his breath.  I couldn't stop myself and said, *When are you going to accept that he is NOT going to be like Baron?*   For sure now, the chickens will not accept him as an acceptable companion and will always run when they see him which will make his hunting instinct kick in....and on and on.

I could tell that Dennis knew the Beast was upset with him because he chose to visit me in my computer room a couple times before he finally felt he could lay down next to his recliner out in the living room.  Me?  I feel it is going to end up being either he finds another home for Dennis or gets much more cautious about knowing where he is before he goes out back to collect eggs.  He did, eventually, go out to get the eggs and gave the chickens an extra helping of corn to help them feel a bit better.  I doubt if it really helped but.....

I have an early doctor's appointment tomorrow so I am going to go take my shower, get into my warm jammies and head for bed.  Take care everyone and stay warm.  Love you all.  ***Hugs***