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Barnyard Buddies:  Piles of feathers...chickens gone  |
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Jami
True Blue Farmgirl
1238 Posts
Jami
Ellensburg
WA
USA
1238 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 03 2008 : 07:40:39 AM
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Well, an era has ended. My original flock of 14 chickens are now extinct. We had 2 barred rock hens left (8-9 years old) from my little original flock of layers. One by one they have died of old age with the rooster going about 2 years ago. They were free roaming chickens and these 2 became quite tame and would hang out with us and the dogs too, just like "family".
Went outside Thursday morning to 2 big piles of feathers side by side on the front lawn. We had heard a ruckus the night before but it was just hooves pounding and figured the horses had a deer in their pasture or something. The guard dog barked a few times but a trek outside in pj's and a flashlight didn't find anything awry.
Talked to some friends who work for Wildlife Services at the sheep convention over the weekend and told them this story of the quiet kill and no remains besides the side-by-side pile of feathers in the front-yard, not in the henhouse. They said it sounded like a bobcat. We have never had one of those around before.
Well, the kicker is that these hens were a thorn in my side lately as they have destroyed almost every flowerbed I have tried to put in the yard. I couldn't leave the garage door open or they would go in and poop all over the place and they would get in the dog's fenced yard and eat the dog food, etc. As their numbers lessened, they became pests/pets. Well, I have said many times..."when are these chickens going to die?" It seems like they were living forever. I know that sounds mean, but whatever. Then...I felt bad that my last 2 girls were killed. I really hoped they would die of old age just like the others did. We are going to get more chickens once we have a better setup so we can pasture them but not have them in our yard. Anyhow, I'm all outta chickens now. Will wait for spring.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
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Daisydu
Farmgirl in Training
40 Posts
Becky
Rock Hill
South Carolina
USA
40 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2008 : 08:27:00 AM
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I had the same feelings about a rabbit that lived 5 years past his 5 year lifespan. He looked horrible and sickly. He finally passed this summer. Poor thing, he was probably miserable, but I didn't have the heart to put him down. Since he still got around well. If he had seemed to be suffering it would have been different.
Loving a simple life in the country!
www.twistedfencepost.wordpress.com |
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willowtreecreek
True Blue Farmgirl
4813 Posts
Julie
Russell
AR
USA
4813 Posts |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2008 : 08:36:50 AM
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I had a chicken bomb on Saturday morning as well. Unfortunately we have mink here.
Di on VI
Farmgirl Sister #73 |
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shepherdgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1008 Posts
Tracy
California
USA
1008 Posts |
Posted - Nov 04 2008 : 11:26:39 AM
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Oh this must be the year for chicken DISASTERS!!! I lost 12 hens in a span of 3 days early this spring. 2 others were injured but recovered (raccoons), and I can't tell you HOW MANY chicks were murdered by a stinking dirty RAT!!! It must have been close to 80 chicks (my hens tend to hatch very LARGE broods! and I bought quit a few for replacements) Talk about frustration, disappointment and DISGUST! (the attacks on my poor little birds became quite brutal over time--- shudder!!---) Needless to say, I got a herd of cats this summer and they seem to know where those nasty rats have been hanging out. Blessed little fur balls really ARE earning their keep-- I haven't lost a chick or young bird to any RATS since!!
So sorry you all have lost your birds too. I know how terrible that can be. We don't have any bobcats here, or mink (at least not that I'm aware of anyway). We have RATS, Raccoon, Opossum, Skunk, coyote and neighbors dogs!
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. ~~ George Carlin |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Nov 05 2008 : 05:41:15 AM
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Sounds like how we lost some of ours too. No bobcat, but feral dogs. Both of whom were trapped and shot. Very skiny and no collars.
I felt badly when one of our mean roosters was killed, but not really. He flogged everyone including the dog! |
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Barnyard Buddies: Piles of feathers...chickens gone |
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Piles of feathers...chickens gone
