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Barnyard Buddies:  Abruptly out of the chicken business...  |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 07:33:34 AM
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Last evening, between 5-7:00, a fox or small coyote put me out of the chicken business. I went out to lock them in for the night to find the chicken house empty. I found 4 of the 7 under light snow, still warm. Never did find the other 3. I followed tracks around the yard and found my most beautiful young blue cochin hen partially eaten. After we cleaned up the carnage and went to bed, the culprit returned looking for the carcasses. My chicken yard and garden are criss-crossed with tracks in snow that fell since last night. I've raised chickens off and on for over 30 years and never lost more than one at a time. Never the wasteful slaughter of the entire flock at once. Never even got an egg from them, they were September chicks and would have started this spring.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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jill skane
True Blue Farmgirl
853 Posts
jill lillian
stacyville
maine
USA
853 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 07:45:01 AM
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That is so heartbreaking, sorry to hear that.
Jill Lillian |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 07:48:12 AM
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oh i am so sad for you. heartbreaking for sure. i just am speechless. i hope you try again. somberly sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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graciegreeneyes
True Blue Farmgirl
3107 Posts
Amy Grace
Rosalia
WA
USA
3107 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 08:27:41 AM
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Oh Melina, I'm so sorry - what a waste....
Farmgirl #224
"use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without"
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 08:58:28 AM
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Oh that is just horrible!!! I know what that is like and it just makes you sick because you might be able to justify one because the fox was starving but just to kill for the sake of killing - sometimes animals act just as bad a humans... I hope you will start again because life without chickens just isn't full.
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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FebruaryViolet
True Blue Farmgirl
4810 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4810 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 09:01:46 AM
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Mother nature has cruel lessons, sometimes. I hate that. I really am so sorry,
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
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coriedowney
Farmgirl in Training
29 Posts
Corie
Whitehall
Montana
USA
29 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 09:06:26 AM
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I am so sorry to hear that you lost your chickens, it is so heart breaking.
I am sure this wont make you feel any better, but you may want to check with your neighbors, as from my unfortunate expriences with both foxes/coyotes/raccoons & dogs, it is usually the domestic dogs that come and just kill to kill. I have had a fox family decide to den right near my hen house and they really only took one or two at a time (so much fun) and I have also had dogs come and they just kill because it is fun. so if it is worth it to you, maybe go talk to your neighbors with dogs. I am sure from the size of the tracks you can guess the approx size of the cuplret.
Again I am so sorry, it is always such a sad thing.
Corie |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 10:10:53 AM
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I hate to hear this, Melina. So sorry. I know how upset you are over this. I do hope that you will get more in the spring and start over. But get over this first. It's sad but those wild animals have to eat too. But why our chickens? I saw a hawk up on the power line last evening. I hope it doesn't come this way. But all mine all staying inside so far because of all the snow out there.
I am sending you good healing thoughts and prayers. ANd hugs too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Lessie Louise
True Blue Farmgirl
1406 Posts
Carol
PECULIAR
MO
USA
1406 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 10:30:29 AM
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I am so sorry you lost your hens. A friend lost her whole flock recently and thinks it may have been a weasel because of the carnage. We have a fox problem, but it is just one hen at a time. I am srry that happened to your girls, Carol
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting them in a fruit salad!
Farmgirl #680! |
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Melina
True Blue Farmgirl
435 Posts
Melina
USA
435 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 12:30:24 PM
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Thank you to everyone who sent such kind messages. I'm not sure I will try again. I have always loved having my chickens, but we live in an area where predators are rampant and protected. I'm in town, right on the edge of a wild area, so I cannot shoot, trap or otherwise dispose of them. We see predators all the time and like someone said, it was just trying to make a living, too. Anyway, after the shock wears off, I may reevaluate. I'll certainly need better predator-proof housing if I do. It would have been a dandy flock...a blue Cochin, two French Marans (one red and one blue and golden), two Dominiques, and a lovely little partridge colored Americauna. The rooster was a blue Cochin with flaming red wing feathers. Of course, he was living on borrowed time until he began crowing. It is town, after all.
Thank you again for all the kind words.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi |
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kluckingbear
True Blue Farmgirl
52 Posts
Tabitha
Ellensburg
WA
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 5:03:26 PM
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We've had that happen to us several times now by a racoon and a neighbor dog. We finally have resorted to locking them in their coop at night, even the pop-hole, so no predators can get at them. We also ended up having to fence in a large portion of our yard so the neighbor's dog wouldn't be tempted during the day.
I really recommend trying again with a new and improved system. Good luck!
~Come visit me at my blog www.kluckingbear.blogspot.com |
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Lady Woodworker
True Blue Farmgirl
259 Posts
Karen
Chamberlain
Maine
USA
259 Posts |
Posted - Jan 10 2011 : 6:30:09 PM
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I am so sorry about your chickens. I do hope you try again but would certainly understand if you could not bring yourself to do so.
Hugs,
Karen
Farmgirl Sister # 2419 |
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RedHoopWoman
True Blue Farmgirl
513 Posts
Kathryn
Yoder
Colorado
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 09:59:41 AM
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That's terrible,I've had this happen and it's very upsetting,I have to agree with Corey that it sounds more like the culprit could have been raccoons or neighborhood dogs,raccoons will break in and kill every chicken in sight and partially eat or chew on their heads a little then amble off.
Foxes and coyotes usually grab a bird and run off with it,I've never had them come in and kill multiples at once,they like to grab thier bird and make a quick getaway to eat in peace.
Domestic dogs are the absolute worst and it seems to be the prevalent attitude for people to move to the country,let thier dogs run loose and when that dog gets into trouble and kills your animals to say "Oh,that's just in thier nature" so it's become in my nature to shoot any stray dogs on my place and dump them in a nearby arroyo,if thier owners cared about them,they would keep them home,I don't bother discussing dog issues with the people that love them because they think thier precious pooch can do no wrong and will make any excuse for them,rarely have I known a dog owner to make amends when their dog has committed a crime so I apply the three S's-Shoot,Shovel and Shut-up.
You can tell a dog's tracks from a coyotes because the domestic dog makes a little skid behind every footprint while a coyote's track is very defined and has two protruding toe marks.
One of the best ways to protect your flock,in my opinion,is to fight nature with nature,a good dog will keep your place protected from coyotes and other critters,they tend not to fool with a place with a dog but the challenge is actually finding a good dog for that purpose,most dogs serve no purpose and are not worth having but an obedient one who is good with your animals and watches over them is worth his own weight in gold.
Good luck with establishing a new flock,I have Marans too and hope you will get some more,thier eggs are beautiful.
"Today's Mighty Oak is just Yesterday's Nut" |
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Rejena
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Rejena
WY
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 10:58:25 AM
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I'm sorry to hear about your chicken loss. We had a raccoon get into our chicken coop in July and destroy 25 of our newest girls. All ready to start laying the next week or two. We were able to save our 25 ducks and had to start over. So, this year we are lighting our new girls we got and raised up from day olds and are keeping 3 roosters who enjoy strutting around and making a racket. They have been working out VERY WELL. Whenever one of them starts to act "cocky", he gets put to bed with the ducks for a week or two to remind him that we all live "nicely" in our coop.
They come out of the duck coop different birds then whence they go in. :o) I think it is the humiliation....the other boys always strut around the outside and fluff up and flaunt their freedom at the enclosed one. Poor fellas, but better than the blood and feather mayhem we've had with past groups of birds.
Good luck in the Spring! Let me know if you'd like a few fertilized eggs sent your way. I'd be happy to contribute a dozen to a Farm girl's cause when the weather warms up and the eggs won't freeze in transport. We have Buff Orpingtons.
quote:
Originally posted by Melina
Last evening, between 5-7:00, a fox or small coyote put me out of the chicken business. I went out to lock them in for the night to find the chicken house empty. I found 4 of the 7 under light snow, still warm. Never did find the other 3. I followed tracks around the yard and found my most beautiful young blue cochin hen partially eaten. After we cleaned up the carnage and went to bed, the culprit returned looking for the carcasses. My chicken yard and garden are criss-crossed with tracks in snow that fell since last night. I've raised chickens off and on for over 30 years and never lost more than one at a time. Never the wasteful slaughter of the entire flock at once. Never even got an egg from them, they were September chicks and would have started this spring.
The morning breeze has secrets to tell you. Do not go back to sleep.
Rumi
www.violetacresfarm.com
"Kid Run Boer Goat Farm" |
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msdoolittle
True Blue Farmgirl
1152 Posts
Amanda
East Texas
USA
1152 Posts |
Posted - Jan 11 2011 : 5:03:37 PM
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Oh, Melina,
How terribly heartbreaking! It surprises me that it happened that early in the evening with a predator, though fox are active at sundown :0( I am so sorry for you. I love my chickens so much!
When we built this new coop, we did it with predators in mind. I have lost several to racoons and a few to coyotes. It may be that you need to use a chicken tractor (?) so that they are never completely left out to be 'had'. I am so sorry. :0(
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
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rebeccah
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Rebecca
Snow Hill
NC
USA
7 Posts |
Posted - Jan 12 2011 : 3:30:36 PM
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| The very same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. Went out to lock up the coop and no one was in there. I just found feathers and blood, so I think it must have been a fox. It is so sad to lose so many at once. I have only two left and we were due to get eggs this spring also. This is my first experience with chickens. I miss them and have ordered more to arrive this spring. We are planning on fencing in an area because I'm afraid the same thing will happen again. |
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sherrye
True Blue Farmgirl
3775 Posts
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 14 2011 : 8:50:15 PM
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hoping you decided to get more chickens? did any make it? sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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Rejena
True Blue Farmgirl
149 Posts
Rejena
WY
USA
149 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 06:33:06 AM
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Here is a new problem we haven't had before. Yesterday morning when I went to release the hens I found one that had died on the roost. No signs of any "fowl" play, just keeled over. She was in the middle of the roost, so no freezing to death here. Curious what might have been her demise? Any suggestions?
Rejena
www.violetacresfarm.com
"Kid Run Boer Goat Farm" |
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Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts |
Posted - Jan 15 2011 : 10:59:10 AM
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I am sorry that you lost your flock to something out of your control. We lose a chicken here and there to the wild life here in the summer. One year we lost all of our turkey poults in one night it was so awful to go out and find them all killed and not eaten. We thought it was a mink but maybe a raccoon.
We had a big red tailed hawk drop by a couple of days one summer. It did eat just one of our laying hens. We were fascinated by how it circled and nailed then ate the hen. The hens naturallly hide from hawks but this one did not hide well enough.
years ago we had an old dog who loved to sleep outside in the summer. We did not loose any birds then. One summer the boys slept on the porch with a box of rocks to through at the raccoons and that worked as long as the boys were awake.
I do not mind sharing with the wild life but I do mind wanton destruction.
Holly
Holly
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Barnyard Buddies: Abruptly out of the chicken business... |
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Abruptly out of the chicken business...
