artbykarenehaley
Crowing
Ugh last night sucked, but it could have been worse. At about 4:30 am the chickens were freaking out. I went out there, and the first thing I noticed was that I could see all of my birds except for Nutmeg. Then I checked the nest area and there was a mother possum with three babies hanging on her belly, a pile of Nutmeg's feathers, and no Nutmeg. I was not happy. She's my favorite.
Jeffrey is our cockerel. He was in a major panic and he was fumbling around in the dark like a drunk. I examined him and he's fine, he was half asleep. He usually sleeps next to nutmeg and the other two pullets the same age.
I took all the chickens out of the coop and put them on the porch in a dog crate. The possum would not move and I didn't want to shoot it, since we are in a neighborhood, so I assumed Nutmeg was dead.
This morning after my husband, Joseph, went outside to start his car, he rushed in and called me to get up and come out front. I figured the possum was out there or that someone had broken into the car because he sounded urgent.
Nope, it was nutmeg, roosting on the rear window wiper of the Jeep. She has some feathers missing but no bites or scratches.
"You want to put me back in there?! I don't think so."
At 7:15 the possum was still in the chicken coop, but I went out to check at 7:45 and she is gone. Now, normally, I'd be annoyed that she stole my breakfast, but I still have Nutmeg so I don't really care about the eggs.
Time to troubleshoot my coop and fix the breaches in security, because
1) A possum came in.
2) A chicken got out (although it was a good thing she did escape in this instance)
3) the possum got eggs, with no consequences, and she knows where to get a bigger snack if she is so inclined.
I've had no issues for three years so I'm guessing somewhere there is a broken board or some wire that has rusted apart and is causing a way in or out.
I also do know that the front gate sags open at the top.
Anyway I better get to work, I have a camping trip tonight and I don't want to leave them without feeling like I've done what I can to protect the chickens.
Jeffrey is our cockerel. He was in a major panic and he was fumbling around in the dark like a drunk. I examined him and he's fine, he was half asleep. He usually sleeps next to nutmeg and the other two pullets the same age.
I took all the chickens out of the coop and put them on the porch in a dog crate. The possum would not move and I didn't want to shoot it, since we are in a neighborhood, so I assumed Nutmeg was dead.
This morning after my husband, Joseph, went outside to start his car, he rushed in and called me to get up and come out front. I figured the possum was out there or that someone had broken into the car because he sounded urgent.
Nope, it was nutmeg, roosting on the rear window wiper of the Jeep. She has some feathers missing but no bites or scratches.
"You want to put me back in there?! I don't think so."
At 7:15 the possum was still in the chicken coop, but I went out to check at 7:45 and she is gone. Now, normally, I'd be annoyed that she stole my breakfast, but I still have Nutmeg so I don't really care about the eggs.
Time to troubleshoot my coop and fix the breaches in security, because
1) A possum came in.
2) A chicken got out (although it was a good thing she did escape in this instance)
3) the possum got eggs, with no consequences, and she knows where to get a bigger snack if she is so inclined.
I've had no issues for three years so I'm guessing somewhere there is a broken board or some wire that has rusted apart and is causing a way in or out.
I also do know that the front gate sags open at the top.
Anyway I better get to work, I have a camping trip tonight and I don't want to leave them without feeling like I've done what I can to protect the chickens.
