Sitting with a cup of coffee. (coffee lovers)

[3goodeggs]

 

[chickisoup]

Awww, thank you, but I think my chooks need the hugs. I just went out to check on them because I still haven't seen them out. I opened the people door on the coop and peek in. There they are, all snuggled down in the fresh hay on the floor. They all give me the stink eye and I swear they were looking at me as if to say, "Will you close that door, you're causing a draft!"

What in the world are this bunch of spoiled chickies going to do when the real winter arrives? I am NOT putting a heater in the greenhouse for them!

 

[perchie.girl]

Morning. Sigh. Notice no chickens in pic #2. They refused to come out.
Smart birds.

I am sorry but this is a lovely picture... I love the contrasts in snow.

deb

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Morning. Sigh. Notice no chickens in pic #2. They refused to come out.
Smart birds.

Our chickens don't like snow either.

 

[Alaskan]

Sorry about the "S" stuff.


That totally turns me into a grump.

 

[chickisoup]

ARRRRGGGHHH! That helped. Just sitting here trying to calm down. I let my girls out this morning, everything was fine tho they were reluctant to come out. I thought it was just because of the snow yesterday, they hate snow. As it turns out, most likely the reason was far more ominous. Anyway, they finally came out with a bit of coaxing and began their day. An hour or so later I looked out the kitchen window and something looked VERY odd in the run (they had been let out into the larger fenced yard area) so I put on my boots and went out to investigate. I didn't need to get very close before I knew what I was looking at and I got a very sick feeling. It was a large, scattered, pile of Mz Dumpling's feathers. I hurried to investigate. No blood, no body. Wait! I also don't hear or see anything else! None of the girls came running to me! No!!! I didn't lose them all!!! I began a panicked search. I looked in the coop, in the greenhouse, I searched the run, inside the fenced yard, then inside the fenced yard again. I stood and stared over the fence looking for "piles" at the same time praying to not see any. One last check in the coop, I forgot to check the nest boxes. Lifted the lid and there were three of my girls, including my Dumpling, looking up at me with terrified eyes. I scooped Dumpling up , held her close, and did a gentle check for any severe damage. Finding none I put her back with her sister and closed the lid. Now for what I did not want to do. One girl, my sweet Patty was not with her sisters and I did not see her in my frantic earlier search so I had no choice but to assume the worst. This time the search was a slow and deliberate scan of the yard. There, behind the wheelbarrow in the corner of the fence was a large pile of, not Mz Dumpling's bright red and white feathers, but of beautiful black ones. My sweet Australorp. My heart sank. But then I noticed what seemed to be a feather here and there leading away and toward the porch. Afraid of what I might find lying behind the woodbox next to the steps, I slowly looked, and there, behind the box and stuffed tightly against the fencing placed to keep critters from under the porch was another pile of feathers, except this pile looked up at me! I called her name and, hearing my voice, she jumped out and up onto the steps! She looked absolutely horrible and I had to grab to pick her up because she was so frightened. As soon as I stuffed her inside my coat, she snuggled in deeper and relaxed, she was safe. I carried her to a bench near the coop and we just both sat there snuggled together for a few minutes. Finally, I opened my coat and she let out a little squeak of complaint (her first sound) but I had to check her over, at least for any serious damage. All I saw was some skin peeled back at the top of her beak where she must have tried to escape thru the fence when she was cornered. No other visible blood so I let that be my exam, for now. I opened the coop door, gently placed her inside. At first she was afraid to move, then slowly she went to the nestboxes and snuggled in with her sisters. I watched and listened to them for a moment, then quietly saying a prayer of thanksgiving, knowing they were all now safe, and closed the door.

 

[Bridebeliever]

Oh my goodness! I was on the edge of my seat!!!! I'm so glad they're okay!

 

[3goodeggs]

How terrible! What does that in day light? bird of prey or a fox?
Now that they know the girls are there, they will be back.
Get the salt rock ready, ma.

 

[Alaskan]

Horrid, horrid, horrid!


So glad all are safe, but WHAT DID IT!!!


Actually... I lost one cockerel today -sigh- not sure why... Kids think maybe he wedged his head under a fence and then panicked and killed himself. he was found right up against the fence, but not stuck in it.. The kids were just guessing. Tiny bit of blood on his neck feathers, but no clear wounds.

 

[chickisoup]

How terrible! What does that in day light? bird of prey or a fox?
Now that they know the girls are there, they will be back.
Get the salt rock ready, ma.

we're thinking fox. Even tho there were no tracks because of the grass, everything else points to it. My guess is that my little Aussie is alive because my going outside probably interrupted the attack allowing her time to break and run for the porch and the fox probably went back over my 5 ft fence. Since they can clear a 6 ft that should not have been a problem. Contrary to popular belief, fox will hunt in broad daylight, especially if they have watched your pattern (which they do) and learn that you are not in the yard, in the morning, for awhile after doing morning chores, etc. (which is my pattern, sigh). They prefer to hunt at daybreak and dusk but there is a reason they say "smart as a fox". I now realize that was probably the movement I caught out of the corner of my eye when working outside yesterday afternoon.

Darn. Why couldn't it have been a hawk or even a coyote. Those you can usually convince there are easier meals elsewhere. A fox will just make a game out of outsmarting you