I came home earlier this evening, and my chickens were still out in the pen. It was still light out, so it wasn't yet time to close the coop. The fault lies in my having been in the house, watching TV, reading BYC posts and my email, and FORGETTING that my girls were still EXPOSED! I am such an idiot! I can't believe I was so stupid and thoughtless!! Once I did remember, I grabbed a flashlight, and headed for the back of the yard. The white feathers all around gave me a sick feeling. I saw one body, knew it was one of the little ones, but wasn't sure who. I shined the light, bent down, and realized it was one of the little Polish (who didn't even have a name yet) Off in the way back, I thought the body I saw was the little SLW, but I re-checked both sides of the coop, and realized Brahma wasn't in there, but the Wyandotte was. I then did what I should have done hours before, and closed & secured the pop doors, and re-closed and latched the big doors. (Tomorrow is gonna suck bigtime, dealing with all this. I even forgot about the egg question I wanted to ask this afternoon.) I just wanna go to sleep now.
You made a mistake that we all have made (or will make) at some point. I'm sure you had no idea something was just waiting for you to slip up. I know I had no idea a hawk was waiting for me to let my roos out the morning my beautiful Jazzy was killed. I have learned to be more careful, and so will you. I'm so sorry you lost your birds.
It really IS something we all do. I did it tonight - realized in the middle of a late dinner that I hadn't locked them back in the coop after they had been out to free range for awhile. I raced outside, and I was very fortunate that they'd all returned to the coop and were settled in and safe. It was pure luck. I'm so sorry that you lost two of yours, but don't beat yourself up too badly about it. It was a mistake that you'll learn from - and I learned from reading about it.
I fear that will happen to me one day as I am ready to settle in for the night and they are still out pecking in the yard. The fear is that I will fall asleep and the pop door of the coop will be open. It was just a mistake and we are all human and do make mistakes. I know you feel bad but that is normal and we learn from our mistakes.
My brother went through the same thing last month - got involved in a movie and didn't go out until after 10PM (not very late after dark) to close the pop door, but it was too late...he'd lost his poor buff orp. He's been very diligent about getting out there BEFORE nightfall to lower the door since, and we're slowly working on covering his run. Sorry about your two chickens...
we were fortunate the 3 we had missing came back beat up over the next few days one by one but i learned the hard way to never forget about them and we are more dilligent now. sorry for your loss
I've forgotten many times myself, and have been lucky......Don't be so hard on yourself, we've all done it, and it was an accident.
