Been a tough early spring...

[capt toad]

The two on the right are Blondie & Dolly at about three months age

On Super Bowl Sunday I found my favorite of the four game hens I got from Cubalaya at Gilmanor, last spring. The little 'Blondie' runt turned out to be a gentle giant and I couldn't wait for her to get broody this spring, figuring she could cover 14-16 game eggs... I found her next to her nest with her throat cut. Looked like a weasel caught her coming off the nest. The next evening 'Dolly', the smallest of the four, just didn't come in for the evening. Don't know if a hawk carried her off or what. In the past two weeks two of my oldest Black Australorp hens have died. A coon got one, not sure about the other. Dead battery on the electronet. Dadgummit!

 

[autumnhearth]

The two on the right are Blondie & Dolly at about three months age

On Super Bowl Sunday I found my favorite of the four game hens I got from Cubalaya at Gilmanor, last spring. The little 'Blondie' runt turned out to be a gentle giant and I couldn't wait for her to get broody this spring, figuring she could cover 14-16 game eggs... I found her next to her nest with her throat cut. Looked like a weasel caught her coming off the nest. The next evening 'Dolly', the smallest of the four, just didn't come in for the evening. Don't know if a hawk carried her off or what. In the past two weeks two of my oldest Black Australorp hens have died. A coon got one, not sure about the other. Dead battery on the electronet. Dadgummit!

Sorry for you loss. Blondie was gorgeous! I love that coloring. Are/were they game hens? I see the long light legs but don't know much about game varieties.

 

[capt toad]

Yes, all of the birds pictured are oriental games. Far left is the stag, then three hens. I've got an American game hen, also.