Bereft…the tears just won’t stop.

[Orpingtons Mom]

August 2022.

Can’t get any worse.

Lost my beautiful beautiful beautiful SLO rooster. Injured defending his girls. I tried everything to nurse him back to health, but he didn’t make it.

Lost my job after working at the same place for 12 years (redundant.)

Today, I lost another SLO, during the day. Called everyone to come in… and she wasn’t anywhere.

My heart is just broken.

These are daylight murders and I need some help trying to figure out what is killing them. And how to kill the predator.

Ideas?

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

When you point at an object remember, three fingers are pointing back at yourself.

I can only blame myself. Leaving collected eggs outside, because I have forgotten them, does nothing but attract the most likely daytime predators…raccoon and/or fox.

Leaving cat food outside overnight does the same thing.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. I have not had this problem since I started keeping chickens, but I have always been diligent about collecting eggs. Until about 8 months ago… which is exactly when I started losing my girls. One at a time, and always during the day.

I have 7 acres; think about three square blocks, side by side. The middle block is my house, with cleared land. Block to my left is dense woods. Block to my right is woods with undergrowth pretty much removed.

I have only myself to blame. Sloppy habits created the problem and my beloved chickens paid the butchers’ bill with their lives.

I am grieved and very ashamed.

 

[Geena]

These are daylight murders and I need some help trying to figure out what is killing them. And how to kill the predator.

Ideas?

So sorry for your recent troubles
You called them to come in? does that mean they are free ranging? If so unfortunately it could be almost anything. Keep your eyes peeled for tracks, hair, feathers or any other signs. Keep your birds locked up for now, whatever it is, it will be back.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry for your losses, sad all around.
Your puppy is thinking thoughts she may not have acted on a while ago, so regroup and retrain!
Hope your hen does okay; applying Neosporine or Silvadene to her wounds would be good.
And keep the flock in their safe coop and run, at least for a couple of weeks. A game camera would be good to ID any predators.
Mary

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Thank you everyone. Please understand I appreciate ALL opinions, even if they are critical. No one can be harder on me than,…well me.

What is keeping me going is her attitude, and continual eating and drinking. She is very very perky.

Going to get more neosporin this morning As well as tape to hold the gauze wrap in place. No flies as she is inside.

Scrambled egg is working it’s magic… plus she had a huge drink this morning.

More news later. And honestly I appreciate every single comment I have received. Thank you thank you thank you so much. I don’t think I would be doing very well without everyone’s input.

P.S. puppy pads are saving my life!

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Oops!

How old is puppy?
We need pics

The Monster, with incredibly razor sharp baby teeth. She is 4 months and is 100% apricot poodle.

And she smells and is going to get a bath as soon as I hit Done.

 

[Nyhillbillies]

August 2022.

Can’t get any worse.

Lost my beautiful beautiful beautiful SLO rooster. Injured defending his girls. I tried everything to nurse him back to health, but he didn’t make it.

Lost my job after working at the same place for 12 years.

Today, I lost another SLO, during the day. Called everyone to come in… and she wasn’t anywhere.

My heart is just broken.

These are daylight murders and I need some help trying to figure out what is killing them. And how to kill the predator.

Ideas?

https://www.ecopeanut.com/chicken-predators/

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

I have been partially forgiven. (Sniff)

Guess who showed up at my door this morning? My beautiful, injured, SLO showed up at my door.

Plus, I think I know what happened.

About three months ago I bought a poodle puppy from a breeder. Yesterday while I was doing some outdoor chores I remember catching out of the side of my eye the puppy chasing one of the chickens. I think that is what happened as her injuries are at the tail and lower back just above the tail.

She hid under the porch all day/night and came out this morning.

I have bandaged her wounds. A fed her… she is eating well. I gave her a baby aspirin.

She appears to be doing well; she has eaten most of a large scrambled egg, but so far has not been interested in water. Regardless, I have learned a very very very very big lesson.

 

[nuthatched]

Sorry for your losses.
Pictures of your set up are needed.

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

So sorry for your losses but glad one of your littles came home. Regroup and reorganize.
Blame and self-condemnation will cloud your perspective in recognizing what needs to be done to protect the remainder of your flock.
I agree with the suggestions put forth by @Folly's place
I will add that an electric fence around your free-range area can deter many larger predators. Invest in a strong fence charger so that when a predator touches the wires it will run and never return...this includes your dog. It will not kill dogs, chickens or anything else but it WILL most certainly hurt which is the point. Be willing to accept that or be willing to accept flock losses going forward if you free-range.
Good luck to you and I hope your chicken heals up