Day of death!!

[countrygirl4513]

I have awoke to find of my 25 chickens I have 15 left! Six lay dead in the chicken run, 4 are MIA, 3 injured! Something got to them early this morning. My dogs were of no assistance to them. They had no way of getting to the monster once he made it inside. One explaination is our securty light that shines so bright was not on. I will have to call the power company to come fix it or I am afraid I will loose more of my flock!
I am saddened and angry by this. I knew it was inevitable that someday I would face this, but I had hoped this day would not come.
I can't imagine what did it. A fox? My hubby thinks that there was more than 1 since 4 are missing. A dog?What in the world would have left so many dead and left them behind? And to beat all it got the majority of my pullets. Roosters... I was gonna cull, but my pullets!?! I don't know whether to replenish the lost or just give up. As it is now I may have to put the injured out of their misery.
I just lost our cat a few weeks ago... Fluffy, now I have to deal with this gosh awful thing. I have just about reached my emotional limit!

 

[Blondie]

So sorry to hear of that disaster. Don't give up! You still have 15! I remember reading your thread about Fluffy that disappeared. Does your comment mean that she never came back or you found her in a bad way?

 

[countrygirl4513]

no she never returned. My heart is so broken this morning.
My sis just pulled up with my precious Buffy chicken in her hands. Her dog was packing her around by the neck.
She is still alive! But has injuries.
Now I know the culprit!!!!!!!! That ^*#@%* dog of hers!!!!!! I knew he would do this. I just knew it.
There are about 6 chickens in the hen house that are scared of their own shadow. The others are roaming the yard. What can I do? Do I need to leave the stressed birds alone to let them re-coop, do I check their injuries, treat their injuries? What do I do?

 

[justusnak]

Oh countrygirl......I am so sorry. Loseing ANY pets is hard, and you have been through it too many tie so soon. Is your sister going to replace your chickens? I DO hope she is goig to put that dog in a more secure place. He will come back, and do it again. How terrible. again, I am so sorry. Dont give up...the rest of your flock needs you!

 

[2mnypets]

I am so very sorry for your loss. It was always your threads that made me decide to get Salmon Fav's. I'm sorry that Fluffy didn't come back. How is your grandbaby doing? Good I hope. I wish I could say something that would make the pain more barable, but I don't. All I can say is that my families prayers are with you and we are wishing you only the best.

 

[Cheri]

Sorry. I wish I could say the words to make you feel better. Would it help to know that I had a cat that was MIA for two weeks and finally came home?

 

[cheepchicks]

CG,

I am so sorry to hear of this tragic loss. You have chickens who still need you. Soon you will remember those lost with fondness and sometimes sadness. The hardest thing I have found is that life continues around you even when you wish it would just slow down. Hang in for we are never given a heavier load than we can bear.

Kim

 

[fowlweatherfriends]

Wow,
What a difficult time you are having! Is your sister taking resposibility in any way? I know how touchy things can be when it's family.

I agree that the dog will keep coming back, and measures of some sort need to be taken.

I feel for you! I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I'm so sorry for your losses....when you said that the bodies were just laying around, I sort of knew it was a dog...
What's your sister gonna do about this?

 

[chickonaroost]

So sorry, same thing happened to me. I felt so guilty that I didn't protect them better. I lost 3 of my best laying hens, 1 broken leg-now well healed, 1 injured-died the next day,1 MIA-never found and my roo had to be put down-got his comb ripped off to the bone and he was suffering. The ones that remained were very skiddish for about 2 weeks-stopped laying, lost some feathers...but now are all ok.

We have since added to the flock and lined the run COMPLETELY-top, sides, and a buried wire mesh floor. We also changed the locks to turn hasps. With us, it was dogs....coons are also very persistent. One huge coon crawled under the gate *(before we buried the wire), through a hole no more than 3 inches high and was stuck in the run when we woke that morning. Luckily, the doors were all closed or he would have gotten in and-tragedy.
Fortunately (or unfortunately) there are lessons to be learned. With each tragedy, or near miss, it teaches us that there WILL ALWAYS be predators waiting to strike and you can't let your gaurd down. My kids think I am nuts but I call from work at night to make sure the doors are closed, the gate is locked, and all feathered heads are accounted for.

Don't give up. Obviously you love them and having them. Let them regain their strength, be quite and gentle with them, and then bring home a few more feathered friends to fill the gap. If some are injured and you're not sure, nature will do what it has to. They will either get better, or fall asleep.
Keep your comb up!