Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[BY Bob]

@BY Bob I do believe skunks are related to weasels? Might be wrong on that... but is it possible that they would have a similar method of killing as well. I know the neck/head is a normal raccoon, weasel, and owl indicator, but I never looked into skunks, as we don’t have any on our island.

As for the burying hardware cloth on the perimeter fence line idea... (which is great except for that “little” bedrock problem) you could consider concrete blocks to anchor it rather than fully burying it. I did this behind our hot tub between the fence and retaining wall to keep my cats in our yard. It Didn’t keep out the raccoons or neighbor cats that were better climbers/jumpers... but it could be a good skunk proofing technique? That spot and the gates where the concrete walk was slopes were my weakest points in suburban yard defense.

The gates are a real issue as well. There is nothing I could do there and I have two. I got my wife to ok large gravel last night. I am hopeful that if I make it too hard they will give up and just go where there are easier pickings like other people's garbage.

 

[ValerieJ]

I guess if you can’t dig in it easily then neither can the predators

Good point!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Bob, do yall have opossums there..? If so, could be that too.. my neighbor forgot to close the run door one night and one of her gals was dead much like Mal...

 

[BY Bob]

Oh that's great! Not at all like Rosie was! Still, it seems like she is mourning. When I mourn, I like to be by myself too.

I believe that a large part of the problem is flock size. Back when I only had 3 before, Daisy, the greatest hen ever, Patsy and Lilly, Lilly was also off on her own a lot. I truly believe that a small flock works best at 4 hens. Mine have always ranged in pairs, not 3s. I am seeing the same thing again.

I was so happy with the flock as it was. It took me two years to get it where I felt it was working optimally. It just makes me feel her loss everytime I see them. She left a big hole.

 

[mixedUPturk]

That sounds like a good plan! Now that 4 of my kids are grown and my youngest is 16... I keep getting more and more animals ( I guess they are replacements)... hubby thinks I’m nuts

DH and I just discussed empty nest syndrome last night, all i can say is please God help me thru it! for you as your day looms over and i hope you know that your more than welcome to come play with my littles ❤

 

[BY Bob]

is it possible that they would have a similar method of killing as well

I have found instances where skunks are blamed for deaths that seem similar to raccoons and weasels. It seems to happen when a hen is defending her eggs but skunks will apparently take their heads off.

Mal's head was still attached, her neck was ripped open. That was the only damage I could find. Whatever killed her did not try to eat her.

 

[BY Bob]

Bob, do yall have opossums there..? If so, could be that too.. my neighbor forgot to close the run door one night and one of her gals was dead much like Mal...

We do have opossums. They tend to disembowel a chicken though. Not the same kind of kill.

 

[ValerieJ]

I believe that a large part of the problem is flock size. Back when I only had 3 before, Daisy, the greatest hen ever, Patsy and Lilly, Lilly was also off on her own a lot. I truly believe that a small flock works best at 4 hens. Mine have always ranged in pairs, not 3s. I am seeing the same thing again.

I was so happy with the flock as it was. It took me two years to get it where I felt it was working optimally. It just makes me feel her loss everytime I see them. She left a big hole.

I have 10 and they hang out with their "own kind". So the Aussies, 3 or them, hang together, the 2 RIR's, and then the 3 BO's. Well, the BO's are a little independent/solo sometimes. Lucy is the only one left of my original flock. Losing her flock mates really changed her. She can be quite the loner. And then there are the 2 LO pullets. So cute and definitely together all the time, usually trying to stay out of the way of the hens. But, they sleep with Lucy in her coop. I knew I could trust her with them.

 

[ValerieJ]

I have found instances where skunks are blamed for deaths that seem similar to raccoons and weasels. It seems to happen when a hen is defending her eggs but skunks will apparently take their heads off.

Mal's head was still attached, her neck was ripped open. That was the only damage I could find. Whatever killed her did not try to eat her.

Weasels kill and do not eat.

 

[BY Bob]

Weasels kill and do not eat.

Exactly, hence the reason a weasel is top of my list.