Last evening round 10 pm I checked on my pens before lights out . This morning I awoke to find a hutch housing four, 2 month olds (2araucanas and b2lue andelusions) had only 3 left inside. I got sick to my stomach when I saw the scattered feathers and blood stains of what was apparently the little hen who had begged food from me a day earlier and jumped up on my hand for treats. Need I say more.........
Seems a racoon has found me after near 3 years of raising my backyard chickens.
I am so sad I had let my guard down.....and although they are all generally under good lockdown conditions....this little group I had housed in a bunny hutch this past week to give them more air & freedom as we were hit by sudden heat.
No good......mr. racoon or possibly an opposum???? dragged my little friend in the middle of the night through 3/4" bars bit by bit. The visual of this is making me sick and the feeling of guilt is tremendous.
Her 3 room-mates are obvoiously in shock and I blame myself.
So please beware that although you might not have a current predator problem....that it can appear and ravage your birds at any time.....
and that it is difficult afterwards re-thinking how "I shoulda done things".
Seems a racoon has found me after near 3 years of raising my backyard chickens.
I am so sad I had let my guard down.....and although they are all generally under good lockdown conditions....this little group I had housed in a bunny hutch this past week to give them more air & freedom as we were hit by sudden heat.
No good......mr. racoon or possibly an opposum???? dragged my little friend in the middle of the night through 3/4" bars bit by bit. The visual of this is making me sick and the feeling of guilt is tremendous.
Her 3 room-mates are obvoiously in shock and I blame myself.
So please beware that although you might not have a current predator problem....that it can appear and ravage your birds at any time.....
and that it is difficult afterwards re-thinking how "I shoulda done things".
