Hello everyone,
I am new to 'Backyard Chickens' but I have referred to this site many times since we've started as chicken parents. We are first-timers and had 4 chicks: 1 Brahma (Chickpea), 1 Java (Chirpy), 1 silver laced Wyandotte (The Dude) and 1 Dominique (Dominique-real original, I know.) We have raised them since they were one day old (April 13, 2012) and they are very healthy, happy and spoiled chickies.
Sadly, last Saturday evening around 1:15 AM, our coop was infiltrated by <what we now know to be> a possum. It attacked Chirpy and Chickpea, killing Chickpea and traumitizing Chirpy. When I came upon the crime scene, I thought Chirpy was dead but she just hopped up and started puttering around. I later researched and discovered she had fainted from the fear.
It was a horrific scene to come upon but I'm glad I just happened to hear the commotion outside and stop it before the little bugger got any more of our feathered babes. We've since taken stronger measures to insure this won't happen again.
I dont want to replace Chickpea and our flock is OK with 3. She wasn't one of the leaders but I can tell the dynamic between them is different. I think they miss their 4th amigo....I know I do. My avatar is a shot of Chickpea up on our deck. She climbed the steps one day just to come up and say 'hello.' She was a real sweety.
I just wanted to say thanks to all the other posts and threads in dealing with these situations. I've referred to this website numerous times while dealing and coping with this. I am a very protective chicken mama and I am very grateful to have this website and forum as a resource to help us be better chicken parents.
Warmest regards,
NV
I am new to 'Backyard Chickens' but I have referred to this site many times since we've started as chicken parents. We are first-timers and had 4 chicks: 1 Brahma (Chickpea), 1 Java (Chirpy), 1 silver laced Wyandotte (The Dude) and 1 Dominique (Dominique-real original, I know.) We have raised them since they were one day old (April 13, 2012) and they are very healthy, happy and spoiled chickies.
Sadly, last Saturday evening around 1:15 AM, our coop was infiltrated by <what we now know to be> a possum. It attacked Chirpy and Chickpea, killing Chickpea and traumitizing Chirpy. When I came upon the crime scene, I thought Chirpy was dead but she just hopped up and started puttering around. I later researched and discovered she had fainted from the fear.
It was a horrific scene to come upon but I'm glad I just happened to hear the commotion outside and stop it before the little bugger got any more of our feathered babes. We've since taken stronger measures to insure this won't happen again.
I dont want to replace Chickpea and our flock is OK with 3. She wasn't one of the leaders but I can tell the dynamic between them is different. I think they miss their 4th amigo....I know I do. My avatar is a shot of Chickpea up on our deck. She climbed the steps one day just to come up and say 'hello.' She was a real sweety.
I just wanted to say thanks to all the other posts and threads in dealing with these situations. I've referred to this website numerous times while dealing and coping with this. I am a very protective chicken mama and I am very grateful to have this website and forum as a resource to help us be better chicken parents.
Warmest regards,
NV
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. So sorry for your loss. 
