The girls have been out in the coop for 2 1/2 weeks now with no problems. This morning the small door was open, 4 dead in the run, 3 living in the coop, but really spooked, and one came walking across the yard about 1/2 hour after I discovered the massacre!
I see I need to secure the coop door better today, but wondering what got in??
Of the four victims, 2 had heads missing, 2 just bloody heads.
No digging under the fence anywhere, but I have only bird netting over the run to discourage hawks during the day, so whatever it was came in that way. I just was surprised that it got the coop door open, did the deed and left the same way.
Any ideas what it would be? I know I have raccoons, skunk and possum in the woods. Also coyote, but it seems unlikely a coyote would climb the fence. The wily raccoon can accomplish alot and seems to be the guilty one by getting the door open, but just not sure.
I, myself, feel horrible!! I failed those girls by not protecting them well enough! The one walking in the yard evidently flew out of the run to save herself. Had difficulty getting her back in but I kept herding her that way and she was anxious to get back with her sisters, so it worked.
I know farmers look at the destruction as loss of revenue, but us backyarders have a stronger emotional attachment to the little fuzzies and are just sick about the loss.
Any advise would be welcome.
I see I need to secure the coop door better today, but wondering what got in??
Of the four victims, 2 had heads missing, 2 just bloody heads.
No digging under the fence anywhere, but I have only bird netting over the run to discourage hawks during the day, so whatever it was came in that way. I just was surprised that it got the coop door open, did the deed and left the same way.
Any ideas what it would be? I know I have raccoons, skunk and possum in the woods. Also coyote, but it seems unlikely a coyote would climb the fence. The wily raccoon can accomplish alot and seems to be the guilty one by getting the door open, but just not sure.
I, myself, feel horrible!! I failed those girls by not protecting them well enough! The one walking in the yard evidently flew out of the run to save herself. Had difficulty getting her back in but I kept herding her that way and she was anxious to get back with her sisters, so it worked.
I know farmers look at the destruction as loss of revenue, but us backyarders have a stronger emotional attachment to the little fuzzies and are just sick about the loss.
Any advise would be welcome.
