Heartbroken

[Shepherdess]

I'm so upset! Just lost my favorite hen, Heddwig, to a raccoon family. Husband forgot to shut the coop door but I can't blame him as I've done that also. I made it out to the coop in time to prevent any further deaths. We've gone for years not losing chickens but now have lost 5 just this summer since we got guineas and have them on the other side of the original coop with their own door. We've gotten caught up in herding guineas in and have forgotten to shut chicken pop door. I've always thought the coop was well protected but not to human error. Got to figure out a way to remember to lock both doors. So upset!!!

 

[shortgrass]

I'm so upset!  Just lost my favorite hen, Heddwig, to a raccoon family.  Husband forgot to shut the coop door but I can't blame him as I've done that also.  I made it out to the coop in time to prevent any further deaths.  We've gone for years not losing chickens but now have lost 5 just this summer since we got guineas and have them on the other side of the original coop with their own door.  We've gotten caught up in herding guineas in and have forgotten to shut chicken pop door.  I've always thought the coop was well protected but not to human error.  Got to figure out a way to remember to lock both doors.  So upset!!!

Oh I am so sorry for your loss!

Been there...lost 7 of my mallards this summer to a momma coon and 4 kits hubs didn't close them up.... Not his fault, the coon was hungry

Hard lesson to learn, I'm downright OBSESSIVE about doors being locked now

((Hugs))

 

[Shepherdess]

Thanks, Shortgrass. I'm sorry for your losses also - it's really hard when you get so attached to these birds. I don't blame the raccoons or husband - sigh.... I think it's karma as just a few weeks ago I was patting ourselves on the back saying how we've never lost chickens. Never say never. Now I've got to go out in the morning and do some revamping of the coop and run and try to be smarter than the mama coon.

 

[shortgrass]

Oh yep... I felt the same way... I had just patted myself in the back at no catastrophes and then a raccoon woke me up

I really have a hard time not getting mad at myself when bad things happen; always seems like "operator error". I made myself sick with that coon this spring and only made things worse by worrying and being angry. Just seems they take the GOID ones and leave the males, or the ugly ones.... Always take the favorite, hurts even worse.

Oh yeah, the coon will be back, unfortunately... And it is frustrating being outsmarted by a raccoon; they are wicked smart!... I have a nice supply if " dog proof " coon traps now

 

[Shepherdess]

So true. Hedwig was my favorite by far. I just can't believe they got her and yes, I'm mad at myself also for not going out to check. I tend to get obsessed so now will spend all day today putting up electrical wire around the run and closing off pop door. I have an electrical door but it's very unreliable so will just use the main door to the coop. Both the guineas and the chickens will probably freak out about the change but they'll get used to it. Then we just have to remember to shut one door. I'm probably going to have to remove all the deep litter as there are feathers every where. That's the hardest part (feathers, not removing litter).

 

[shortgrass]

So true.  Hedwig was my favorite by far.  I just can't believe they got her and yes, I'm mad at myself also for not going out to check.  I tend to get obsessed so now will spend all day today putting up electrical wire around the run and closing off pop door.  I have an electrical door but it's very unreliable so will just use the main door to the coop.  Both the guineas and the chickens will probably freak out about the change but they'll get used to it.  Then we just have to remember to shut one door.  I'm probably going to have to remove all the deep litter as there are feathers every where.  That's the hardest part (feathers, not removing litter).

Yeah... I had to track that coon using a trail of feathers... She killed Dinker and left her here, my runt female I nursed back to health; then snagged my DHs favorite female right in front of our front door, almost like she was laughing at us... A week of frustration, and 7 ducks, gone. Left me one female out of 13 ducks. We stayed up for 2 weeks tracking her. Finally dispatched all 4 kits when they treed themselves but never caught the mom.

I gave up and called a truce. I gave back to nature, she lost her babies; we are even. Doors even have caribiners and padlocks now. I keep a close eye on my free rangers, and the helpless silkies, but otherwise, I guess I just KNOW that she is out there... But all I can do is worry about my side of the fence.

My DH was pretty good about letting me vent on him, but I KNOW he felt even worse. Those were actually HIS babies. Hard to watch a grown man cry