HELP MY FLOCK IS GONE!

[Taylorbrood]

I once had a woman flag me down one day to introduce herself (she'd just moved in) & apologize in advance if her predatory cat killed one of my chickens...because she let's it roam & these things might happen.

Imagine her surprise when I told her that if I saw her predatory cat near my chickens that she could expect to not see it again, because those things happen when a predator screws with my girls.

She actually stammered. (Dumba $$, what did she THINK I was going to say? Sure thing, have at 'em?) Guess who keeps tabs on her stupid cat? Yeah, welcome to the 'neighborhood'.

My husband attempted to tell me that I shouldn't say things like that, especially to new people. "1) You say stupid things, you roll the dice.
2) Sometimes things just pop out &
3) She's lucky that's all I said."

Yeah, don't mess with Chicken Mom's babies!!! Making me accountable for someone else's irresponsible pet ownership isn't in my play book.

I am so dying of laughter, that is hystrial

 

[apryl29]

Storytime! Yesterday evening my daughter and I went to the coop to let the chickens out for a bit. They were all out roaming the yard for about 1/2 hr and I was about to start cleaning their water containers and my daughter tells me she hears a kitten meowing. I tell her no and walk towards her and she sees a full grown black cat sitting next to the shed. RIGHT next to the chickens. We see it, it sees us and meows. I see a white patch on it's chest and smile b/c we had had a black cat like that several years ago, but he disappeared & I thought it might be him (This has happened to us before.. it's a little rural here and cats come and go and miraculously reappear years later - Spoiler, it's not our old cat). I squat down and it cautiously walks towards me, meowing. I'm worried it's hurt & afraid it's interested in a fresh chicken meal, my daughter is freaking out b/c of her chickens. She's almost in tears running back and forth like people do in cartoons. He comes up to me and smells my hand. My daughter is trying get the chickens back in the coop to save them from this ferocious beast. Her running around like a chicken w/ it's head cut off scares the cat and it runs into the woods through where the chickens were. Initially we thought he was trying to attack the chickens, but later realized he was trying to get away. We got all the chickens back in the coop, my daughter pacing and circling the coop, board in hand to defend her flock from the monster. She calms down & I go to tell my mom about the cat. She knows about him, he lives in the woods and comes through that spot by the coop to get to the house for food we leave out for our cats. She just now tells me there's been a strange cat by my coop?! SMH.. I watch as he comes around the coop, expecting him to try to hurt them through the fence. Nothing. Walks over the tree sits down, stares at us and meows. I go back to him and squat down to take a video of him and he comes to me again. I pet him and my daughter watches then comes up, he backs away. She squats down and he comes back. I move back to get a picture of him. "Mom, he's purring". His name is Tubbs. No idea where he came from, but he's people friendly. He's fat and fluffy and not fixed. My cat hates him. The chickens are ok though they were squawking up a storm. We always watch our girls when they're out of the coop, but we'll be extra cautious now that we know there's an outsider around. Our bantam pullet is a little too much bird size for us to be comfortable.
This is Tubbs.

 

[sbhkma]

His name is Tubbs. No idea where he came from, but he's people friendly. He's fat and fluffy and not fixed.

Lovely story. I would recommend you bring him in and get him neutered if you can. He'll be healthier, you won't be "helping" increase the feral cat population and he'll be less inclined to pick fights with your cats. It's a simple procedure and, depending on where you live, the local humane society may have a TNR program where you can get this done for free.

 

[apryl29]

Good idea. I didn't think of that. Mine are all fixed but the people across the street had a sign up for barn kittens not too long ago. We def don't want anymore babies. Thanks!

 

[Shelby Hodge]

i don't know where you live but someone in Pennsylvania came across a flock, but it's been three weeks or so since they showed up at her work place

Not mine. I'm in south Carolina.

 

[Shelby Hodge]

For anyone who wants an update.... I still have not found the babies...I'm guessing they are gone.... I now have 4 full grown golden comets I bought. I do like them but my Rhode Island reds were special. Any who maybe one day I'll get lucky and they'll show back up but kinda wishful thinking at this point... Heres a picture of my new chickens

 

[chickenbombshell101]

You will probably find they aren't far away and that they have stuck together. at night most birds will roost high up in bushes or trees safe from predators. if they are in trouble they will chirp, so listen out. I hope you find your birds soon!

 

[sbhkma]

For anyone who wants an update.... I still have not found the babies...I'm guessing they are gone.... I now have 4 full grown golden comets I bought. I do like them but my Rhode Island reds were special. Any who maybe one day I'll get lucky and they'll show back up but kinda wishful thinking at this point... Heres a picture of my new chickens

As I've mentioned, I do hope you have addressed the security concerns with your coop/run area. Especially with a dog that you know goes after the chickens, you owe it to your new hens to protect them. Best of luck to you.

 

[Taylorbrood]

I know it's hard to get over, you will always wonder, but glad you have some new girls to keep you occupied. and you never know maybe one day next spring or this winter, one just may find it's way home.

 

[micstrachan]

Beautiful new chickens! So sorry your babies are still missing.