horrible tragedy

[horsejody]

Sorry for your loss. Good luck with the survivor. Get more chickies for sure. And most important - SHOOT THE FOX!!!

 

[tattooedchickenlady]

So sorry for your loss, I have not had to deal with that particular type of loss...yet....I'm hoping not to. But I would definitely get more babies, it'll help you get through it.
Smooches girl

 

[Brahmadarma]

Oh Lynda I know just how you feel, I really am so sorry.
A week ago my own dog dug out of the garden into the "Safe zone" that is double fenced and has a wire gate into the coop. She busted through that and massacred all seven of my month old babies who had just begun exploring outside.
I came home from work and she greeted me at the gate as usual, but proudly presenting my little gold laced wyandott between her jaws, it was the one that had been sick. I didn't understand it at first, but then when I ran to the coop and saw the bodies the horror struck. Like you, I completely broke down at the sight of my beautiful little Buff with her head and neck thrust through the wire in an attempt to escape, but dead anyway.
My beloved Meka (the dog) had brought three of them back through her dugout into the garden, I think to share with Millie her best friend, the others she left in the run. Three were missing and I spent the last hour of daylight out on the hillside calling in the hope they may have escaped. All night I thought I heard little chicken voices, but it was a cold night and they never would have survived. I think she probably ate them.
The fox was only doing what any fox would do, and my beautiful little whippet/saluki is only a few genes away from a fox or coyote or wolf. It is pure instinct, I cannot blame her or punish her, it would be pointless. Now she has a "taste" for it chickens will never be safe.
It was entirely my fault for not seeing the possibility of this, I was only thinking about coyotes and racoons and owls and hawks when I built my run. I now realize the neighborhood dogs are my biggest potential problem. And I have to sink the wire deeper and make the run 100% predator proof.
They are so precious. I had only just given mine names too, and as they explored the outside their individual personalities started to appear. But I had no doubt that I would immediately start again - with a very hard lesson learned. I tracked down one of each breed and now I have six new babes, and somehow they are even more precious because I know how vulnerable they are. I love them desperately already.
Tomorrow I begin the dig two feet down to sink more wire and stakes, and I won't let my babies out until I am absolutely sure they are safe.
I made a run for my dogs who have languished in luxery with the run of the house and garden while am away at work - until now - that ended the next morning. They have accepted it well and I have spent almost as much time making a nice environment for them as I did for the chicks!
I still love my little Meka just as much as ever - I just have to remind myself that she is an instinctive killer...but then all dogs are, and like the fox, she had a good time out there, its natural. And we design plush toys with lifelike squeaks inside to mimic the thing that sparks their excitement. We can't blame them.
Don't wait too long to start again, you have the set up and obviously the desire to nurture these sweet things. Like me (I am determined) you will be more successful next time, don't deny yourself or the little babies the pleasure of a good life.
I do feel for you. I hope to hear soon that you have started again.
A big hug to you.
Annie

 

[artist chick]

I am so sorry- this happened to me this past weekend! We lost all eight of ours overnight as well- whatever did it didn't even eat them. It is so heartbreaking!! I cried a lot the first two days, and then we began looking at the possibilities of getting more. These were our first chickens and were just about to start laying eggs. We'd named them months ago- all spring we did everything outside from eating meals and doing school so that we could watch the chickens.

In a day or two, start looking at getting more- the looking and planning WILL help, I promise.

 

[Shared Acres]

Awww, so sad.

I think I'd wait, if I were you, until I could fix the cage and make it a fortress against predators!

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

What a total bummer!! Really sorry for your loss!

We've got our coop built like fort knox, but I know all it will take is one night of forgetting to close the door and *poof* a raccoon would get them all.

Best of luck as you get through this hard time and fill your empty space with tons of new fuzz butts.

 

[annaserv]

So sorry for your loss. I lost all my little ones (4 weeks old ones and 5 days old ones) to a coup fire this past spring. Still so sickening to think about. The coup was still smoldering and my husband said we'll build a new coup and I should order more. I was "I don't want to order anymore!" These were the type I always wanted, with names and very friendly. He just kept telling me to order more and or course I kept saying those ones can't be replaced.
Well the next day I did order some more, not very enthusiastic either. We had three weeks to get a new coup up. ( and I remember every single person who made the barbecue chicken joke - not funny!)
I was filled with dread wondering what would happen to my next batch.

First off 10 or of the 26 where dead on arrival and the rest were in very bad shape. More tears of course. But after the rest recovered and it seems I focused so much attention on them that it helped me get over the loss of my first ones.

I really loved my first ones and didn't think any other ones could compete with them but holy cow, the new ones are even more spoiled and unbelievably friendly, with very distinct personalities.

I'm so glad I ordered more because all summer I would have thought about the loss of my earlier ones.

So get your coup secure and order a new round even if your heart isn't in it yet. Once you get them you'll be focused on their care the loss of your earlier ones won't hurt as badly. Oh yes, you probably will have many panic attacks about if there going to be okay, I still worry I'm going to see my coup on fire or something as bad (I have hawk issues also) from time to time but I guess it makes us more diligent with their care than ever.

 

[farmergal]

Thanks so much for all of the responses. Annie, thanks for telling me your story -- I'm sorry for your loss, too.

It really helps to hear other people's stories and know it isn't just me. (I felt -- still feel really -- like such a terrible chicken mama... how could I have let this happen? I should have known better, I should have protected them more, heck, I should have camped there all night... But it's good to know that it's actually pretty hard to protect babies from predators, and everybody makes mistakes.)

BUT -- REALLY GOOD NEWS!! This morning, by some miracle, a neighbor found one of my chicks, a little RIR. (Of course, all I found was the wing of my favorite chick, and while I love the little RIR, she wasn't one of the ones that I had named and knew real well...) But I am still unbelievable grateful. The RIR was at least 200 yards away from the coop. Somehow she survived the fox attack, survived the night (full of owls and raccoons), survived the next day (full of hawks) and then survived an entire second night by herself. I don't know how she made it, really, or how she ended up being found. But I'm glad she did.

She doesn't seem to have any bite marks on her and she's happy and active, so I put her in with the rest of her sisters, where's she's scratching and scrabbling for treats with the rest of them.

The other, bitten bird is still more or less the same. She's eating, drinking, and pooping, but is a little unstable when she perches on my hand. She's got antibiotics in her water, which will hopefully prevent infection... I called the vet's office and they said fox bites are real bad for infections. (I couldn't bring myself to spend $80 to visit the vet and get prescribed antibiotic drops, but I did get $7 antibiotics from the feed store and mixed it in with her water.)

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

My bird that got knabbed right under our noses, at lunch time...my dad spotted the coyote with my fluffball in his mouth and threw a shovel at it! Go Dad! He dropped her...she had puncture wounds and almost no feathers on her rear

I cleaned her wounds and put neosporin, gave her teremycin in a dropper for 1 week and she survived! Lived years after that...I'm sure you will take good care of her and she will get better! I'm also shocked, but glad she has a friend left as well.
After that I only let them play in the fenced part of the yard and put a roof over their everyday pen. No break-ins since then. Phew! All of mine have names, and seem to be living about an average of 10 years! I had no idea they would get this old!

They need little old bird walkers!

 

[CK Chickadilly]

I am so sorry! Hugs for you!
My girl was left for dead by a hawk & she was in pretty bad shape. I cleaned her wounds & got the bleeding stopped in 3 areas. I put neosporin on & feed her thru an eyedropper. I gave her warm oatmeal & strawberry yougurt along with electrolytes in her water. She survived & she is still wobbly after 3 weeks but getting better everyday! Chin up! & that is great that one of the babies was found! Good luck & keep us posted.