I had 15 chickens. Now I have none.

[Folly's place]

So sorry for your losses, and we have all been there. It's awful, one of those learning experiences we'd rather not experience.
Do rebuild the coop and run, and I hope you can start over then with more cute chicks. They are worth it!
Mary

 

[sourland]

So sorry for your loss. As others have already said: shore up your pens, install hotwire around your pens, eliminate the predators, and start over again.

 

[Sequel]

I'm so sorry for your loss! For you, your chickens and your little one.

 

[cheekychick3]

Hi, so so sorry you have gone through what you have especially your little one.
We live in UK and we owned our farm for years. Had loads of chickens ducks ect.
And was lucky as never lost any to foxes. Then 16 yrs ago we retired, and moved here
i bred 16 beautiful girls. Never even heard of a fox around, use to lock them up in coops every night. Then 5 yrs ago i forgot to lock them up. Next morning i woke to a similiar site
as yours. A fox wiped 16 of them, it was horriffic. But he could not carry them back over
6ft wall. It finished me, and it took 5 yrs before we had more. You do learn by our errors
now my husband has built me a huge double coop with huge run, further down the garden, and the run also has a roof. So in March we began again, we have 12 beautiful
girls. I am now a pensioner who loves baking, and i often wonder why it took 5 yrs before
we had more. But the happiness and company they have given me is beyond words.
Although it is still raw, with you please do not give up. Especially when your little one loves them as you do. Think of the new memories you will share, together again. The
pics are lovely, of course not the last one. grrrr I still lock mine up everynight, and when
i let them free range, i am there with them too. You have a lovely set up, just ask your husband when he can, to secure it, i guess he also needs time as well. Then take your
little one chick shopping or what you would like. We can all see how much you loved them,
mine bring such happiness in my life. Especially my beautiful eggs they give me. Like i said
it is heartbreaking what you have gone through, but please do not give up. Loads have told you the same, and all our hearts go out to you. Good luck.

 

[BlueBaby]

From the look's of the pictures that you posted, it look's like something broke into there through the chicken wire. Chicken wire will not keep out the predators as it's easy enough for them to break through with the teeth. Chicken wire only keep's the chicken's in. That look's to be the thing that will have to be done up better with something that is stronger.

 

[50-45-1]

I am so sorry for what has happened.
The camera will tell the story. As stated the chicken wire has to go. Repace it with hardware cloth. Take it below the ground surface a foot or two to stop diggers.
Also i would add a coop door that you can open in the morning and lose in the evening. That way anything that gets in the run will not be able to get in the coop. Chickens are most vunerable at night. No cracks or holes. If a mouse can get in your coop, so can a weasel. This is also why chicken wire is no good. Small blood thursty things can fit through it. Its week and dogs, coyotes and racoon can claw or tear it to pieces.
When you are ready to try again, you will.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Your child will take her cue from you. If you wail and mourn and blame dad, she will imitate you and those lessons may last a lifetime. If you keep a stiff upper lip in her presence and say, we are sad but we will try again, we will do better, that's what she will remember. Life is hard, and when you give your heart to someone or something, you risk being hurt. But that is no reason to stop loving. We wipe our tears, roll up our sleeves and rebuild. Together! Victory is all the sweeter when it is hard-won. Hugs to you and yours.

 

[SMarieBarr]

Your child will take her cue from you. If you wail and mourn and blame dad, she will imitate you and those lessons may last a lifetime. If you keep a stiff upper lip in her presence and say, we are sad but we will try again, we will do better, that's what she will remember. Life is hard, and when you give your heart to someone or something, you risk being hurt. But that is no reason to stop loving. We wipe our tears, roll up our sleeves and rebuild. Together! Victory is all the sweeter when it is hard-won. Hugs to you and yours.

I totally agree! I was upset because I thought dad was being negligent with the chicken wire. But he really had no idea. We’re fixing it this weekend with hardwire cloth and I’m researching a good coop door. Thank you all. You have helped me so much. I’m sad but I’m not going to let me kiddos grow up without chickens on their head. I’m hoping for a new flock in a week or two.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

That's the spirit!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I totally agree! I was upset because I thought dad was being negligent with the chicken wire. But he really had no idea. We’re fixing it this weekend with hardwire cloth and I’m researching a good coop door. Thank you all. You have helped me so much. I’m sad but I’m not going to let me kiddos grow up without chickens on their head. I’m hoping for a new flock in a week or two.

That’s good to hear, SMarie! I recently read a post on BYCs about dogs going through hardware cloth, so I’ve started putting a layer of 1/2 in hardware cloth for weasels etc, plus one of something heavier for up to dog sized predators. I also have greater security in the coop itself, so I have an automatic door between the run and coop. I hope that your coop and run renovations go smoothly and that you greatly enjoy your new flock!