I never knew it would hurt so bad.

[Dogfish]

Before you get more chickens, please reinforce your coop and run with 2x4 welded wire and hardware cloth. When you think you have it secure, have your dad come over and test it with another set of eyes. Sorry about your loss. Chickens can really be a joy at times.

 

[PineappleMama]

Quote:
Sorry but I have always wondered if those folks would feel the same if THEIR CHILD had been harmed or killed by an animal (human or otherwise)... would they still think that old' Yogi was cute and cuddly if it had been their beloved chihuahua that was ripped apart? I think not... but then most of them have no clue what the real animal world is like. Bears, Cats, Coons... they eat... and they are eaten... Humans are at the top of the food chain and as such play their part... unless all humans are totally eradicated from the earth then that will not change, very' get used to it.

Ah, well... ANYWHO... point being I'm with you 100%... catch the buggers in the trap then shoot, shovel and shut up.... or as the BYCers say it SSS.

And best best best of luck with your court... I would insist on thoroughly explaining why you were missing. That your PROTECTIVE instincts kicked in when there was a threat to ANY life in your care.

Just my two cents... *passes salt cellar*

 

[jossanne]

What you're feeling is perfectly normal. It's unbelievable how attached we get to these sweet birds. I'm so sorry for your loss, and I hope you get those darn raccoons!

One night I remembered at 11pm that I hadn't shut the coop. My chickens free range during the day, and I shut it at dark. Usually. But this one night, I went out at 11 armed with only a flashlight to find my neighbor's dog in my coop having a free-for-all. She saw me before I got there, yelling and screaming all the way, and took off back home. I couldn't sleep for days, I was so sad and angry. The neighbor did chain up his dog, after I found her one more time on my property and he saw me waiting with a .22 to shoot her. I never had a problem after that.

I have lost two to skunks this winter though, once again when I didn't get the coop closed early enough. Losing those birds was my fault. They died because of my carelessness. It hurts like heck!

 

[wolftracks]

I need the pelts with tails, so when you kill those mean little suckers send the skins to me!

This from a person who had a coon as a pet when I was young.

They aren't endangered, they are dangerous not only when cornered, but when they even think you might want to get close, they destroy livestock and even a garden.

No poison though!

Their rotting little remains can be dangerous for other animals when they are eatten.

I feel so bad for you right now and I can relate about how calming they can be when things are otherwise so bad.

Good luck with your next flock and get that thing built even more secure that Fort Knox. Make sure you have hardware wire or better below the ground to keep things from tunneling in.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I would feel the same way you do if I lost any of my chickens. I am so sorry for your loss. I have a baby monitor in my coop, and I can hear everything as if they were in the room with me. (Including the roo that crow every morning between 4:45 and 5:15) That is the only way I get any sleep at night with my babies outside. Also try running electric fencing around the coop and run. I ran my electric fence for a week or so with no chickens and baited it with tuna fish pockets made from foil. I wanted to zap anything that came to the fence square in the face. TSC is where I purchased my fence set up for less than 100 money well spent due to living in the counrty with more predators than I can list.
Dealing with child custody is such a strain on all invloved I am also sorry for this issue. My husband and I are currently in the same situtation with his child and I would rather be throw to the wolves than deal with the childs Mother. The system set up in GA so favors the mother it is insane. We are trying to file charges againt all including GA Child support for harassment. It is that bad. Never knew they would come after someone who has overpaid child support by 6mths as hard as they are coming after us. She could walk in there and tell them we were the devil incarnate and they would belive her. My blood pressure is going up as I type. I am going to sit in the run and calm down with my chicken best Meds. ever. I love it when they jump and sit in my lap! IMO that just fixes all that ales me.
Good luck with your chickens and custody issues.

 

[Debob]

Sorry about your loss.I think a 22 would be far safer to use. Assaid before SSS.

 

[halo]

Only purpose a raccoon has on my property is to feed the buzzards along my back fence. Good luck catching them, if you have one, you probably have 5. Ive caught many in my Havahart traps. Just put something so yummy in there they cant resist. Tuna, sardines, cat food. Good luck.

 

[farmgirl77]

I woke up the other morning to a loud, chittering sound. We live in wooded suburbs and I was sleeping with the windows open. When I looked out I saw a racoon FAMILY climbing around their cavity hole in a tree very near my house (and chicken house!). Not good. Much more difficult to deal with in suburbs. If we shoot a gun the cops will come. I'm brainstorming....

And yes, chickens are very soothing. If I'm really stressed out (I have a very sick six-year-old so this is often) my favorite stress-reliever is to let the birds out and then sit in the grass and let them forage around me and "sing" to me. If I'm on the grass there are about seven of them that will always stay near me. I think they like it too. It is calming on a very basic and pure level.

 

[SimplySplendidSilkies]

I have read others in your situtation use live trap and accidently drop it in a barrel of water!

Not everyone's preferred method but it works!

 

[Scoop]

I know it hurts so much. I've been there. Mine was my fault, too and that makes the "ouch" feeling even worse. So sorry for your huge loss. Just keep beefing up security and you'll know you are doing everything that you can for your precious little chickies. Good luck on your future endevours Head Roo!