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That my Bil had something to do with it. He has hated my fuzzies from day one and said they were nothing but a waste of time, space and money. He admitted to cutting holes in my first pen so.......
How old is your BIL? Unless he is like 10 or younger, I'd say he has some SERIOUS mental issues that need to be addressed. Beside the fact that he is making sure animals are maimed or killed, he is also deliberately destroying a project you have put work and money into. I would be one P.O. woman!!
Can you use locks, as in the kind that require keys.... although that wont stop him from cutting holes in the fencing again. If this is a grown man, he needs to get a life!
If he left that night that is a BIG sign of guilt. He needs help. If he's capable of hurting small animals for no reason, there is no telling what else he may be capable of. And it is true, they are a monetary investment. I'd say he may owe you some money.
You know, I shoot things that kill my chickens..... A sick-o human like that would be a thousand times more deserving of it than a hungry fox/raccoon/animal trying to eat.
Padlock & security camera (and a padlock for the cam too) are sadly required for keeping chickens nowadays, too many human predators out there.
Just one question though, if he admitted to cutting up your old pen, WHY was he even allowed on to your property at all??? He was "living" with you???? OMG I would have thrown his butt out the first time and threatened him under NO uncertain terms about returning!!!!! I probably would have even gotten a restraining order, to cover my own butt.....
If your BIL did indeed do this then if I were you I would be sleeping with a house alarm set,atleast 2 big dogs,and a gun. He sounds like a nut job and I am concerened for your own safety.People kill their loved ones,a neighbor,or a stranger if the trigger sets them off. Take what steps you can to make yourself safe. Lock,game cam,and maybe a leg trap outside the pen!
Sorry for your losses and the possible cause. Hope you and the birds will be safe.
Will you or anyone be asking BIL about this,or will he crack and tell like he did about the fence? If he does tell someone needs to get him into mental treatment.Inpatient to start off with. My dh doesn't like my hens all that much,but to kill them is not something I can pciture. I just can't see how BIL could do that without being mentally ill.
I would increase the security on your property. If you can prove it was your BIL, I would pursue animal cruelty charges and see that he gets the punishment and the help he needs. I would also see about getting a restraining order. It takes a whack-job to intentionally abuse animals. Very scary. So sorry you are going through this!
I second the padlocking everything. Don't give up your chicken raising because your BIL is a whack job. Get rid of him, padlock your coop at night, and get another handful of chickens - also, set up a camera, get it on tape, and bring it to the cops. Anyone who did that to my animals would be VERY sorry for screwing with me. (assuming it truly was him...Which it is sounding promising if nothing could have possibly gotten in there, other than a human)
Sorry for your loss. It's especially sad since you went through all the trouble to protect them after the first time. On a lighter note, there is another possibility......perhaps Widget has a dark side?