just @#%%$^$% Rediculous!!!!

[chickhamm]

I have a long cage / brooder that i built for my biddies last month, its 3 ft deep, 8 ft long. It has no doors in it, the roof slants from back split into 2 parts. Each side lifts up to get in.

I went out late this morning to check on the babies before we left for the store. GAH

2 baby buff silkies were dead and a 3 rd one was limping really bad. I'm like how the hel........ at first i didn't notice anything wrong on them till i picked up the one that was limping, something had EATEN ITS LEG!!! Then i check the 2 dead ones, each one was missing one leg. Thats it, nothing else, just the one leg WT....!!!!! these were all around 4 to 6 weeks old.
the one that was alive was my blue one i hatched from mel *sighs* i hated putting that beautifull little baby down.

I'm sooo feeling like i want to give up. there are a few small openings along the roof and such. Im going out to drag my hubbys air compressor out and put that nail gun to use!

chickhamm
Theressa
GA

 

[nutmeggie]

Do you know what got in? I'm sorry about your little ones.

 

[Matt A NC]

If the bottom is wire then the predator may not have gotten in, but managed to pull the legs out through the wire.

Matt

 

[thechickenchick]

Oh I am SO sorry.

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I'm so sorry. I agree it could have been something that got them from outside the pen and could only get the legs out of the pen. I once had a baby bunny when I had rabbits in outdoor pens that a kitty got a hold of it's neck and it had 2 nice puncture holes in the neck but it couldn't get it out of the pen because the bunny was larger than the wire was. Could a cat, dog, ect. reached in and not been able to pull the chick all the way out?

 

[DDRanch]

I am so sorry. That must have been awful for you to find them. Good that you still have some left and hope you can solve the mystery of what happened to them.
Anne

 

[SpottedCrow]

Sounds like a raccoon. They're notorious for stuff like that...
I'm sorry for your losses.

 

[chickhamm]

There is no way it could have gotten them from the bottom, its plywood, i dont use wire bottoms for the little ones. The ends are closed with lap sidding and the sides 1/4 inch hardware cloth. I fouind a few 3 and 4 inch openings that were long. Ive closed those up and going to find any other ones and close those.

chickhamm
Theressa
GA

 

[chicknhawaii]

I am so sorry

That's terrible news. I hope you're able to predator-proof your brooder...don't give up, you have others who need you still.

 

[gamebirdsonly]

I've had cats do that to my quail.