Lost all my girls. Devastated.

[MamaChicken4]

But he protected them and they lived? I just want a rooster to protect the hens.

 

[Beer can]

But he protected them and they lived? I just want a rooster to protect the hens.

Well, some of them did. Most of them died. Weasels are miniture versions of wolverines. They eat a third of their weight daily, and are known to kill more than they eat. They weigh 4 to 8 ounces and can take down snowshoehares at 3 to 41/2 pounds

 

[MamaChicken4]

Oh yes. I just saw your earlier post about it. I see you live in upstate NY as well. There are so many darn predators that I'm so discouraged to start over! I feel like no matter how careful and secure I am it'll happen again somehow. I'm going to have my husband set traps tomorrow.

 

[fenwickchic]

Oh yes. I just saw your earlier post about it. I see you live in upstate NY as well. There are so many darn predators that I'm so discouraged to start over! I feel like no matter how careful and secure I am it'll happen again somehow. I'm going to have my husband set traps tomorrow.

Charlie DID protect ALL of my hens! He was little and a perfect gentleman with all his ladies, but I could not go into the chicken yard without a BIG stick. And yes, I really had to nail him one time or two before he would allow me in the yard (with the stick, mind you). We had him from a chick and held him, played with him, etc., but when he became an adult all that changed. I threatened to kill him myself because of his attacks (of course I now feel terrible). I'm not sure why the little weasel B@st@ard left and didn't get the hens. My DH arrived home only minutes before I did and he was at the coop. He said he saw white feathers flying around but when I ran back there all the hens were in the coop and he was looking for Charlie. My Brahma, Dagney, lost a lot of feathers (she is the only one with white) but she is molting, so that doesn't mean a lot. I think she was down below under the coop section with Charlie (who had been dead a while according to DH). Dagney was Charlie's favorite hen. When DH arrived at the coop he either scared her and she flew into the coop or the little evil B@st@rd was back trying to get her and DH scared it off. Given that I read where someone else had to stomp on a weasel to get it off their chicken, I seriously doubt that the mere event of DH's arrival on the scene would send the little B@st@rd running if he was intent on another chicken. So, the point to all this rambling is that Charlie did his job and I will definitely be getting another Roo in the spring. I'm sure that this isn't always the case, but I think the girls deserve every advantage I can afford to give them and a Roo is one I can handle. Bless his protective little heart. He was my daughter's favorite even after he attacked her too.

 

[drumstick diva]

I am so sorry for your loss. Some people believe if you make friends with a young male chick he will grow up without fear or respect for humans. Instead he treats them like one of his flock and doles out punishment when he sees fit.

 

[fenwickchic]

I am so sorry for your loss. Some people believe if you make friends with a young male chick he will grow up without fear or respect for humans. Instead he treats them like one of his flock and doles out punishment when he sees fit.

Thank you for you sympathy and for your interesting concept. If I end up getting a chick to raise up for my new roo in the spring, then I'll try staying completely hands off with it to see if it works. Of course, I want the same breed to make sure that won't be a factor for this experiment.