Lost all my Orpingtons

[Cara]

Thanks for all your kind messages, it helps to have 'chicken people' who understand. It hasn't been a good month around here, while we were away at Christmas our neighbour's dogs got into another barn and ripped the rabbit hutch apart and killed my bunny, then a project rooster I had in a coop in there. A coyote killed my Lavender gander on Monday. We have more than our fair share of predators here, I think it may be time for some electric poultry fence around the perimeter.

 

[juliechick]

I'm so sorry! I can't imagine.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

I am so so sorry to read this. I cant imagine how you must be feeling you poor thing!!

Terrible thing to have happen

 

[little horse]

wow thats awful. i am so sorry and understand how you must feel

 

[joebryant]

What a real-life nightmare. I hope you recover soon from this crushing experience. Take care of yourself. Hopefully, your husband will clean everything up for you.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, Cara! As someone who contributed a bit to your Orp projects way back when, I am so, so sorry!! That was one determined predator.

 

[Cara]

Yes, they were some of my favourites Cynthia

I'm going to bury a few of them, but I just can't bury them all especially with the cold weather and I don't want to attract more predators. My husband would clean them up for me but he doesn't know who's who (I understand one black chicken does look a lot like another). We found one survivor squashed between their waterer and the wall. I don't know whether she'll make it, she was traumatised and it looks like the cat had hold of her at some point. She is one of my Lav project birds.

I forgot this one was in the coop, she was my favourite bird:

She was stunted for a very long time as a chick, then grew when I put her in with some newly-hatched chicks. She also survived a barn cat attack as a chick. We'd considered putting her down as she had so many problems, but she grew into a beautiful hen.

 

[justmeandtheflock]

I am so sorry

 

[Mom2Cool]

Cara I'm so sorry for your loss! With the exception of the hawk who's decided that it likes my yard the electric fence works *wonders*. Again I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[PaintedPony]

OMG! You must be stunned. I don't have many of the breeds you lost, but I do have some Buff Orpingtons that are laying. I'd be happy to send to you some eggs when you are ready to hatch a few out...if you want some. Just PM me if you are interested.

Be strong tomorrow, for me that would be a very tough day. I am saving up for a barn camera so I can watch my goats when they are due to kid (we assist with the births & raise the kids). I have decided to add a camera that will be angled in to the chicken coops. It has audio too so even if I can't see it I can hear it.

I'm glad to hear your hubby shot the bobcat. Once they learn where they can get an easy meal, especially in the winter when food is scarce, they will keep coming back.