Lost my first “baby” today

[Michelle619]

I lost my first baby today.(black jersey giant) She was 16 weeks (17 Monday). We are brand new backyard chicken people. We are 90% sure it was a raccoon.

I’m super super sad (still crying). I feel like talking with and amongst other chicken people.

A question I have is how will our other two handle the loss? She was the leader of our little group.

 

[tripletfeb]

So very sorry for your loss! It's always hard to lose a chicken. I expect the other ones will be sad for awhile but get over it soon. They will establish a new pecking order and be ok. Hope you are ok soon too!

 

[tripletfeb]

In the meantime, make sure that coop is predator proof! Hate for you to lose any more

 

[ashlierami]

I lost my first baby today.(black jersey giant) She was 16 weeks (17 Monday). We are brand new backyard chicken people. We are 90% sure it was a raccoon.

I’m super super sad (still crying). I feel like talking with and amongst other chicken people.

A question I have is how will our other two handle the loss? She was the leader of our little group.

I'm so sorry for your loss I know how hard it can be. I myself have lost 18 over the past 2 years. There may be some changes to the pecking order since she was the leader. They may or may not mourn. In my experience when there is a loss they act alittle off for a few days and their order is messed up. Recently a dominant rooster died. My other rooster has been settling in to take over the hens. I would predator proof your coop but nothing can be 100 percent. Lock them up at night and hopefully nothing else will take them.

 

[cmom]

I lost my first baby today.(black jersey giant) She was 16 weeks (17 Monday). We are brand new backyard chicken people. We are 90% sure it was a raccoon.

I’m super super sad (still crying). I feel like talking with and amongst other chicken people.

A question I have is how will our other two handle the loss? She was the leader of our little group.

So sorry about your loss. They will be ok and re-establish their pecking order. You can always set a live trap. I have caught predators in them by letting the predator take the bait for a few days then set the trap and catch them. If you have a game camera, put it up because the predator will be back. If you don't have a camera here is a suggestion, I have 6 of these and they take good pictures and at a great price. The only drawback is it takes the tiny micro SD card. Most nights I see a predator when they roam here on at least one of the cameras. Good luck...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CGMQRWP/?tag=backy-20
This is a picture from a camera exactly like it. A coyote.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

@Michelle619 - I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your beautiful bird. Predators make it hard on flocks and their keepers. I agree with getting yourself a game camera as mentioned (we have a Wildgame Innovations brand). I personally vouch for the trap and dispatch of predators that pose problems to flocks. Invest in a live trap big enough for a large raccoon/possum. Depending on your location and situation, you may be facing other predators like coyotes, fox, birds, or weasels so definitely consider a game camera to know what you're facing and how to go about it.

From experience, flock reactions vary when losing one bird. Sometimes, a whole new "pecking order" will have to be established if the lost one was in charge. In other situations, if they were all very close and got along fine, the birds may show signs of understanding something is wrong. Give them time, treats, and attention to help things remain less stressful for them.