I can't attach any images of the hens yet, but i have a story that means a lot to the history of my flock.
January 16, 2024.
we've been in Arizona since November 7th. we were helping cousins move cattle to their new home in Arizona, and the drive from Washington to Arizona is pretty long. this was the day we got home.
we walked in the doors of my home, excited to see the cats and livestock. i went in search for my cat before going outside, as it was around 10 p.m. my dad went to check outside. my dad's face was pale as a ghost Apon coming back inside. "something has gotten to the chickens." those birds were my life. ive hand raised those little guys. i loved them so much. 4 were hens from when we started raising chickens. there were 30 hens lost that night. but later, when my dad came back inside, something else was told that made it worse. "we cant find smokey." that was my turkey. my little baby, he was incredibly imprinted onto me and followed me everywhere. all i could do now is cry. i remember that hellish, horrible day, like it was yesterday.
2 turkeys and 2 chickens were now left.
luckily no other livestock was harmed
but, even more incredibly, one porcelain d'uccle bantam rooster was still in the coop. he was sitting on the roost, despise the dead chickens surrounding him. his brother that he was incredibly bonded too was also killed. the rooster's name is jay. respect to that little guy, still going strong with his new flock of 19 hens. we're not sure how he survived, but there is a small space between the coops' roof and base. he most likely flew up into that, as he's quite small.
the Turks had a pen in the barn, which was not affected by the attacker. we assume that smokey was sleeping on the goats' fence the night he got attacked. Shirley, our mille fleur bantam hen, was also I the barn with the two other turkeys, goose and pokey.
ill add photos soon of the old hens, Shirley, jay, the Turks, and our new flock of 22 birds.
the animal that killed our chickens and turkey was confirmed o be bobcats.
fly high, all the birds we lost that hellish night. we miss you down here.
Grace wouldn't leave the coop and she screamed at anyone who got close other than Lighting (her favorite roo).
