- Jul 4, 2010
- 251
- 5
- 111
I am so sad! Our silkie mama just hatched 3 babies (and has been so great at being mama). We let her free-range with our other 3 hens during the day and the babies have stayed really close to her.
I have 2 suspects:
On the day the chicks hatched, our neighbors acquired a young obnoxious husky, which began running into our yard. Several times now we've had to run outside and yell at her to go back home. Each time, thus far, she's bounded her way to the mama hen, playfully, but enough to scare mama away from her babies, which also scatter & hide. I say playfully, but without our interferance, I'm sure she'd have that chicken in her mouth like a squeaky toy.
The other is a fox. Neighbors from down our road, who also have chickens, walked up the other day to warn us of a fox that had swiped one of their chickens. It left feathers everywhere. She told us that this was "a bold fox. It was big and came in broad day light".
We've been making sure to close them up whenever we leave during the day, to protect them from both the dog and the fox. However, today around noon, my kids and I left and forgot to put them in. Shame, shame, shame on me. I feel awful. There are a few things that are making it hard for me to decide what could've gotten her. I won't be able to fall asleep easily tonight, so I figured I'd get on here, and if not get answers, at least be able to vent.
Tidbits that are clouding my decision on who the culprit is:
1. We left our dogs outside (they have underground fence, so not tied up, able to run after intruder, if so inclined). One's a Toy Fox Terrier, the other a Papillon. The terrier barks at everything that moves...squirrels, chipmunks. I wouldn't think he'd even let a fox onto our property??? On the other hand, our dogs may have encouraged the husky to come over, b/c they have actually been playing together when he sneaks over to our property. (They chase after each other, he darts at a chicken...fun times. darn dog.)
2. No feathers, anywhere! Me, my husband, kids, and even neighbor kids, scoured our yard and surrounding areas...none of us could find a single feather.
3. The babies were still there. We found 2 together, near (not in) the brooding kennel I set up for mama & babies. The other had made it's way up into the coop...where it had never even been before. We were surprised to find it in there...surprised too that it could actually climb up there.
4. My other hens are still there, and fine. Granted, 2 of them are standard size, but the other one is a silkie...even smaller than the mama and bright white. She was broody, but recently snapped out of it and has been free-ranging with the other girls for the last couple days. (Unfortunately, b/c I had the idea to see if she'd take to mothering these babies. Would've been worth a shot)
5. We've had problems with the neighbors w/ the husky (before the husky)...although my husband did go over there and ask them to keep her in their own yard...after I had already confronted them the first time she came over and scared the mama hen. The one woman is kinda crazy...she's about mid 30s, and her brother lives there too (who recently got out of jail for beating their stepdad in the head with a hammer). Nice, eh? They said they hadn't seen our chicken, but they are not honest people. It didn't help that he started mowing the lawn at exactly the same time we started looking for our hen...with a bagged mower...perhaps to conceal evidence??? ok...so that might be getting a little too suspicious, but still ; )
6. For the possible chance she's still alive, we looked in every nook and cranny and couldn't find her.
So I guess that's it. It seems its always easier to see what's going on when you are the person on the outside looking in, you know? Please give me your perspective, ideas, hope, thoughts, suggestions, any input!
Also, thanks for reading this : )
I have 2 suspects:
On the day the chicks hatched, our neighbors acquired a young obnoxious husky, which began running into our yard. Several times now we've had to run outside and yell at her to go back home. Each time, thus far, she's bounded her way to the mama hen, playfully, but enough to scare mama away from her babies, which also scatter & hide. I say playfully, but without our interferance, I'm sure she'd have that chicken in her mouth like a squeaky toy.
The other is a fox. Neighbors from down our road, who also have chickens, walked up the other day to warn us of a fox that had swiped one of their chickens. It left feathers everywhere. She told us that this was "a bold fox. It was big and came in broad day light".
We've been making sure to close them up whenever we leave during the day, to protect them from both the dog and the fox. However, today around noon, my kids and I left and forgot to put them in. Shame, shame, shame on me. I feel awful. There are a few things that are making it hard for me to decide what could've gotten her. I won't be able to fall asleep easily tonight, so I figured I'd get on here, and if not get answers, at least be able to vent.
Tidbits that are clouding my decision on who the culprit is:
1. We left our dogs outside (they have underground fence, so not tied up, able to run after intruder, if so inclined). One's a Toy Fox Terrier, the other a Papillon. The terrier barks at everything that moves...squirrels, chipmunks. I wouldn't think he'd even let a fox onto our property??? On the other hand, our dogs may have encouraged the husky to come over, b/c they have actually been playing together when he sneaks over to our property. (They chase after each other, he darts at a chicken...fun times. darn dog.)
2. No feathers, anywhere! Me, my husband, kids, and even neighbor kids, scoured our yard and surrounding areas...none of us could find a single feather.
3. The babies were still there. We found 2 together, near (not in) the brooding kennel I set up for mama & babies. The other had made it's way up into the coop...where it had never even been before. We were surprised to find it in there...surprised too that it could actually climb up there.
4. My other hens are still there, and fine. Granted, 2 of them are standard size, but the other one is a silkie...even smaller than the mama and bright white. She was broody, but recently snapped out of it and has been free-ranging with the other girls for the last couple days. (Unfortunately, b/c I had the idea to see if she'd take to mothering these babies. Would've been worth a shot)
5. We've had problems with the neighbors w/ the husky (before the husky)...although my husband did go over there and ask them to keep her in their own yard...after I had already confronted them the first time she came over and scared the mama hen. The one woman is kinda crazy...she's about mid 30s, and her brother lives there too (who recently got out of jail for beating their stepdad in the head with a hammer). Nice, eh? They said they hadn't seen our chicken, but they are not honest people. It didn't help that he started mowing the lawn at exactly the same time we started looking for our hen...with a bagged mower...perhaps to conceal evidence??? ok...so that might be getting a little too suspicious, but still ; )
6. For the possible chance she's still alive, we looked in every nook and cranny and couldn't find her.
So I guess that's it. It seems its always easier to see what's going on when you are the person on the outside looking in, you know? Please give me your perspective, ideas, hope, thoughts, suggestions, any input!
Also, thanks for reading this : )
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