My hens are gone. RIP, my beautiful friends.

[lindabean]

Living in the country & trying to be at least a little "self sustaining" is not as easy as it sounds. I, like most on this list I suspect, have lived in and around cities most of my life, with weekend brushes with country life. The thought of "having" to kill something that was trying to eat what I am raising, is a difficult concept to grasp. After all, as hard as times can be, I can still scrape up enough cash to go to the store & buy a dozen eggs or some veggies (not as nice as home grown, but at least it's food!). Then I try to put myself in the shoes of my ancestors 150 years ago, and am AMAZED at what they did to survive where they settled, and even flourished! I'm sure they must have had some attachment to their animals, even though they knew that some would have to die. This may sound stupid to some, but I feel that coming to grips with that knowledge and making the choice to live independently anyway, is one of the things that made us tough minded. Freedom & independence is not an easy thing to have. The price seems to often be the knowledge that bits & pieces can be stolen and we have to decide how we are going to deal with it, whether it's a raccoon, a bear or some other "enemy of the state".

 

[cockadoodle]

I only read the original post, can only say I'm sorry for your loss and don't give up... please. Learn from the mistakes and move on. You can make it work.. there will be financial and emotional lessons learned along the way. That makes the reward all that better imho. The next time this happens to someone, I am 99.8% sure it won't be you. And trust your gut, if you think something needs to be done to bullet proof your coop, you might have to fight the battles needed to either do it yourself, or convince those around you to do it. Don't let anyone persuade you otherwise. If it was me, I'd be coon hunting tonight.

Take care,
Mark

 

[Four Acre Bliss]

Well, we repaired the coop and run and got 6 replacement chickens. An Easter Egger, a Golden Laced Wyandotte, two Blue Wyandottes and two Buff Orpingtons. Of you're the praying type and feel like saying a prayer that they'll be all right, please do so ... we've done all we can to make the coop extremely secure, and we've got a trap with delicious bait set far away from the coop to catch anything we haven't killed yet (we've killed a raccoon and an opossum). I'm still scared, but hopefully they'll be okay. The only alternative to not trying again is not having chickens, and I don't want to do that.

 

[bargain]

Yes, I'm the praying kind and prayers are being lifted up for the safety and wellbeing of you, your hubbie and your new flock.

Take care and have a blessed and peaceful evening.

 

[kagedgoddess]

i got a blue one too! they are so pretty! i wish you the best of luck!

 

[chookchick]

Glad to hear that you are back in the chickens again!
I wasn't very clear (don't love typing!), but as far as your "setup". I was referring to your henhouse and run. I can't say anything about the electrical, as that is a setup that is foreign to me. I was just referring to having strong wire, latches that are backed up with at least a carribeaner, no gaps over 1", no pry-able doors etc....Your coop looks pretty sturdy from the photo. Best wishes on your new flock!

 

[GaNewChick]

Good luck with your new birds. Is your coop close enough to keep tabs on them with a baby monitor? I have one, I can hear if/when they get upset.

 

[rancher hicks]

Quote:
Happy day, happy day, happy, happy, happy day.

 

[chickbea]

You are not a failure!
I don't have time to read all of the responses but I am sure that is the concensus of everyone. We have all had losses in one way or another and it does hurt terribly. Raising babies and then losing them is not an easy thing. Don't give up, though! Your hens were happier in their life with you than the vast majority of the other chickens in the world, and they were very lucky. Go onward with some new birds, and don't be too hard on country living (or predators). Nature can be a harsh teacher, but it can also give you some of the most amazing experiences you have ever had.

 

[SC_Hugh]

That is a cute bunny avitar above.

Don't give up x2. With your new fortified coop, you won't need luck anymore. Prayers for you to start enjoying your new flock.

Every post about losing chicks and chickens is an encourangement for all of us to fortify the coop and run. I know that the roof of my run needs more security and I plan to get to that this weekend...

I am glad that you didn't give up!

--Hugh