My sweet Chicks and Guineas

[Zyopal]

We Are 1st year farmers, and I am afraid I made the big mistake,that has started the killing process of my Chicks and Guineas. 2 days ago I decided to move our Blue healer, that had been on a lead wire near the chicken coup. for 4 months now. We got horses,a jack and 2 goats.I thought nothing has bothered our birds for a month now, so hey we must have built an awesome protective chicken coup. Wednesday afternoon we opened up the coup and let them all run loose all day along with the rabbit that had been in the coup with them. So at night, I left the door open so the could go back in ( this is what my mom would do when I was a child) but I did not go back later and close it... thinking they were all together rabbit and all the birds. Thursday morn 7-12 my husband got up an found 1 guinea out side the coup with just it's head gone and no blood around it. no tracks...So yesterday morn while they were still up and scared to death, I closed them back up. and decided to leave them closed up for a few more days.To give me time to ponder what to do. This morning much to my sup-rise we lost 2 more guineas and 1 chick.. we found only feathers to the baby chick, but again full body of guineas.So i started researching on the Internet what to do, or what kind of predator we have..I have snake away and moth balls inside The coup to help keep snakes away... SO PLEASE LEAD ME IN THE DIRECTION I NEED TO GO IN,,,,,, MY HEART IS BROKEN...I am going to move the blue healer back.. but WHAT else...

 

[HEChicken]

Sorry for your loss - where are you located? This could be the work of a hawk or other bird of prey but depending on where you are there are many more potential predators. Raccoons, bears, foxes, coyotes....

Keep in mind that a Heeler (not Healer - it is named because it nips at the heels of cattle, not because it has magical healing powers

) is not a guardian breed of dog - it is a herding dog. Its presence alone may have kept predators at bay but if it is on a tether, its ability to protect is limited even if it were a breed of livestock guardian dog.

 

[Zyopal]

yes she is on a trolley system..ans I am from north Alabama...we worked all day trying to re-enforce the coop, and put Bella back near the coop..Guess we will see in the morning..Thank you for your input..always needed and welcome..As I said earlier..It has been 4 year since I have lived on a farm.. forgotton every thing..Wish my sweet Mom was still alive..She always had an answer for everything