I am not brand new to raising chickens but still kinda new. I got my first chicken (1yr old rooster, Rhode Island Red) his name is Samcro, about 5 months ago. Then i bought 10 chicks. Then went to a swap and bought 4 yellow sixlinks (?) and 2 rhode island red hens. The "babies" are now about 3 months old and in their own coop. I also am a mommy to 2 beautiful children, my 4 yr old DD, Madison and my 2 yr old DS, Carter. Everything was going great! My big girls were laying, the kids and i had given them all names and are really attached to them. One of my babies was killed about a month and a half ago and i was terribly upset until the next night when i heard my rooster crow at midnight and ran outside with the 22 and shot the raccoon that was tryin to eat one of my prettier babies. YAY ME! Well last thursday I came home from work and instead of my girls jumping at their gate waiting for me to feed them 5 of them were dead around their coop. 3 of which were not eaten just slaughtered. I found raccoon tracks and thought i knew where he got in and sealed it then on saturday night when i returned home from a party i found my last hen (rosa) dead and Samcro without his tail feathers. I locked Samcro in a dog cage near my porch til the next morning when i could cover where the fence didnt meet the rafters of the coop. Its been a VERY sad week. I still have my 9 babies and my rooster but upon inspection of him today i realized he has bite marks under his wing. He has also been pulling out all of his feathers which assume is because he isnt happy with the pen we haave him right now. Due to 2 turkeys taking over his coop til theirs is built. He has also been very aggressive which is not like him. Mostly towards my DH. I can pet him and hes fine but DH comes near and he starts trying to kick him. We set a trap and the coon is somehow getting the bait with out setting off the trap. I dont know what to do. Im so afraid its rabid and is going to go after my babies next. I am pretty attached to my chickens and so are my children. Lol kinda went off a little but im still pretty ticked off.
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. 
