HI all.
Thursday night was crazy. About 7:30 had went to shut the pen and coop door. Noticed that two hens where on the front deck sitting in the pouring rain. I fig that my niece had shut the door when she come over that after noon. Strange the door was open even more strange is that the coop was empty. After getting my hubby and some flashlights the search began. Found them scattered all over. One huddled in the far corner of the pen. two on the hill slope, one by the pump house. Found 10 out of 12. After over an hour and being soaked decided to call it a night.
Was in bed almost asleep when a flashlight in the window woke me. My husband, who was still awake, told me "Found your predator." Walked me out to the pen and told me that he heard a chicken screaming ran out to check. There it was an opossum holding my BR by the leg. Wont go into details but lets just say that opossum will not bother the hens again. Besides being shook up my BR was fine and I put her back in the coop.
Yesterday morning was bitter sweet. One of the two missing chickens was out in font, very wet but unharmed. Still missing was my very fave hen Phoebe. Well a few hours latter there she was in the front yard and I could tell right away she had been hurt. She had a good size tear on her neck. Well we fixed it up the best we can and she is on antibiotics. Fingers crossed that she will be ok.
Still cant believe an opossum did all this. Anyone else had one attack full grown chickens?
Thursday night was crazy. About 7:30 had went to shut the pen and coop door. Noticed that two hens where on the front deck sitting in the pouring rain. I fig that my niece had shut the door when she come over that after noon. Strange the door was open even more strange is that the coop was empty. After getting my hubby and some flashlights the search began. Found them scattered all over. One huddled in the far corner of the pen. two on the hill slope, one by the pump house. Found 10 out of 12. After over an hour and being soaked decided to call it a night.
Was in bed almost asleep when a flashlight in the window woke me. My husband, who was still awake, told me "Found your predator." Walked me out to the pen and told me that he heard a chicken screaming ran out to check. There it was an opossum holding my BR by the leg. Wont go into details but lets just say that opossum will not bother the hens again. Besides being shook up my BR was fine and I put her back in the coop.
Yesterday morning was bitter sweet. One of the two missing chickens was out in font, very wet but unharmed. Still missing was my very fave hen Phoebe. Well a few hours latter there she was in the front yard and I could tell right away she had been hurt. She had a good size tear on her neck. Well we fixed it up the best we can and she is on antibiotics. Fingers crossed that she will be ok.
Still cant believe an opossum did all this. Anyone else had one attack full grown chickens?
