Raccoon took my silkie

[akarin0051]

I woke up an hour ago at 5am to the HORRIBLE sound of my silkie Rocksy screaming. I jumped out of bed and ran outside. I yelled and chased the raccoon with my silkie in its mouth. Finally, I could grabbed at its tail as it slipped thru the fence to the yard. It got away $#*@!!!!!! Nobody shut the pen!!!!! I realize as i look in the pen to see the damage. OUr favorite most beautiful chicken was missing. OUr blue partridge. I am so sad. I'm taking it way worse then either of my two kids. She was our favorite. As I come back to bed my son asked me "What was that scary sound?" I'm so sad I can't believe I forgot to lock them in. So did everybody. I should have tackled that raccoon even though my legs were bare. What are a few scratches and bites to have my Rocksy back??? I'm so mad at myself! We still have the two black ones but it will not be the same. RIP little chicken.

 

[rungirl]

So sorry to hear that. I've been there. I heard something kill my daughter's favorite tame hen and ran out but it was too late. I felt awful too, like I let them down. I actually left the pop door open that night because the weather was so hot but something came in through the locked run. Never again.

So I built a nice automatic pop door opener/closer that runs on a timer. I got the idea from a post out here on this forum. I built it with a car antenna motor and two laptop power supplies. I think I have about $40-$50 in parts from buying them off ebay and it was very easy to do. Actually it was a fun little project and I haven't had anymore chickens attacked!

Good luck to you and sorry about your loss.

Lisa

 

[theoldchick]

Sorry.

 

[scratch'n'peck]

Its so sad. You are not the only one who has accidentally left a door open. I thanked my lucky stars when I found that I left the door to the nesting boxes unlatched over night, but no one was missing in the morning. But I know how hard it is to have a chicken killed, because I have lost some to predator attacks on other occasions.