RIP Mama Cass 💔

[lefttowrite]

A beautiful evening last night and I let the girls out while I was weeding my berry beds. They went into sparse trees up the hill a bit when I heard a squawk, then silence. Five girls made it back to the coop, but Mama Cass (one of my top two favorite chickens) did not. By the time I got there, a coyote was running off with her in its mouth.

I’m thankful it was quick and she didn’t suffer. I’m thankful it was a beautiful evening and she was out free ranging and happy at the time. I’m grateful the coyote only got one, and seeing it happen at least gave me the gift of certainty: I didn’t have to go to bed wondering where she was or why she didn’t come home.

Now that the sadness has turned to resolution and a little bit of anger, our next steps are to invest in a pest firearm and build a tractor so they can range more safely (we have a little one and can’t be out with them all the time…not that being out with them made a difference last night ).

I know this happens but it’s my first loss and damn if it doesn’t suck. She had one of the most recognizable combs, with the little fold in the middle, and last summer after free ranges, she’d be the first one in the coop and sang a “bedtime song” calling everyone in for the night.

I’m going to get a blueberry bush and bury what’s left of her feathers beneath it. She loved blueberries.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Oh, I’m so sorry! She sounds like a lovely hen. Hugs to you, and to the rest of the flock.

 

[tlcmurphy]

A beautiful evening last night and I let the girls out while I was weeding my berry beds. They went into sparse trees up the hill a bit when I heard a squawk, then silence. Five girls made it back to the coop, but Mama Cass (one of my top two favorite chickens) did not. By the time I got there, a coyote was running off with her in its mouth.

I’m thankful it was quick and she didn’t suffer. I’m thankful it was a beautiful evening and she was out free ranging and happy at the time. I’m grateful the coyote only got one, and seeing it happen at least gave me the gift of certainty: I didn’t have to go to bed wondering where she was or why she didn’t come home.

Now that the sadness has turned to resolution and a little bit of anger, our next steps are to invest in a pest firearm and build a tractor so they can range more safely (we have a little one and can’t be out with them all the time…not that being out with them made a difference last night ).

I know this happens but it’s my first loss and damn if it doesn’t suck. She had one of the most recognizable combs, with the little fold in the middle, and last summer after free ranges, she’d be the first one in the coop and sang a “bedtime song” calling everyone in for the night.

I’m going to get a blueberry bush and bury what’s left of her feathers beneath it. She loved blueberries.

I’m sorry for your loss, I know it hurts

 

[Queen of Spades]