I feel so stupid.
Today I showed the chicken-sitter how to care for my four girls while I'm out of town this weekend. I went through every step of the routine, including how to double-lock the coop at night, because we've had raccoons prowling around lately.
About 8:30 I went to tuck the girls in, and they were still hanging around in the run. I thought, "I guess they're not ready for bed yet."
At 9:00 it was dark, so I went out again. Girls were still standing in the run in the dark. I had never opened the coop back up after showing the sitter how to lock it. I scooped the sleepy girls up onto the roost and did a head count. 1, 2, 3 . . . no 4. I ran for a flashlight. I counted again. Only 3. Then I saw the feathers all over the ground. We looked around frantically until I saw buff in the neighbor's yard . . on the ground. I found Rosie lying there, still warm, neck broken.Suffice it to say that signs showed I interrupted a raccoon before it could really get down to dinner.
She was just old enough to squat--but hadn't given us any eggs yet (we don't think). She was such a sweet girl, a beautiful buff orpington. I will miss her.
