RIP to my Entire Flock.

[jeepguy982001]

sry for your loss

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks, Cyn. I'm really just thinking BR's, heritage Dels and assorted Ameraucanas. If you have any please give me a shout! How have the ones from the big hatch last year grown to be?

Once again, thank you to everyone for your condolences. It really is comforting

P.S. Yay Ellie!!

You should check out my posts on Rex and his girls (the Barred Rocks). Rex will be going to live with Scott in a couple of weeks so I can simplify, but I'll be holding back a few eggs from his three girls to hatch, plus a couple of Ellie's as well. So, I may have you covered on the BRs (show quality types, too!) and the Delawares if Ellie produces pullets like she used to do.

 

[1muttsfan]

Nick, I am sorry to hear about your troubles. I had a breeding trio of bantams (the only breeders I kept over the winter) killed by probably a mink, due to an inadvertantly left-open door. Nothing makes it worse than knowing it was a preventable loss

.

I know a lot of people will reccomend trying to trap and kill the predators, but I think it is a waste of time. If you remove the ones that are there now, there will be new ones very soon, as others will move in to fill the now-open territory. Spend your time and effort in making your facilities predator-proof, and you will never regret it, or loose another chicken (not counting accidentally left open doors). Good luck.

 

[Sphinx]

I am so, so sorry for your loss.

My run/coop was completely predator proof except for on 18" gap on the top in one spot. I'd put a board up there until we could put up some fencing. Unfortunately, something (probably raccoons) managed to knock the big board off. It killed all 7 of my hens. Surviving was the rooster, and a neighbor's hen that was bunking with us (that's a long story). That same day, my neighbor had 12 hens killed, and another two chickens seriously wounded. It was devastating for me.

It's been 3 months now, and I still want to cry when I see my coop.

I am starting from scratch, and hatched my first chicks almost 2 weeks ago, and have another set on the bator. It helps, but I still miss my girls.

 

[speckledhen]

Nick, best thing to do is work on making the best, most predator resistant coop you can before you get anymore birds. That way, you won't have to go through this heartache again, at least not soon. Even with the best set-up, things happen, though. Start with that fortress coop and do the best you can every day to keep them safe. It's all you can do.

 

[Snozzle]

I am so very sorry, breaks my heart just reading it.

It's one of my biggest nightmares and has happened to me twice now, once with my ducks(possible bobcat or even bear) and once with rabbits(stray dog). Sounds like your spirits are refreshed and you are starting new, Good luck, I hope your new coop will be the new chicken Ft. Knox

 

[KBlue]