- Mar 13, 2014
- 83
- 5
- 31
Ugh. I've about had it. It's been nothing but bad luck with these chickens. I started off with 15. They did great.....for about 4 months. Then the winter hit us hard last year. My coop door got frozen open under 2" ice. By time I was able to free it up, my flock was wiped out by a predator. Caught an opossum and picked up 6 more and 2 were gone that night. I decided to get 30 more pullets. So far so good. 16 weeks old and boom, another predator attack. It was during the 4th.of July week and our busiest time at work. I wasn't getting home until 4-5am. The predator scared them out of the coop and I couldn't gather them roosting on 2 acres. My buddy gives me 16 more POL hens. I got a new run for them. Everything is going great. Boom. A predator breaks into the coop. Half are gone. Undeterred I get 50 more pullets and 4 turkeys. I lose a couple in the beginning. No biggie. They get older and one turkey snaps it's leg. I toss it to dogs. Another turkey and a couple pullets found dead for unknown reasons. A couple pullets run away. Next thing I know I'm down 30 pullets and 2 turkeys. Go out to the coop tonight and another turkey and pullet dead. 2 pullets dead last night. Reasons? I dunno. No sickness. No injuries. My only guess is smothering, but they are 12-16 weeks. Just venting......it's so frustrating. I've had over 100 birds and I'm down to 20ish. And only 1 "flock" has reached laying age.
Here's how I found my turkey tonight. It was fine this morning.
Here's how I found my turkey tonight. It was fine this morning.
