turtlelaura67
Chirping
One of my roosters was killed tonight by an opossum. His name was Cocoa and he was a copper maran. He was my favorite.
I had just gotten home from work and was getting ready to go outside and put everyone in for the night when my boyfriend called me and told me to get outside right away, there was a possum in with the roosters (Cocoa lived with his brother Coffee and another roo named Snowdrop). I ran out and John said, "Don't go in there, I think one of your birds is dead." Of course I did and he was still alive, but his face and comb were mangled. Snowdrop and Coffee were terrified and cowering in a corner. John had to do the kindest thing and shoot Cocoa. He shot the possum too, which I hated since I'm a vegetarian, but John was right, it would just keep coming back. I am devastated and sitting here sobbing. I thought that enclosure was secure. Two years almost and no problems. It took me 8 hours to predator-proof it when we put it up. I don't know what to do. But that possum may have come back there night after night until it found a way to get in. Needless to say, we have moved everybody inside. Not just the 2 surviving roos but all our silkies and Polish. So I now have 20 chickens in dog kennels and pens in my dining room. We are not taking the chance. Even if we have to bring everybody in the house at night and let them out in the morning, that is what we'll do.
This morning when I left for work Cocoa was at the front of the enclosure like he always was and I gave him some chickweed, which he loved to eat. I said goodbye to him and I had no idea I'd never see him again. I am heartbroken. Plus tomorrow is my 50th birthday and I'm depressed enough. Thanks for reading.
I had just gotten home from work and was getting ready to go outside and put everyone in for the night when my boyfriend called me and told me to get outside right away, there was a possum in with the roosters (Cocoa lived with his brother Coffee and another roo named Snowdrop). I ran out and John said, "Don't go in there, I think one of your birds is dead." Of course I did and he was still alive, but his face and comb were mangled. Snowdrop and Coffee were terrified and cowering in a corner. John had to do the kindest thing and shoot Cocoa. He shot the possum too, which I hated since I'm a vegetarian, but John was right, it would just keep coming back. I am devastated and sitting here sobbing. I thought that enclosure was secure. Two years almost and no problems. It took me 8 hours to predator-proof it when we put it up. I don't know what to do. But that possum may have come back there night after night until it found a way to get in. Needless to say, we have moved everybody inside. Not just the 2 surviving roos but all our silkies and Polish. So I now have 20 chickens in dog kennels and pens in my dining room. We are not taking the chance. Even if we have to bring everybody in the house at night and let them out in the morning, that is what we'll do.
This morning when I left for work Cocoa was at the front of the enclosure like he always was and I gave him some chickweed, which he loved to eat. I said goodbye to him and I had no idea I'd never see him again. I am heartbroken. Plus tomorrow is my 50th birthday and I'm depressed enough. Thanks for reading.
