Too close for comfort!

[chickachickadoo]

Thank goodness you were able to interrupt the raccoon! I'm glad you found Blackie and Red, maybe simple Goldie is waiting to be really sure the coast is clear. ::crossed fingers

 

[sealsandwich]

Hope Goldie returns. And so sorry. I am sad to hear that after a "night-out" that is what you returned to. I hope it doesn't mess up the nice memory of having your husband take you to dinner.

 

[Paganbird]

Quote:
Thank you for the kind words. I did have a nice evening out.
Unfortunately, my husband is the one who is upset. He feels badly because he didn't listen to my concerns about going home & closing the coop door. He knows I'm upset about Goldie (still MIA after 30+ hours out in the predator-infested woods) and blames himself for that, too.
IMO, it could have been much worse. I feel thankful for the 2 chickens that I found. I am even a little grateful that I didn't find Goldie... if a predator did take her away... that's better than finding a dead chicken in a bloody, feathered-filled coop.
It was also a real eye-opener learning experience for my husband. I think he is finally starting to see that I hold myself personally responsible for the lives of my chickens and that those lives are NOT to be taken lightly.
I am sick today. I just got home from work at 7:30am. I work the next 3 nights. I guess I'm sick from standing out in the pouring rain calling for a chicken for 2 hours.
But now my husband understands. He even came in and played with the 2 week old chicks last night. I am thankful for that. I hope he continues to be interested in the little lives and all the different personalities. He used to think of chickens as livestock - never remembered their names, etc.
Now he knows they are my pets, my ladies.
I think he will enjoy the chickens a little more now... appreciate them and appreciate my interest in raising chickens.
He wants to build me a bigger coop with a predator proof run.
I may be missing a chicken from this ordeal, but I've found a protective chicken-lover in my husband - I can live with that.

 

[damselfish]

Well, I'm sorry about Goldie, but you did good.

If it's possible, you may quarter the woods in a search pattern. I found a wounded chicken that way...she seemed to be paralyzed with shock or fear and did not respond to calling. I had to get close enough to see her.

I was lucky though, she was in a small patch of our woods, I'm sure I could never have done the whole acreage & I don't know how much you'd have to cover.

Good luck, you've done a great job.

 

[Boyd]

 

[bluey]

Somebody has to market a coop door that closes automatically after twilight. I know a bunch of people on BYC (including Nifty) that are currently developing them but I'd like to be able to buy one in a store, like yesterday!

Everyone runs into the situations where they are pushing the envelope time wise to close up the coop. Tell your hubby not to feel too bad about it, these things happen from time to time. You just hit the "lottery", so to speak, unfortunately.

I had a raccoon show up in the daytime a few months back. It was only by the grace of god (us sleeping in), that prevented us from losing birds that day.

Sorry for your loss, great job with killing the raccoon (he would have been back for seconds) and good luck going forward.

 

[cherrychicken]

I'm really sorry for your loss, but it seems like you are coping well. Just remember, Goldie could still be alive. When my chooks are scared, they run to cover, so look under trees, too. Good luck,
Jenny

 

[Paganbird]

Quote:
I have about 20 acres. And I have a pretty bad cold at this point. (I just woke up.) So... I'm not searching today.
But...
I did let my other ladies out. I'm hoping if Goldie's out there, they'll find her. She is my only NHR hen and the ladies seem to respect her quite a bit.
I will be going back out at exactly 8:30pm to call them in for the night, though. No Matter What!

 

[lickskillet]

 

[monathequeen]

Dear Pagan-
I also have racoons galore around my yard at night. We live in the woods in Kansas and have no one around us for miles. Our poor Ducks and Chicks have had a bad time with coons. I have lost four ducks and a handful of chicks from owls.
Yes Owls are a major predator also. I had to learn the hard way and completely re-do our Chicken-coop and duck run. Three things you can always count on with Ducks and chickens:
1- They are always in danger....
2- NEVER assume they will be "OK" if you leave them un-protected at night.
3-Predators are present 24 hours a day....Fox's, Redtailed Hawks, Stray Dogs and cat's, and at night, Racoons, Owls,apossom,coyote
I have my Ducks in before dusk. ALWAYS !!!!!!!!
Good Luck my friend.