very sad day UPDATE- lost even more :o(

[44Wolves]

mmaddie's mom :

Got a number of vicious looking traps from a friend... hopefully will have some dead varmints soon!

Or, some dead Roo's. They might get in one and be killed.​

 

[RedReiner]

Quote:
Or, some dead Roo's. They might get in one and be killed.

The roosters are in a crate at night she said, I would bet she knows not to set the traps during the day when they are out...

 

[ginormous chicken]

Sorry for your loss!

It is so hard to lose chickens.
Please don't give up. It is good that you are thinking of their well being, instead of just losing more. But also, don't give up! If you love keeping chickens you should keep chickens and fight the elements of natural predators! I agree with people and trap for mink and weasels. Can you put up a secondary fence? Safeguard and keep trying. Happy Trappings!







_________________________________________________________________________
Proud Mama to: 1Delaware, 3 Ameraucanas, 1OE Bantam, 1BCM, 1Black Silikie, 1Mille Fleur (She is all wet right now!) 1ServiceD, 2 Pet dogs, 1 Parrot, A LoT of lizards, THE SNAKES, and 1 very understanding DH!

 

[Dapplepony]

I know how hard it is to lose chickens, my own dog killed one of my chicks about a year ago...

...hey I`ve seen you on howrse before 44wolves!

 

[geebs]

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Quote:
Or, some dead Roo's. They might get in one and be killed.

The roosters are in a crate at night she said, I would bet she knows not to set the traps during the day when they are out...

Yep... the boys will be protected.

But even better news... a local trapper got ahold of me and said he would trap them for me if he could keep the pelts! It's a win-win and especially good for me because I have never used these kind of nasty traps before.

And , yes, I have pretty much decided to get my girls back as soon as the COLD weather lets up and I can reinforce my pen!

Also, my girls are doing just fine @ my friends house! It's so cold here that nobody even thought about worrying about pecking order (or so it seems... everything is going so smoothly).

Thanks all... I will keep you updated.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

I am sorry for your deaths, but I am very happy to see you take action with it! It may not help alot but it could mean life or death to a chicken someday.

I can't wait to see what happens!

 

[drumstick diva]

Please let us know what success the trapper has. I'm so glad you will be taking your girls back in spring.

 

[gardeningsis]

Truly sorry. I lost a whole flock of black astrolops in one night to a weasel. I thought the coop was air tight but he found a small opening on the siding and worked it open. I did catch him the next night with a live trap using chicken parts. Don't give up.

 

[mmaddie's mom]

Heard one of my remaining roos screaming and rushed out to find him wrestling with a hawk about his same size... hawk even followed him under a bush when I screamed and rushed them! What in the world is going on?

Roo seems ok... checked him out and seems like just ruffled feathers.

Never have I had so many predator attacks come so quickly... maybe that cat was doing even more than I ever imagined?

I have been letting the boys free range during the day and putting them into the dog crate about 5pm. Seems nothing is safe. If I keep the boys in the pen they will be weasel bait and if I let them free range they are hawk bait. I guess we'll just take our chances with the hawks... maybe this was a good learning experience for the young roo?

The trapper is coming this weekend so hopefully he will get something!