Our first loss to predators in three years of having chickens...
I have two hens that love to sleep in a tree in the fully enclosed run (one inch chicken wire). I move them into the coop every night, but we never close the coop/run door...I guess this is all my fault.
Went down to the coop this morning and found one dead hen with an apparent bite on her neck and another in really rough shape with all kinds of wounds on her head. Feathers on the ground under their tree.
We got 4 inches of snow last night and I could see some weasel/ermine tracks, but I couldn't tell how it got in.
Needless to say, I'll be sealing the chickens in their coop tonight and setting a trap in the run.
I know this is all part of having chickens, but it's still upsetting.
I'm lucky it only got to two...since it got in the run, it could have easily gotten into the coop and taken out the other 40.
I thought with three years and no predators...we were in the clear. Guess someone got hungry.
I have two hens that love to sleep in a tree in the fully enclosed run (one inch chicken wire). I move them into the coop every night, but we never close the coop/run door...I guess this is all my fault.

Went down to the coop this morning and found one dead hen with an apparent bite on her neck and another in really rough shape with all kinds of wounds on her head. Feathers on the ground under their tree.

We got 4 inches of snow last night and I could see some weasel/ermine tracks, but I couldn't tell how it got in.
Needless to say, I'll be sealing the chickens in their coop tonight and setting a trap in the run.
I know this is all part of having chickens, but it's still upsetting.
I'm lucky it only got to two...since it got in the run, it could have easily gotten into the coop and taken out the other 40.
I thought with three years and no predators...we were in the clear. Guess someone got hungry.