[karne]

We've lost 5 of our 6 hens and the remaining one is injured, we think badly. We haven't had a predator strike yet, but they're certainly around. The weird thing is that my hens have been free rangers, but some of the other farms around have been losing parts of their flocks recently. So we put up electric netting all around the coop and made sure they were in the coop at night. Whatever got them dug under the netting and endured the shock (the fencing was live).

It looks like a massacre around here-feathers everywhere. We've lost other of our animals before, but never this many at once. The kids are really sad. Dh and I are too. Silly hens--we really became attached to them and their antics. I know it's completely irrational, but I'm pissed at the animal that took them.

 

[didelphus]

It sounds like you have had a predator strike. What do you mean that you haven't?
That's a bummer! Did they take all five in one night? That sounds a lot more like several predators at one time. Usually we'll only lose one at at time if it is a raccoon or possum.
Puzzling.

 

[Tizzy]

Put them in the coop overnight! It's the only way to ensure their safety.

We forgot to close the door one night and lost 5 birds in one night - no trace of them left, just poofs of feathers across the field where each one had been caught.

The following year we lost one sick old hen, I thought she was in but she actually went and nested outside. Only found her head 10ft from the coop.
That reminded us that there are predators checking the coop every single night.
We do a head count every evening now when we lock them up.

A fisher will take more than one at a time, and ***** don't always hunt alone.
I initially thought our issue was a fox, but a fox wouldn't take 5 at a time. Now I'm pretty sure it was the family of ***** from the barn.

 

[karne]

I was meaning to say that, thus far, we hadn't had a predator strike. The hens were in the coop, the door was locked, but my dh says that he forgot to check the door flap for the nesting boxes, and this is where they got in. The coop was surrounded by live electric netting as well. I agree, it might have been more than one predator at a time.

We have been so careful and protective, but one night of a slip up, and they're gone. It does make you aware that they are being watched at night.

 

[henny penny]

Could it be a dog? With raccoons and opossums, we usually only lose one at a time. Hmmm...coyote? That stinks that you lost them.

 

[E.V. Lowi]

I'm so sorry.

 

[MamaMonica]

I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[karne]

Thanks everyone. It's been a really sad day around here, although the bright spot is that the one remaining hen seems to be holding her own for the moment.

Our local vet said there have been several big and pretty aggressive predator strikes (coyotes most likely) around here in the past few weeks.

 

[1jooj]

I'm sorry.

You're so right, you only have to miss once.

 

[veggiemomma]

Our friend lost three goats last year, all in one night. It was a mountain lion. It was really devastating for them because their goats were almost like dogs. They knew their names and would come when called. They played in the yard with people who came for visits. It was even worse because the attacks didn't seem to be about eating, as all the goats were pretty much intact, just dead.

Mountain lions are supposed to be a protected species here, but that one...ahem...did not live to see many days after the goat attack. There were too many small children in the area and my friend was seriously worried for the safety of the community.

I am so sorry for your loss. Our chicks are only 2 1/2 weeks old and I am already worried about putting them out in the coop. I can't imagine how upset your kiddos must be.

 

[gentlecowgirl]

I am so sorry. Losing animals to predators feels irrationally violating. I think you could have a fisher cat around. We lost 43 birds in on night to a fisher cat. Only 4 terrified birds survived. It looked like hell in the morning. The one night we did not close their coop. We have closed the coop door every night since!

 

[UUMom]

We've lost a couple to hawks. It's so sad, I'm very sorry. We have to put ours up in the barn at night, as here we really need a solid flooring. Digging under wire is common-- predators are crafty. I know it's hard. My kids were so upset.

 

[karne]

The lone survivor of the attack seems to be making it. She's spent a few days just sitting in the coop, drinking water, eating a little. Amazingly, she laid an egg today! She came out for a bit today, and she she seems really confused as to where the other hens are.

 

[veggiemomma]

Aw, poor baby. She lost her peeps. It is great and surprising that she actually laid. That's wonderful news.

 

[artemis33]

I'm so sorry for your loss

:

Glad to hear your remaining hen is doing better.

 

[karne]

So, the remaining hen is really clearly looking for the other hens. She is still eating and drinking. She has taken to following us, and the dog everywhere, and standing outside the fromt door when we're inside. She's kind of bonded with the dog, which is interesting.

Tomorrow we're going to look at some chicks...just looking.

 

[oneKnight]

I'm going to start running live traps (with marshmallows so I don't catch every cat in the neighborhood, although I might catch some to get them neutered) because I just put my babies outside tonight. I think their house is predator-proof, but it's really hard to find out that it wasn't (or that you slipped up), and by then it's too late.

Check your craiglist, sometimes you can get various ages of chickens on there, maybe some new pullets!!! Chicks are great I love em, but they take SOOOOO long to start laying, you know?

 

[karne]

We brought home four baby welsummers today--so sweet, and we're all really feeling good about having some new chicken energy around. Looking for some pullets as well. Chickens are addictive.