so, I have a greedy bastard around the place

[Kali]

due to my lax supervisory skills I lost 13 chickens last night.

nobody closed up the coop building. there is fencing around the yard but it isn't perfect. The building is secure - IF the little door is blocked with something. We have been using a 16 block but nobody did it last night. 13 dead chickens and one wounded this morning, including all the light colord ones and the two I was waiting and wanting to see mature so I could figure out what the hell they were.

None of the little black rapist roosters got it - still have all 5 of those little shits.

bastard. He's getting his tonight. traps will be set. bye bye, stinky. you are going to the lab to be tested for rabies.

[Schema Thing]

1. psycho skunk?

or dog?

[Kali]

2. skunk

[NJmaverick]

3. You might appreciate this week's Pearls Before Swine comic strip

[Kali]

4. ...

:rofl: saw the first one on Monday but we only get the paper when we go to town. Love that strip. Thanks

[MadMaddie]

19. Too funny! I love this comic.

[theNotoriousP.I.G.]

5. So sorry

Kali. I don't know how close your are to your chickens "emotionally" but I'm sorry you've lost so many.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

6. + 1

Sorry, Kali.

[Kali]

8. thanks

[Kali]

7. more than I should be that is for sure, thanks

still have 27, although I'm trying to keep my "distance" with most of the little roosters (bought 25 straight run (mixed sexes) banties on a whim. Too many for the number of hens so they are supposed to go to a meal or two. We will see how THAT goes :eyes:(if you knew how many defective and old orphans I have around...)

Had 15 full size Barred Rocks, lost one and one is a little torn up but she looks like she will be alright now - didn't think she would earlier.

[hippywife]

9. That is a bummer.

I hate losing chickens to predators but we won't kill them. They're just doing what they are supposed to do and we've been the careless ones putting temptation in their path.

I know the first year we had our chickens, we let them put themselves to bed and never had to close the door (they're in a pen with a high fence.) Then we had raccoons and coyotes, and possibly bobcat according to a siting by a neighbor who lost poultry, too. Now we let them put themselves to bed but we go out and close the door to the hen house. And we can't let them range around the yard anymore. That's how we lost the last two three month old pullets about a month ago. Before that, we were losing about one per week. Boy are the three older ones who are used to ranging pissed off about it. They aren't taking well to their new little sisters and little brother.

I feel bad that they can't range around freely anymore but feel like it isn't fair to them to put them in danger, either. We do have a chicken tractor we can set them out in so that helps ease the pain a little and lets the younger ones relax for a while.

I love having chickens, tho. I don't think we'll always have a small flock for the foreseeable future.

[Kali]

12. yeah its tough, because I like top see the predators around too - they are part of the system

still, I have an excessive skunk problem, and we have endemic rabies. Even though I know it is pretty much a death sentence, I trapped and relocated 3 in a week a few months ago then decided to call Game & Fish to see what they recommended - they want them for testing. So I will oblige. The damn dog makes them fire too close to the house as well - really ruins your night when that happens.

I don't have a problem offing the overly aggressive coyote (or domestic dog) either. They are more than plentiful. Lions and bobcats are more rare and I have yanked traps and told lion hunters no. Fortunately we don't lose many calves so I don't actually have to face that dilemma.

[hippywife]

17. I can understand the situation

with the skunk problem you've got going on and the rabies. Sounds like it was more than one if you lost that many chickens.

We only have eight acres and only cut about an acre and half to two acres. The rest we leave wild for the critters. But I think the big mistake was that my husband mowed a wide swath toward the back of the property so they two young pullets ranged to far into wild territory. It's always something to learn from.

Hope they sleep safe tonight. :hi:

[LeftyFingerPop]

10. I'm sorry to hear this, Kali

:hug:

[Kali]

13. thanks

it seems to always happen one way or another when I try to raise them from chicks. Hard to find adult birds and especially this year.

[mix]

11. Sorry to hear that.

:hug:

[Kali]

14. thanks

life on the land - always includes plenty of death too

we forget

[mix]

15. I know that work and love.

Hope you catch the culprit.

[DainBramaged]

16. Skunks kill chickens, I did not know that

I had friends who had beautiful silverbacks as pets for years, and they were smart, not violent, got along with the cats and dogs. I am surprised.

[Kali]

21. normally not too much

because skunks don't really climb and are nocturnal
chickens prefer to roost above ground at night

the problem was that these were not adults yet and about half (the ones that got slaughtered) were still sleeping in a pile on the floor. Easy pickings. Oh well life goes on. They are safe tonight and the traps are set.

[Ptah]

18. That's sad news to hear.

Good luck with the improvement of your crew.

[Kali]

20. heh

yes good lessons learned for at least two of us
delicate balance to walk - allowing a bit of guilt to be felt
the "animal" kid is sensitive

[Ptah]

22. I remember my 4-H chickens.

Had day-old chicks shipped in February, Montana prairie.

Lots of work and a connection to the fowl.

Like neighbors, almost.