we lost our first chicken last week. i know it is part of owning chickens and i had prepared myself and the kids for the possibility, but it wasn't until it happened that i relaized just how attached i am to them. it doesn't help that she was one of my favorites. this is her on the day we lost her.... the chickens like to come up everyday and say hello and even tap on the glass door as if they are asking to come in or just to stop by and chat. it was also extra hard because it was the first time i have forgotten to close them in at night. i was surprised the next morning when they were waiting for me on the porch when i came down in the morning. i had a bad feeling and when i went outside to check, one was gone. it took a little searching and i found her in the yard... i think an owl got her. poor dear. i hope it was quick. the kids took it really well when i told them after school... much better than me in fact. we have been chasing off hawks as well, on nearly a daily basis now. i have friends who have lost so many chickens. i don't think i can stand to see them picked off. so, the next project around here is building a little pen to enclose the coop in. we have quite a lot of space in the back so they will still have a lot of freedom. i will miss the little taps hello though.
6 comments:
Oh dear! Do you have a wooden shed for them to roost in at night?
So sorry for your loss. I recently lost my hamster to old age. It's never easy. Hugs.
marriane, we have a ovely coop that is impossible to get into... unless you leave the door wide open. i learned my lesson the hard way. we have a huge yard with lot's of places to hide including a barn. they have been lucky so far with hawks during the day. i think something got her either inside the coop or just outside in the early morning.
otterine, thanks and the same to you. i remember losing my hampster. i had her in college and after. i was never allowed one as a kid. i was very sad when she died and my boyfriend (now husband) and i had a little memorial service for her in the park... in secret because we lived in NYC! it's amazing how attached we get to these little friends:)
I got very attached to our chickens too ... I loved watching them scratch & peck ... very relaxing!
We lost a chicken to a raccoon. After that we put chicken wire up over the pen, so the raccoons couldn't climb down from the trees. We still let them out of the coop & pen area every day to free-range, but made sure they were secure at night. They make light-sensor activated coop doors that open in the morning (light) & close in the evening when the sun is setting. Friends of ours had a predator bird problem that they solved by hanging CDs & shiny metallic ribbons near the chicken coop & run. It worked!
HEY! I love the idea of shiny CD's floating in the air from the trees!! I was so sorry to hear 'something' got your pretty girl after you have worked so hard to chase preditors away! I am glad you got the great picture of her -
You know how I am about losing pets - Last night I paniced when I heard a commotion on the porch in the early eveing... just that darn white face cat making trouble!
oh I love hens and i am so sorry you have lost one, It must be hard as they become part of the family too.
xxx
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