Flock Loss

[summer_jackel]

So, something---probably a raccoon---got into my coop last night and killed everyone but Arcata, the lovely little phoenix hen Allison gave me a couple months ago. I went out this morning, and there were just a couple of bodies, mostly eaten, and a lot of feathers.

This is an inevitable part of having poultry, and it will almost certainly happen eventually to everyone who does. It still sucks, and I'm very sad about it. I've gone back and forth over the years about how to deal with this emotionally, and it's hard not to question whether letting myself get attached to the damned chickens is really a good idea. Being emotionally distant from them is worse, though. So, I will continue to tame and name the poultry and just accept that from time to time, the wild requires a sacrifice. Still, it's been a really long time since wildlife took everything.

My mystery squawking the other night was probably the coon coming in and being chased off by the dogs, who were all sleeping in my bedroom last night, with the door closed. So, tonight I will lock Arcata in the small coop and leave the door to the chickenyard open, and Jez loose. That should either chase them off or deliver me grilled raccoon steak for the following night, and the next day I think I can borrow a cat trap. If I catch any coons, I will drop them off in remote woods many miles away from me.

Meanwhile, life goes on. I just picked up some adorable week-old chicks, and a young pullet to keep Arcata company so she isn't alone for a month. Still sucks. Marilyn, Wild Blue, Random, Oddment, Whatnot, Felix, Vivienne and Josephine, I am sorry. I'll miss you.

Sad.

Comments

[saigh-allaidh.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. Yeah, it's part of the whole poultry deal, no matter how much you try to secure them. Doesn't mean it doesn't suck though.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it sucks. I'm dealing, but still.

Appropos of nothing, your icon houndy is made of cute. I'm thinking that my next pack addition (in a few years, not any time soon) will be a borzoi.

[saigh-allaidh.livejournal.com]

She's my Scolaighe girl, she's the one standing in this icon. She's the last of our Greys, had health problems, brain damage, for awhile now...but always, always the snuggliest hound that ever lived. Her days are numbered, she's failing, we're saying good-bye and she'll be with her old pack mates soon. It sucks. I know you know that deal too.

[wastedmouthfull.livejournal.com]

Wow that is sad, as are the chickens but like you said inevitable.
I love nature but sometimes it is cruel.

[genmaicha.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's the worst part of having poultry.

[kynekh-amagire.livejournal.com]

Eating the 'coon that got your chickens and dux seems like fair play to me. Best of luck to Jez tonight, and my condolences.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you. That was the fate of the last coon to invade my coop, and he was quite tasty. Although I would prefer to catch and release the little bugger live.

[kynekh-amagire.livejournal.com]

True. I'm thinking mostly of Jez here, whose sole complaint about her life is that she doesn't get to kill nearly enough woodland creatures or chickens or small yappy dogs. :>

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Jez sez YES. If anyone's gonna kill those chickens that I stare longingly at every day, it's gonna be ME...

[leora.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sorry. That's really unfortunate.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It is sad and I wish it hadn't happened. I need to sleep with my door open so that the dogs can get out and do their job.

[dollbunny.livejournal.com]

I'm picturing Jez chasing a raccoon and howling "I was gonna eat that chicken!!"

Cause you know the thought must have crossed her mind. I catch Raksha looking at Mashi now and then with a look of "I could eat you and you'd be good but I'd get in lots of trouble so I don't".

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

hahahaha, it is so true. When Jez was younger, I wouldn't even come close to letting her near my chickens unsupervised at night. She certainly isn't let to be around them when they are loose, but I don't think she will break down the coop to get the last chicken.

I hope.

But, with any luck she will have her some coon this evening; it's almost guaranteed to come back. Grrrrrr.

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

Awwwww, damn. Poor chickens.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Yeah. It was hard. :(

[tinygalaxies.livejournal.com]

This has happened many times to my inlaws :( I'm so, so sorry.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

happens to all of us, but that doesn't make it any less sad. :(

[humpingtails.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry.

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's sad.

[synnabar.livejournal.com]

I am so sorry. :( :( :(

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It's part of poultry-owning life, but it sucks so much to lose a whole flock!

[nesting.livejournal.com]

I had a -very- depressing morning yesterday, my pair of baby black shouldered peafowl were murdered in the night and all I found were two pairs of legs and a kidney. I couldn't help but feel somewhat responsible for the series of events that lead up to it, and the utter helplessness you feel when you go out there and see your bird friends just -gone- is just the worst.
but it's farm life and i have to deal...
sooo sorry about your loss. If you want any girls to replace - I can offer an americauna and a welsummer (mahogany egg layer) as I have too many of the first and my friend is thinning his flock out of the second...
best wishes

[summer-jackel.livejournal.com]

Aw man, I'm so sorry to hear about your peafowl. It is part of having poultry, but damn it sucks.

I would be interested in those birds! I have four itty bitty cheepers in the living room now---last babies available for the year, I think---and I picked up a couple of pullets at the feed store, so the phoenix girl isn't alone and my compost gets eaten. :P One is a white chicken with a few stray orange feathers that I suspect may be an Easter egger type; we'll see what she lays. The other is this really cute little black bantam thing with a lot of head feathers...she can almost raise them in a crest like a cockatiel, I've never seen a chicken like her and have no idea what she is. Other than cute.

I'm glad that the phoenix you gave me is the one who lived. :(