summer_jackel (
summer_jackel) wrote2009-10-12 12:12 pm
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Flock Loss
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.
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.
no subject
no subject
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.
no subject
no subject
I love nature but sometimes it is cruel.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
or chickensor small yappy dogs. :>no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
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".
no subject
I hope.
But, with any luck she will have her some coon this evening; it's almost guaranteed to come back. Grrrrrr.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
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
no subject
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. :(