Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[dirkandlorie]

Maleficent is Gone

Today was supposed to be a great day. It will go down as one of the worst in my life.

I have been traveling all week and have spent no time with the girls. It was going to warm up a little tosay and I had blocked my calendar for some late afternoon quality free range with them. I was excited.

I woke up this morning violently sick. There would be no quality time with the girls. I went from the bathroom to the bed all day.

My wife had to work today so I was home alone. She came home after dark and woke me up to check on me. I quickly checked the coop cam and Maleficent was not roosted.
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So asked my wife to find her and put her in the coop. She found her on the ground dead.

I just checked her body. Her neck was torn apart. Weasel or raccoon I am thinking. I have seen raccoons around here and have never seen a weasel.

Either way there will be coop upgrades tomorrow even if I crap myself while I'm doing it.

Quite frankly I am devastated. I could not be there for her. If I had not been sick she would have been fine. I would have checked everything at dusk in person just to spend time with them.

We were so close. I can't stop crying. I just can't right now. What a crappy day. I have to try and bury her in frozen ground tomorrow. How am I going to do that?

I'm just heartbroken.

Rest in Peace my besty
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I am so sorry for your devastating loss! Know you will miss her terribly!

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

Here’s some of the pics I had tried to post earlier...View attachment 2018118View attachment 2018119View attachment 2018120View attachment 2018121View attachment 2018122

Beautiful ladies

 

[LCG Chicken Coop]

So after that beautiful weekend, we're having a cold snap here in California! I think we'll dip a few degrees below freezing tonight. My coop is pretty open and it is not insulated. They'll be fine, right? Wearing down coats and all?

Oh, and guess what? I'm pretty sure Ruby is laying. I'm keeping close watch, since she fell ill last year and going on hormones (to stop laying and give her oviduct a breatk) was part of her treatment.

Hello from the East Bay Area! We are in the high 30’s at night; no issues here.

 

[BY Bob]

Have you considered burying hardware cloth around the perimeter? I know that's a lot of digging for you to do, but it would completely thwart any predator digging.

That's part of the upgrades to come. I have an apron around parts of the run but I will be burying hardware cloth as soon as weather permits.

 

[BY Bob]

I am so sorry for your devastating loss! Know you will miss her terribly!

Thank you. It's hard.

 

[ValerieJ]

That's part of the upgrades to come. I have an apron around parts of the run but I will be burying hardware cloth as soon as weather permits.

I was thinking of the fence line, since you free range in your backyard. I think it would help tremendously!

 

[dirkandlorie]

Maybe try zicam if one comes on, or take Echinecea?

Elderberry syrup works very well for prevention and shortening the duration of the flu. Kind of pricey if you have to buy it, but probably a 1000 times cheaper than going to a doctor

 

[BY Bob]

I was thinking of the fence line, since you free range in your backyard. I think it would help tremendously!

That is a project I will not be undertaking. I am considering large gravel to discourage incursions but that project is too large. I had to jackhammer over 30 of those post holes. I live on a giant limestone rock. I'm not interested in tackling a project like that again.

 

[MaryJanet]

That would be Hurry (Light gray hen?)
She's not quite as good looking as her mother, but she's a fine looking hen.
Here she is with her mother Ruffles.
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I love Ruffles's tail in this shot! So cute.

 

[LozzyR]

She knocks at the door to be let in now.

That’s like the sawmill guy’s hen knocking for a piece of pumpkin!