I've just come back from the chicken coop, and another night's drama with a 'possum looking for dinner. I went out to lock them up (a bit late, after dark) and more than a dozen birds were still out in the run pacing around. UH OH... I know that means something bad happened and a critter is in the vicinity!
Most of the birds were on their roosts, but making a fuss and noisy. Sure enough, there was an opossum on the corner shelf by the window, and a huge pile of feathers on the floor below him. (I really should carry a firearm when I go out there at night - that's when I always find trouble afoot!) What to do?!? ... after a few moments' hesitation, I left all coop doors open and lights on so the birds could see, and raced back to the house to get hubby and some kick-ass. Until hubby could arrive, I used a piece of pipe to keep the critter cornered, and then got him out through the pop-door. He was quickly dispatched courtesy of a .410 shotgun as he exited.
Took a bit to herd the girls who were still outside to go IN, and the last was Roofus, my #2 rooster, only about 8 months old. Bloody comb and missing most of his tail feathers, but otherwise he looks unharmed. All 46 heads accounted for and I can't find any noticeable injuries except on Roofuss, so it looks like we got lucky. The other two roosters and two younger cockerels were keeping the girls company, or cowering in fear, I know not which. Gallant gentlemen, or cowards?
Roofuss earned his name as a young cockerel, just 16 weeks old, when a black snake came into the run. Again, at dusk, I'd gone out to lock up the coop - but a few hens were still out, and my RIR cockerel was making a fuss... going back and forth from behind the coop, to where the girls were, trying to harass them to go INSIDE, then back behind the coop again, fussing. I had one other rooster at the time, and he was inside with his harem already. I looked behind and sure enough, there was the problem about 4-feet long and slithering away through the fence. (I didn't get him that night, but believe he was the one who met his fate at the sharp end of my spade a short time later.)
I'd planned to collect up the cockerels that night or the next for slaughter, and Roofuss was slated to go with them. However, that night he earned his place in the flock, and his name. Roo - fuss.
I'm heading back out now to clean and treat his comb, after letting everyone calm down and settle in for the night.
My hero boy. I think I'll keep him! Here he is, with one of his nest-mates a couple of months ago:
Most of the birds were on their roosts, but making a fuss and noisy. Sure enough, there was an opossum on the corner shelf by the window, and a huge pile of feathers on the floor below him. (I really should carry a firearm when I go out there at night - that's when I always find trouble afoot!) What to do?!? ... after a few moments' hesitation, I left all coop doors open and lights on so the birds could see, and raced back to the house to get hubby and some kick-ass. Until hubby could arrive, I used a piece of pipe to keep the critter cornered, and then got him out through the pop-door. He was quickly dispatched courtesy of a .410 shotgun as he exited.
Took a bit to herd the girls who were still outside to go IN, and the last was Roofus, my #2 rooster, only about 8 months old. Bloody comb and missing most of his tail feathers, but otherwise he looks unharmed. All 46 heads accounted for and I can't find any noticeable injuries except on Roofuss, so it looks like we got lucky. The other two roosters and two younger cockerels were keeping the girls company, or cowering in fear, I know not which. Gallant gentlemen, or cowards?
Roofuss earned his name as a young cockerel, just 16 weeks old, when a black snake came into the run. Again, at dusk, I'd gone out to lock up the coop - but a few hens were still out, and my RIR cockerel was making a fuss... going back and forth from behind the coop, to where the girls were, trying to harass them to go INSIDE, then back behind the coop again, fussing. I had one other rooster at the time, and he was inside with his harem already. I looked behind and sure enough, there was the problem about 4-feet long and slithering away through the fence. (I didn't get him that night, but believe he was the one who met his fate at the sharp end of my spade a short time later.)
I'd planned to collect up the cockerels that night or the next for slaughter, and Roofuss was slated to go with them. However, that night he earned his place in the flock, and his name. Roo - fuss.
I'm heading back out now to clean and treat his comb, after letting everyone calm down and settle in for the night.
My hero boy. I think I'll keep him! Here he is, with one of his nest-mates a couple of months ago:
