Something stole our eggs and a head

[WoDia]

I’m so sorry about Dolly and her eggs, Elfen. The predator WILL be back. Take measures to PROTECT Atropos and the rest of your flock (perhaps move Atropos and the eggs). It does sound like a raccoon. It won’t stop until your whole flock’s gone. And yes, a raccoon will take the eggs to eat as well. Please keep us updated. Dolly will be missed.

 

[TwoCrows]

I am so sorry @ElfenLied89 this had to be pretty traumatic for you, yes coons go after eggs and chickens. Predators are brutal!!!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

The problem with chicken wire that I had to learn the hard way is the it is designed to keep chickens in, not to keep predators out. My old run was chain link so at night every single chicken went into the coop and all the doors were locked and secured with carabiniers because my neighborhood had a serious raccoon problem

 

[ElfenLied89]

The problem with chicken wire that I had to learn the hard way is the it is designed to keep chickens in, not to keep predators out. My old run was chain link so at night every single chicken went into the coop and all the doors were locked and secured with carabiniers because my neighborhood had a serious raccoon problem

I will have to figure something out for the chickens that like being inside. Everyone else sleeps on top. They don't like the inside. Lol. I can't get em to go inside.

 

[ElfenLied89]

I’m so sorry about Dolly and her eggs, Elfen. The predator WILL be back. Take measures to PROTECT Atropos and the rest of your flock (perhaps move Atropos and the eggs). It does sound like a raccoon. It won’t stop until your whole flock’s gone. And yes, a raccoon will take the eggs to eat as well. Please keep us updated. Dolly will be missed.

I plan to move Atropos tonight into the brooder with the babies as the back half is being used for quarantine. Two of my roosters have fowl pox pretty bad. (Kithara and Lucky)

The brooder is full ish though. It is holding 11 babies. I could've swore I had 12, but I didn't see a baby body.

Will she allow me to set her in there with them? Or will it stress her out?

 

[fluffycrow]

I'm so sorry to read about Dolly Parton . She was a brilliant girl, and will be dearly missed. Gone way to soon. Forage high, Queen Dolly Parton.

I have nothing to add predator wise, I agree with the others. Now it's a matter of keeping Atropos and your other birds protected

 

[fluffycrow]

I plan to move Atropos tonight into the brooder with the babies as the back half is being used for quarantine. Two of my roosters have fowl pox pretty bad. (Kithara and Lucky)

The brooder is full ish though. It is holding 11 babies. I could've swore I had 12, but I didn't see a baby body.

Will she allow me to set her in there with them? Or will it stress her out?

Unfortunately, there's no sure way of telling how much the move will stress her out. She might be OK with it, but she might find it too much and break.

How old are the brooder chicks? If she's past two weeks of brooding, she might leave the nest to go mother those, if she deems them young enough (usually not older than 2 weeks, and even that's pushing it, IMO)

 

[WoDia]

I plan to move Atropos tonight into the brooder with the babies as the back half is being used for quarantine. Two of my roosters have fowl pox pretty bad. (Kithara and Lucky)

The brooder is full ish though. It is holding 11 babies. I could've swore I had 12, but I didn't see a baby body.

Will she allow me to set her in there with them? Or will it stress her out?

My opinion… it’s coming back for Atropos. Move her. I agree with Fluffy. Yes, it could stress her out, and she could leave her nest. If she does, have the incubator ready for the eggs. Is it possible to section off the brooder enough for Atropos nest/food/water? Without confining the chicks too much? She may NOT like the brooder chicks too. Consider that as well. The important thing is to find a way to keep them ALL safe, Elfen. Can you section an area of the main coop for her? A dog kennel would even work. I’m throwing out any ideas that I hope can help you.

I’m sorry to hear about Kithara and Lucky having fowl pox.

Don’t stress too much. Stay calm, and you’ll find a way for ALL to be safe.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I will have to figure something out for the chickens that like being inside. Everyone else sleeps on top. They don't like the inside. Lol. I can't get em to go inside.

That is exactly how I almost lost a chicken to a raccoon. My coop was too small and not well ventilated so they would sleep outside and I would allow it. Then the raccoon nearly kill d my Weezy (in fact she died about a year later and I think it had something to do with the attack) and I got serious and got a bigger coop.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

So sorry about the loss of Dolly Parton @ElfenLied89. That would be a traumatic find. I hope you are able to protect your other girl and her eggs.