Unsecure chicken perches

[Benaberry]

This happened earlier in the week, and I'm still trying to come to terms with it now.

 

Tuesday morning I went up to let the girls out as normal, and was greeted with the horrific site of an awful lot of feathers, four dead hens, and no sign of the other five. I was late back from work on Monday night and just can't have bolted the original house door properly when I shut them in for the night - the run door was closed, but it's not overly secure, and was only ever a temporary extension to give them more space in the daytime; the security was in the original heavy-duty house where they were supposed to be locked at night.

 

So my fault entirely, and a simple, silly mistake (every other night I always double and triple checked the lock, Monday I must have been in a complete daze after a very long intense day, and a rough night with a child with chickenpox - not an excuse though), for which I'll never, ever forgive myself.

 

I don't know what's worse, having seen the four I did see in the state they were in, or there not being any sign of the other five, including my two little pekins, the other silkie and my Delilah, the cheekiest, friendliest, most lovable madam of a chicken that I could have ever imagined, who we'd had since 10 weeks old, and was the only one left of my original four (after the sickly one who never thrived and the two gorgeous orpington girls who turned out to be orpington boys ). Just as we were starting to do really well too, up to 6 eggs a day with I think one of the Silkies coming into lay on top of all the practical girls - had only had two of these small, very cute white eggs, so hadn't had time to work out who it was.

 

I'm still torn over whether I want any more, but husband and son bought me two more girls as a surprise yesterday, a new gold-laced Orpington and a right bitza, who's very pretty, but who knows what combination she has in her (it would be easy if it wasn't for the five toes!). I don't want to be ungrateful, and the new girls really are lovely, but I feel really panicky at the thought of there being more so soon, and I can't even bring myself to give them names...

 

My poor, poor girls

[beach chick]

I am so so sorry. please dont blame yourself, bad things happen, and even if you secured everything like Fort Knox for the next 20 years there would be a moment where a fox could get lucky. I've probably lost about 8 over the years to foxes; every time I upped my security but they still got through somehow... sometimes it just happens.

[scarlettohara]

Your post has made me cry, please please don't blame yourself. I have lost 2 girls recently and a chick this am - you will feel better but I completely understand how sad you are

 

Edited to say - go and give your new girls a cuddle and have a good cry if that helps.

[Sheilaz]

Very sorry for you, it's so, so easy to do.

You do need to grieve for your lost girls, perhaps a little homemade plaque with their names on, I know you'll never forget them but perhaps it would help acknowledge your sadness?

However, you also deserve to come out the other side and enjoy henkeeping, so I think it's lovely that you have 2 new hens. They won't replace the others, who will always be special in your heart, but your OH and son are great in trying to bring you happiness again, I hope you feel ready soon.

So sorry for the devastating news, RIP little darlings, and every good wish for getting to know your new girls over the weekend. xx

[Olly]

I agree with Teabag, you need to acknowledge the sadness - and please don't beat yourself up, if you read through this forum it has happened to many people, many times. Foxes are determined and cunning and will find any weakness and exploit it.

 

However you clearly love having chickens, and I think your son and OH have done the right thing - it's a tribute to the pleasure that your previous ladies brought to you, that you want to carry on keeping chooks. Imagine an empty hen-house in the garden - now, that would be a really sad sight. They will help you to move on.

[jennym]

Oh, I'm so sorry - you were very, very unlucky. I hope you get to know your new girls & connect with them soon. You have a lovely husband & son.

[cathybc]

So sorry. Big hugs to you.

[Egluntyne]

Sorry to hear it, but don't beat yourself up. We all find ourselves distracted at times.

 

On a couple of occasions I haven't done my usual head count and have locked someone out rather than in. I got away with it on both occasions and count myself very lucky. It could so easily have gone the other way.

 

Enjoy your new hens.

[Luvachicken]

Sorry to hear about your girls.

I know what it is like having an empty henhouse and so I am glad that you have such a kind husband and son who thought of you so much and got you some more.

You will never forget those lovely girls and remember that although that horrible fox took your girls he can't take away your memories.

Sending hugs xxxx

[keyhole kate]

Oh no how horrible for you please don't beat yourself up it could happen to any of us it is so easy to get distracted it is okay to feel sad and miss your girls

ahh bless your lovely OH and son what a lovely gesture give your new girls a lovely cuddle and welcome them it's what your other girls would want you to do

[tracyann]

Hi, am so sorry to read your sad news I think that your OH had the right idea and what a star in getting you some new girlies to love. Time is a great healer, and don't let it spoil your "Morehens", you gave your hens a good life and think of the positives, and the fun you will have in getting some more girls to love.

 

You will always have your memories!!

 

Foxes are lovely creatures but evil, they were doing what is natural and feeding their young. I have lots of foxes here but have been lucky in that my girls are in a locked concrete garage at night but my new impending girlies will be outside.

 

Am thinking of you. Now go and give your lovely girls a cuddle and more importantly names!!

[Heidi-Hi]

If you feel people (other than us mad chicken ones) think you are weird for being so upset about your chickens ( as someone said to me the other day 'what's the big deal, it's only a chicken' ), then go and talk to your new girls. You can tell them all about your girls (RIP xx). I find my chooks are fantastic listeners I tell them all my troubles, and always feel better afterwards. Give it a go, you might find yourself bonding with them a bit xxx

[Sam]

I'm so sorry, I agree with the other comments about grieving and enjoying your new hens.

It's happened to me before, I went to the eglu and took the plant pot out of the nesting box but totally forgot to lock them away..! Got up to let them out and 4 hens were wondering about! I didn't think much to it because I've never seen a fox in the area so didn't worry... but a few weeks later my neighbours hens got killed

Don't beat yourself up, it could have been any of us

[poppy ben grace]

Just wanted to say how sorry i am that you lost your lovely girls. Cant imagine how you must be feeling. I know by my own experience how mistakes about shutting them in at night can be made. Thankfully my girls have been safe in the past but we are all human after all. I really hope you can get through the grieving(and you need to allow yourself to) and begin to enjoy your new hens. Hope your little madams are freeranging up there with all the other hens that we have all loved and lost.

[mollyripkim]

Your post really made me cry, I'm so so sorry for you but please don't beat yourself up, we all make mistakes as we all lead busy lives and you were really unlucky that the fox took them. As others have said time is a great healer and you will be able think of all the lovely memories of them and it would be a shame to give up as you obviously got a lot of pleasure from them. Sooo enjoy those new girls and well done your lovely family for getting them for you. Sending lots of hugs.

[Benaberry]

thank you so much everyone; it's helped getting some of the guilt off my chest. My neighbours have been lovely - they clearly think I'm round the twist, but one knocked on the door whilst I was at work (husband was at home) to say how sorry she was, and was I ok because she'd heard me crying, and hubby shouting, in the garden that morning about the chickens, and the neighbour from the other side popped round in the evening with a box of chocolates because she'd seen how upset I was (she saw us over the fence clearing up the aftermath).

 

The new girls are settling in well; snuggling up together in the nestbox for bed at the moment, I keep dashing up the garden paranoid every time the dog barks (poor girl, she went nuts in the night on Monday/Tuesday when it was happening, worst thing is hubby even went out with her when he let her out to see what was going on, but didn't think to check the chooks as he, understandably, thought they'd be locked up safe, and it was almost certainly too late by then anyway).

 

Still struggling on names for the new girls, but have managed to bribe them with mealworms to have a cuddle. Orp is likely to be Hope, not quite sure yet on the 'bitza' - still baffled as to what could be in her; she almost looks like an eagle patterned reddy-brown feathers over most of her body, but a lighter creamy head & neck (only chook I've ever seen with a similar pattern was an Orloff in one of my books, but she's definitely not one of those), similar stance to a Leghorn, but without the white earlobes, and five toes.

 

Will arrange a guessing game once I've got some pics of her

 

Wondering, does the great run in the sky have mealworms? Delilah will be most disgusted if it doesnt

 

I love Omlet - you're all so kind

[Plum]

What smashing neighbours. Can't imagine how bad it must have been that morning.

 

Your new girls sound smashing, why not leave bitza named Bitza

[chickanne]

I am glad to see your last post seemed a little happier. You are lucky to have such nice neighbours and family for support. Keep smiling.