The Down Side of Farm Life

Went out to let the chickens out of the hen house and found my favorite chicken, dead. Headless and eaten on so no doubt the work of an owl or hawk. I suspect an owl though. Must have happened at dusk last night and since I locked up the chickens after dark with no lantern, I never saw her right by the hen house door.
This is the down side of farm life. This hen was no pet or anything, but my favorite of my hens. Friendly and a good layer. We will haul her off to the woods for the coyotes.
Just kinda sad to see her gone. Will have to be more vigilant from now on about getting the hens in the hen house before dusk. Owls have a habit of returning over and over. One year we lost a dozen hens from one owl, one each night for that many nights. We finally stopped letting the hens out for a couple weeks and the owl got tired of waiting for a chance.

Comments

ellemenope said…
I feel so bad for you Patty! Once, we went out to feed, checked the chickens, turned our backs for 15 minutes tops to feed the horses and when we came back all the chickens were gone. Just feathers. Turns out it was a fox.
Awww, I am so sorry! A sad fact of farm life
Patty said…
Yeah a fox will get a lot of chickens in a short period of time. We have had coyotes really close every night recently, but our land is all fenced so they shouldn't be able to get in
Patty said…
thanks Michelle, it is the down side of country life
Barb J. said…
I'm sorry to hear that! I know I was devastated when my black Lab attacked one of my chickens that flew into the dog area.
Niki said…
Patty that's too bad. We had a similar experience a couple of years ago, a racoon that eluded capture, knocked off our chickens one at a time, night afte night.
We also have Fishers here, they are like minature wolverine/minks cross and are absolutely vicious. One tried to grab a cat off our front porch once, with the porch lights on and my husband standing at the window!
Ah well, nothing to do about it really.
Aunt Jenny said…
Oh I hate when that happens. Alot of my laying hens ...all banties...are getting older now and I hate to see them die. Some are nearly 6 years old.
We had a problem with owls carrying even cats off where we used to live..so far we just have to watch for loose dogs here.
I loved seeing the bird pictures..we never get cardinals here. I love how they look!!
2 LMZ FARMS said…
You are right about the down fall of being on a farm. It's heartbreaking and sometimes just makes one sick when something happens to one of you livestock. Sorry to hear about that. Hope you and yours have a blessed day.
Larua
Tricia said…
I found your blog from my Daughter Jackie's blog (musings from jacran cottage) and just wanted to say thanks for the birthday wishes, etc. How kind.
I'm enjoying reading your blog too.

With regards, Tricia

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