We were so sad and yes, I cried. We couldn't find any signs of anything digging through and came to the conclusion that something had climbed the chicken wire, clamored across the top, and shimmied down the tree trunks through the hole in the chicken wire. Someone worked awfully hard to get our guineas. We had patched those holes in June, but the winds make the trees sway and had left enough of a space in the wire for a rascal to squeeze through., but we didn't see any fur or other signs.
DH pulled out traps and set them that evening:
The chickens roost in the coop at night, but the guineas like to roost in the dead mesquite tree in the chicken yard so we herded them all into the coop and locked them up tight. They were unhappy, but safe for the night until we could catch the nighttime marauder.
Nothing for 2 days and then when I went out on Saturday morning, there was a coon:
15 comments:
Oh Karin! How awful. I'm sorry you lost those guineas, glad you caught the culprit though! Take care.
I'm terribly sorry the raccoon killed so many of your guineas. I've had experiences with the "cute" critters, too, and have seen their mean side.
So sorry for your loss of fowl and glad that you caught the culprit and dispatched it!
So sorry for what happened!
Coons are the bane of many a farmer around here--they go after the chickens and the corn. We finally quit planting corn--we were so tired of fighting the coons for it.
Believe me, I DO NOT think they are cute, but I love the reasoning behind your photo choice. : )
We have been catching and disposing of the same critters too. They have been reeking havoc with the silage pile. Sorry about your guineas even though we as ranchers see death more than we'd like too it's a fact of life that never gets easier.
i am sorry you lost those guineas ... and yes wild animals are not always cute...
Oh, my heart goes out to you, my friend. I am so sorry for your loss. I would have cried terrible. I'm sorry but I can't stand raccoons!! I had one of my chickens torn up and the rest of my flock traumatized. I was very blessed not to loose any. They carry rabies, horrible creatures that need to be buried! I am truly sorry this happened to you.
So sad. Hopefully his friends won't come to look for him!
So sorry for your loss. I love the guineas. This is our first year with chickens and as our property backs onto a mountain we tuck the birds in every night in the coop. We only have 5 so it isn't too hard. The fencing is buried 10 into the ground. I know it is not fallible. Take care
Daria
dusty911@telus.net
I'm so sorry, Karin. What an awful loss. It's sad, but thinking that the birds were safely contained and protected makes it all even sadder. My daughter and her husband lost a dozen or so chickens to a raccoon not too long ago. Raccoons are such crafty creatures, it seems like they'll figure out how to get almost anywhere it they want what's inside.
--Nancy. (ndmessier @ aol.com, joyforgrace.blogspot.com)
I'm down to 3 guineas and 1 lone hen because of coyotes and raccoons getting all of mine. It is sad. Keeping my fingers crossed that the predators have moved on to greener pastures. Sorry you lost so many.
I think it's almost impossible to protect anything from coons. They strike in the dead of night when you can't protect your birds and they are very clever about defeating any and all efforts you've made to keep them out. The only way to defeat them is to eradicate them. I hope you're able to find where they bed down and send them to coon happy hunting ground. It's chilling to think about it, but everything is food to something else.
Poor birds!! I feel no remorse for the stinkin' coons! We've had our own trouble. They figured out a way to get into the turtle sanctuary (which has an electric fence) and ate all four of the turtle hatchlings. There were two one-year olds and two two-year olds. So sad. Great picture choice!
Nasty creatures...they got each and everyone of mine...but Buck got him......
~M~
Yikes! Sorry for your loss!
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