Monday, May 26, 2008

R.I.P.

Something ate all of our chickens last night. This has happened to several other friends in the past few weeks... are the gophers just really hungry right now or something?

Last night was their 2nd night outside. The first night I was so concerned about them being cold--even though it was a very warm night. Rich had driven stakes deep into the ground at least every 12 inches all around the coop...we were concerned about larger animals like raccoons trying to get the chickens. By the size of the hole that was dug under the cage, and the tunnel coming up from the ground about a foot away from the coop, it looks like it was a gopher.

I eat meat. I would even raise chickens for meat. The thing that makes me the most sad is that they were surely scared and traumatized when they died... I can't get the image out of my head of the chickens trapped inside their cage, cornered, while something kills them one by one. The only evidence left was scatterings of feathers, a couple of tiny spots of blood, and bulging spots in the chicken wire...the chickens are completely gone.


9 comments:

hendreque said...

ohhh how sad! I'm sorry for your loss and I was hoping to come over and check out your chicks. Will you guys be getting more soon?

Hedy said...

That is just so awful. I'm so sorry!

-H

Karen Compton said...

Oh, no, how sad! Must be the time of year...maybe other prey are scarce right now? Seems strange that so many chickens are getting eaten by predators at the same time.

Aimee said...

I'm so sorry. How is Kylin?

saamanta said...

this is the saddest thing ever. i totally teared up reading this. :( i am SO sorry.

poor chicks. :(

hope you guys are doing ok.

xoxo

radishly said...

Oh Breana, I am so sorry. :(

Amy *aka willa* said...

I was so sad when Leah told me this last night. :(

We had one lone survivor, I can't imagine how she feels, alone suddenly and probably scared witless. :(

I hadn't even thought of gophers! Crap!

Jessica said...

oh my gosh, I am so sorry my friend. how could one fit through the chicken wire?? :(

Anonymous said...

coyotes or neighboring dogs always got mine- I was extremely sad- so I can imagine how upset you were. .... Gophers eat meat?