Dacjohns--Changes

[dacjohns]

Why can't I stay away from the predator threads on BYChickens, expecially the hawk ones?

 

[keljonma]

Why can't I stay away from the predator threads on BYChickens, expecially the hawk ones?

Everyone has their addictions......

 

[Okiemommy]

Hey speaking of predators Dac, would you like to take a crack at what killed my D'Uccle roo?

 

[dacjohns]

Hey speaking of predators Dac, would you like to take a crack at what killed my D'Uccle roo?

I can give it a try. I need all the information you can give me.

 

[Okiemommy]

well we didn't take a pic b/c when we found him the kids were in the backyard and we didn't want to draw attention, so no pic.

We left the chickens outside to free range and went to watch the playoffs at a friends house forgetting that it would be dark when the game was over. Which I didn't really want to do, but my husband reassured me that they would be fine (yeah I know duh, but who hasn't done something duh) I realized it was getting dark and the chickens were still out so I came home to put them up. They usually all put themselves up except sometimes he doesn't...which was what I was afraid of. He was always somewhat of a loner. He wasn't ever picked on, just stayed to himself mostly. Anywho I get there, put them in and don't see him. So I start wandering all over the yard looking for him and see something white in the tree line. We start walking towards him and he bolts. (I thought they couldn't see in the dark?!? Maybe he heard me) So I go after him and couldn't catch him. My husband is the only one that can catch him. I weigh the pro's and con's of this situation and decide that risking preterm labor isn't worth the extra roo, and he has stayed outside under the coop before and been fine )

Well he wasn't fine. We couldn't find him the next morning, and usually on the times that he wont come in for us when we put them up, he's close by the coop the next day.

We found him by the treeline, about 200 ft down from where I spotted him the night before.

There was a bit of feathers about 250 ft from where I saw him, then about 15 feet from that was a huge poof of feathers, then at the 200 mark was his head, no feet, lots more feathers, and I don't think there was any skin. (!!) no insides, just his ribcage, feathers, head. It seemed that what ever ate him ate him methodically He was a Porcelain D'uccle...so he was small





edited for a rogue sentence.

 

[dacjohns]

My guess is opossum.

http://www.freewebs.com/professorchickenspredators/opossums.htm


http://pods.dasnr.okstate.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-2111/ANSI-8204web.pdf

 

[Okiemommy]

Thank you for the links. I bet that's it. I have seen tracks, months ago now, that reminded me of raccoon tracks but they didn't look exactly like a raccoon, so I knew that wasn't it. I have also smelled skunk in the area.

Either way, greeaaat

 

[dacjohns]

I guess I have been a grump and thin skinned today. Lots of things set me off. I think most of us have those days occasionally.

 

[kaycei]

I'm glad you've always taught me to be open-minded and to learn things for myself. And I have my days where I'm really thin skinned too.

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

I guess I have been a grump and thin skinned today. Lots of things set me off. I think most of us have those days occasionally.

dac, everyone has one of those days. You're allowed to be a grump sometimes.