And now it's happened to me

[MaureenHall]

I'm sorry if this post seems all jumbled up, but I'm so devastated and alone right now I need to tell somebody. When I went to get the girls up this morning, all that greeted me was huge piles of feathers and 10 headless chickens. I don't know where the other 3 are. There's no sign of anything amiss outside my garden fence. All my beautiful girls are gone. I'm blaming myself because all the nest boxes in the coop have simple lift-off lids, and whatever predator got in would have found it a piece of cake! Basil and the babies are ok, they were in a separate coop in a separate run. I can't stop crying just now. Thank you for being there

[hmk]

Oh Maureen, I'm so sorry. I don't know what to say. {{{{Big hugs}}}}

Don't blame yourself. My nestboxes have lift up lids too, and it's never occurred to me they'd be that easy for a predator to get into. Everywhere else is fox proof, but I wouldn't have thought about that.

I wonder if it was a mink? They're virtually impossible to guard against, I think.

I am so sorry. I'm glad at least Basil and the chicks were ok, but that's small consolation I know.

I'll be thinking of you

HMK

[Mrs Dobby]

Sorry to hear of the loss Maureen, ((hugs)) from us both, and we're here for you if you need us!

[RichmondHens]

So sorry to hear about your chickens Maureen. If they were shut in the house and the only access in was via the nest box, then certainly a fox could get in, or indeed a mink. Foxes are feeding their young at this time of year so are extra hungry.
I'm so so sorry and glad at least the babies are safe.

[dozey1]

So sorry for you maureen, i get petrified at the thought as i have a foxes den on the waste ground behind my garden, so i have to make sure my chooks are never in the garden alone. Hope your babies keep well. :-(

[Comfreyfan]

Maureen, that's so horrible for you. Be sure that we're all thinking of you and sending you very large hugs. x

[Hans Mum]

so very sorry maureen [[[[[[[[[big hugs]]]]]]]]]]]] not a lot more i can say really, thinking of you xx

[FionaH]

Oh Maureen that must have been devastating to find. I dont know what to say, huge hugs xx

[Suechooks]

I can't express how sorry I feel for you and your poor girls - it's the thing we all dread. Loadsa <<<<<hugs>>>>>.

[SarzWix]

Oh, Auntie Mo I am so so sorry. Crying for you as I type
You mustn't feel it's your fault, you did your utmost for the girls, and I'm sure they were the happiest chickens anywhere with you for a mum.
(((((Biggest hugs))))) I can muster for you.

I know a lot of people don't believe in killing the predators, but I'd be very tempted to organise a man with a gun to wait for it to come back

[zazen999]

Oh Mo, that's dreadful.

So sorry. xxxx

((((((((((((((((x)))))))))))))))

[sheena]

Awww Mo, i'm speechless!
I'm crying too at your loss, but thankful the babies are ok and Basil too.

I really can't think of what else to say, but a big ((((((((HUG))))))) coming your way.

[vicky]

We have heard so much about your chickens it's like losing your own. So very sorry for you, lots of hugs to you, come and speak to us later when you're able to xxx

[Glutton4...]

Oh that's just awful! I just dunno what to say (goes off to get tissues too). I was planning to move my run out to the paddock today, now I'm not so sure.

I'm with Sarz btw, sorry to those that disagree. Thinking of you!

[scarey55]

Oh Auntie Mo, I don't know what to say. I DO know for sure that it wasn't your fault. Whoever did it would have been determined enough to get in somehow.

I'm glad that the babies and Basil are ok. ((((((hugs))))))