The Poultry Keeper

Loudmouth Schnook

Let my chickens out early this morning. Later on, after breakfast and after feeding horses, went to make the mash for my girls - to then see two of them outside their run. The Blackrock had a lot of feather plucked off her and one of the hybrids was just running around like normal. Got them back in, did a count and 3 of my Lohmann Browns are missing with a digging hole from the outside of the run. Obviously whatever was digging there (probably in the night) allowed a big enough hole to allow the chooks to escape. There are no foxes on Lewis, but there are rats. One had made a burrow below the chicken house a couple of weeks ago - we moved the coop and killed the rat and dug out the burrow. Couldn't find the 3 missing chookies, but one lot of feathers in yard in a couple of places - doesn't seem enough feathers for three birdies. It's amazing how quick something like this can happen. I am wondering if something came down from the sky (ie sea eagles, crows, choughs) and did something. The Blackrock is just hanging around inside the coop, recuperating, poor thing.
Holls Crying or Very sad

mojo · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:10 am Post subject:

just a thought......mink .otter and polecatsplus ferrets all burrow in.............a sea eagle is big enough to take a chook but crow and chough would have a job........sounds silly but smell hole.............otter fishy......mink acrid.........polecat stale wee....rat rank .........mojo..keep us posted

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:19 am Post subject:

Thanks Mojo... My OH is offshore and I haven't told him yet... don't know how I'll break the news... I'll have to let Suz know as they were originally her girls. Sad

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

Oh Holls,

really sorry Sad

CP · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:02 pm Post subject:

Oh so sad - yet another post today about lost chooks. Crying or Very sad

I'm going out now for a quick look around our run for any signs of digging. Just in case!

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:05 pm Post subject:

It seems to be the theme of the day, unfortunately. Sad

Knobby · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject:

Heather · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 1:14 pm Post subject:

{{{{{{Holls}}}}}}

bird_babe · Joined: 20 Apr 2005 Posts: 473 Location: wales

Nisi · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 164 Location: Yorkshire

So sorry. What a sad day {{{{{{hugs}}}}}

AtomicRooster · Joined: 20 May 2005 Posts: 995 Location: Hampshire

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7366 Location: isle of lewis

holly have spare wire around the place if not gizzy and nonie will sort you out some from our place ,put a skirt around the run so that they will not be able to big in close to the wire ,
have you got any mink traps ,
(((((hug)))))
suz

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject:

No, no mink traps. I think it was Ratty that dug the holes, but spare wire will work to keep out whatever critter it was. Rats were spotted in my garden this evening by my stepson, quite large ones too... Evil or Very Mad

Knobby · Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:56 pm Post subject:

When I had the mink attack, it didnt bother digging, it just chewed thru the wire !

Loudmouth Schnook · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 9:42 am Post subject:

Told the OH... ferrets and polecats also possibility. There are mink on the island, but unknown in this particular area (they tend to be in south Lewis and Harris in the hillier regions). But ratty biggest for digging as they have been sighted last night running around. Ugh.