Unwanted Visitors ...

This week has been a busy one ~ spent lots of time running off unwanted guests from the chicken coop.  We found two hens that had expired at the hands ... or paws of another animal.  This sparked hubs to get out the game cameras and set the heart-smart traps.  We even spent several mornings, before the sun came up, stalking the potential suspect.  You have to understand ~ we don't have just any chicken coop.  These girls are soooo spoiled.  They have a barn paddock all to themselves, they have an electronic door that goes up in the morning and down in the evening just before dark.  They are protected from predators.

Well here is what we found ~

We think Mr. Fox is the primary suspect.  He figured out where the hens live and when their door opens ~ and he was waiting, yes, seriously he was waiting for them to come down their ramp.  He was a beautiful animal ~ he seemed to look me right in the eye and was very graceful when we released him.

Rocky Raccoon ~ how can you not love this guy?  Look at that face!  He was probably just at the wrong place at the wrong time.  We have lots of raccoons that we trap and relocate all summer long and they have never bothered the chickens.  So he is off the hook for now.

Flower the Skunk was probably at the wrong place also.  We worry more about him with our dogs than with the chickens.  He will surely do a number on them (the dogs) if he gets close enough and they make him mad.  We've had many early mornings mixing up the recipe and scrubbing the girls, washing their faces as their eyes get so irritated.  Even after bathing them over and over again with the "special" wash they still are stinky girls.  They know it too ~ looking at us with those sad faces.

For now the hens are safe!  Back to free range during the day ~ and egg production has picked up again.

Have a blessed day!