Me and my big mouth! Yesterday I blogged that all the animals were fine (and specifically mentioned the guinea fowl) and last night the adolescent birds were attacked in their coop by a fox or possibly a badger!Two birds were taken (a blue and a pied) and the body of the little white female was disemboweled and left inside the house. The three survivors were sat outside the runs with Hughie, when I went out this morning, and all looked quiet but unhurt.
I am gutted, as I had become quite attached to the little characters chattering around the place like the old ladies from Cranford.
I only wish that the birds had learnt to roost earlier, rather than to return to the coop. The trees would have provided a slightly safer place for them to sleep.
I took Chris to the station early this morning, as he is off to London to see The Jersey Boys with a friend from work. He was a little preoccupied to show me much sympathy....which is perhaps for the best!
hey ho!
I'm so very, very sorry!!! I know how much you care for your flock, and how much they mean to you. I'm glad the others are all safe! Today I hope you find comfort among your friends both two and four legged!! Take care!!
ReplyDeleteOh John I'm so sorry.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry
ReplyDeleteDeath is so troubling to the heart especially when you are in charge of security. I have been loosing my birds ever so slowly to a raccoon, whom we weren't aware of because of the lack of snow. It snowed last night to reveal tracks feathers and blood to the burrow. I had an owl take the head off a hen as she roost high in a cedar tree last week, predators can attack anyone. My favorite turkey Tom after 9 years as my affection coop guard fell over dead. I was very sad, but in a way I was happy for him. He had outlived those from his youth and as much as he tried the new hens treated him like a dirty old man and the new toms bullied him. I could not eat him, like we can't eat the birds tortured by the predators. I have come to know in advance their joy for me will only end in tragedy. This is also how factory farming came to be, 100% predator proof buildings, this is not natural. If we are to give them a free natural life, then we can only be true to nature and accept this is the nature of life and death. Accept also you have room for more chicks in the spring and search for new joy on the horizon, as this is part of the natural cycle too. I hope this note isn't hurtful, I only mean to comfort you. Peace
ReplyDeletethanks Kim,Jess, re and of course ruth......I know it is the way of the world, but I was particulary fond of the guineas...especially as I reared them from chicks...
ReplyDeletephooey!!1
Jeez, man. Sorry to hear that. It's rough being bird owners. There's just too much out there, no matter where you are, that reek havock. I'm on the fence about getting some guinea fowl, as I have a field behind the house with woods behind that.
ReplyDeleteI am saddened to hear you had that happen. I have lost my birds to bobcats, raccoons, what have you. Husband and I finally build a hen house for them. While I don't like having to restrict them, I prefer them being safe. Trade-offs, I suppose. Even in the best situations, we lose animals, but this is always hard.
ReplyDeleteTake care of you...
Cat
thanks randy and Cat
ReplyDeleteI have just re checked the remaining guineas and two have been injured, but I just cant get close enough to check them properly!!
OMG! I was just looking at your profile (looking for more chicken blogs) when I saw that you like Watership Down! I've never met anyone else who's ever heard of it, much less read it! I found that book once when working on the fishing boats. Not much to do when out to sea. I found the book in a cabinet under the tv. Thinking it was about ships or pirates I started reading and thought it wierd a book about pirates would start off talking of rabbits. I was hooked and had the book read in 2 days! Who da thunk!
ReplyDelete~Randy
watership down is one of the best books written for adults and children alike.
ReplyDeleteI think Children like it because it treats them as little adults and never patronises.
The story is very "boys own" and exciting, and the characters (even though they are rabbits) acutely drawn and believable....
I'm so sorry John, I know that terrible feeling, walking out to carnage, be on alert, the predator will return tonight or the next night, be sure to fortify more, make it too much trouble to try and break in. Run some lights out there.
ReplyDelete