We’ve had an absolutely horrible week here at Oldfarm.
It all started quite early last Tuesday when I let the hens and ducks out way earlier than usual. The ducks all seemed a bit quiet and ‘wet’. When I looked closer some of them appeared to be cut and bruised. I stupidly presumed that the drakes had been fighting over the girls!
We had 6 hens – 2 rather old Khaki Campbells and then 4 others younger hens of mixed breed.
We also had two beautiful drakes who were a gift from our neighbour.
Tom and Jerry
Back to last week, I was home alone as Alfie was back in hospital, so I kept a close eye on things during the day. It was that bitterly cold day – pre-snow – so I was worried they’d catch cold. No amount of coaxing would bring them back off the pond for food. When it came to lock up time, 5 remained on the pond (drake and 4 girls). The other drake and 2 girls were missing… I presumed hiding somewhere.
Next morning, the five on the pond were safe but no amount of searching revealed where the other 3 were. They’ve never returned – presumably taken by a fox.
Wednesday evening 5 came off the pond, fed and went to bed. Thursday was fine. Friday all was well.
Saturday morning I opened the shed to find 3 of the girls decapitated. The drake and surviving hen were very battered and bruised. I felt so bad about the 3 girls. I had coaxed them back into the shed and ultimately to their death.
Something had attacked them overnight. We presumed mink.
Saturday was spent trying to find entry points and secure the shed.
I should mention our regular hens were in same shed, but, of course, they were on the roosts. Also, our large Muscovy drake looked like he’d been attacked but he had won.
We nursed and hand fed the remaining two, and by the end of the day they seemed a bit more ‘perky’. Every tiny hole that we could see was now stuffed with chicken wire. We thought we had the shed secure.
However, yesterday morning I opened the shed to find them both decapitated. I could have cried. Again the birds trusted us to put them somewhere safe and this is what happened to them. By ‘securing’ the shed we had obviously trapped the predator in there!
We pulled sheds apart and let the dogs in (they’re not usually allowed in). Both dogs were very excited about something they could ‘smell’ in there. We borrowed traps from neighbours and friends and set them up.
We secured an alternative shed and set up roosts. Of course, the birds didn’t realise they were expected to move house…. so at dusk last night we had to go out and hand lift them from one house to another. Not an entirely easy process with large Muscovy drakes!! Thankfully, Zack, our rooster is much more amenable to being lifted about.
This morning all were safe in their new house.
And, a pine marten was caught in one trap… we think he was living in the cavity bricks partitioning part of a shed.
Pine Marten
Traps are still in place ‘just in case’ there are any more predators.
To end on a ‘good news’ story…. one of our hens has gone broody and is sitting on eggs! Fingers crossed!
A Year In Redwood 
Oh Margaret, really feel for you as we had similar experiences over the years. nature can be so cruel! We had a fox attack this week and lost one hen but have beefed up the electric fencing and praying it works. Relieved you found the culprit and fingers crossed for your broody hen. Hope Alfie better soon.
Thanks Dee… I can get over a fox attack as they are killing for food… but just the killing frenzy of mink and pine marten is so awful. Hope fencing keeps the fox away… I’ve been told a large male dog is a good deterrent for fox too! Alfie slowly getting better.
Sorry to hear about your poor birds, pine martens are every bit as deadly as mink, we lost nine birds in one night to the marten, and we have lost a fair few to mink. Well done on managing to capture the killer, why they are still protected is a bit of a mystery, there are plenty of the things around. I guessing though that you might have some red squirrels in your area, it’s the only good thing that martens have done.
i so agree with you with regard to the ‘protection’… there are many about here. I’ve never seen any squirrels of any colour around here… though I have seen red squirrel across the River in Portumna Forest.
Good grief, what sad news. Very glad you trapped at least one predator. God, life is hard sometimes, but I love your good news, Margaret.
Margaret, so you know, in late February next year I’m going to Australia to visit a friend, and sometime after, maybe April (?) I want to come and visit you. I’ve traveled enough to see places. Now I want to see people.
Wow Cynthia that has brightened up a very dull Monday! It would be wonderful to finally meet you!
I agree, Margaret. I’m of Irish descent, and have never visited the old country. But moreover, I’ve read your beautiful stories for long enough. It’s coming on time to see where they originate.
Margaret so sorry to hear Alfie has been back in hospital is he ok?and as for the fowl it must be an awful experience at least you caught the devil.
Oh MArgaret and Alfie how sad this is… I can imagine the guilt you felt when seeing the birds murdered! So glad you managed to keep the chickens safe (so they can hide their eggs for you!!)
Thank you Regula…. yes they are masters at hiding their eggs!
Oh, that’s awful, Margaret. We lost our whole flock one night to a mink or marten. He didn’t even eat them – just killed them. It was horrible. I still haven’t been able to bring myself to get more. Fingers crossed those eggs hatch and give you a lovely new brood.
June, it is so devastating that they are just killed/murdered…. yes, I am waiting patiently for those eggs to hatch!
Jesus Mags, as you needed more with a plate already full! 😦 I’m really sorry to hear this. Fingers crossed for new chicks!
Thanks Lily…. yes, it just was not needed at the moment! Hopefully we will have new chicks for Easter!
Oh so sorry to hear that. We got cleared out by a Fox a few months ago. So very sad.
It is horrific Naomi… it angers me so.