Monday, August 23, 2010

First hawks, now coyotes

Five ducks disappeared during the night.  I suspected coyotes or foxes and then a neighbor stopped by to tell us he just saw a large coyote behind our barn.  Everett said if he had a gun he would have shot him.  I wish he did.  James walked back there and down the bank were the remains. Ginger, Skipper, their 2 young and one of the magpies are gone.  Tonight I will try locking them up again if I can get them in their pen. 

First thing this morning Rosie and Lex found one of the young chickens already hard and with its eyes gone.  A friend told me possums do this.  I wonder if even the possums have it out for us.  Just after noon I witnessed a hawk swoop down and steal Soosie's only remaining chick.  It's very disturbing to watch.  All the surrounding fowl go nuts, screaming and running.  Soosie ran straight back towards the other chickens only to be pounced on by the rooster.  I could have smacked him.  Has he no compassion?  Sheesh!  Oh yeah, he's a rooster.

I hope Chy does her job as a guardian if a coyote enters the goat's fence.  We may have gotten her just in time.  It's too bad she can't guard the ducks and free-ranging chickens too.  What I worry about is that it was a pack of coyotes that killed the 5 ducks.  I don't know that Chy could keep all of them away.  Right now she's taking a dust bath in the girl's paddock.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, what a shocking and disturbing post! I can't believe that the ducks are gone. What's even weirder is that I'm in shock over the death of ducks I've never met.
    I hope you have a good gun handy in case of a return of the villain(s.)

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  2. Mary Pannabecker SteinerAugust 24, 2010 at 6:44 AM

    How sad and frightening. I'm sorry. I know how much you love them.

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  3. I guess the coyotes have to eat too but you would think there would be plenty of rabbits and field mice. I have always loved to watch hawks gliding and circling in the wind. Now I will never look at them in the same way. I miss your ducks and I have never met them either.

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  4. Mary Pannabecker SteinerAugust 25, 2010 at 8:40 AM

    BTW, some of the farmers in this area are watching for a reported coyote.

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  5. I used to like watching hawks too, until now.

    It seems like people are always talking about coyotes here but deep down I really didn't think it would hit home. I got a donkey to be a guardian for my goats but I thought she'd just become a pet and not have to guard.

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  6. Oh, I'm so sad! I can't believe all those beautiful ducks are gone. I don't know what I'd do? I'm sorry, Karen.
    Kathy

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