It’s been a rough week – Daddio died this morning and suddenly it’s apparent that I have not seen the roosters shown above. I don’t know exactly when I did see them last – they wander the yard with the hens and I think some of the hens are missing, too.
I recently wrote about predators and our 6’ fence – we have not lost a chicken in years! I have searched 6 acres for any sign of them and haven’t found even a stray feather. It’s like someone or something stole them – from the air – maybe a hawk? But I usually know when there’s a racket in the barnyard and I haven’t heard a thing.
I know they’re just chickens but I’ve had them for years – they had personalities and I am heartbroken at this huge loss.
Becky and I played at Concord Care Center today – Finn’s mom, Marline, has been the activity director there for over 10 years and today was her final day. It was quite sad. Hazel was clinging to me when I wanted to leave the house so I took her along and she was such a good girl. Everybody loved her! Why haven’t I taken her with me before now?
It was a sleepy morning down by the barn.
The pumpkin vine wrapped around this gigantic tomato plant! And notice that corn in the background – the fence is 6’ high!
Guess that’s all for today – I’ll let you know if the chickens show up – I simply can’t understand what happened to them!
So sorry to hear this. And they aren’t “just chickens!!” They become family like all of the other critters on the farm. If Hazel was clingy, maybe she senses something is amiss out there!! Might want to keep a close eye out!! Hope not!!
Mary, I’m so sorry about your chickens. I hope you solve the mystery soon. It would be interesting to have a trail camera on your barnyard just to see what goes on at night. Good luck.
Mary I’m so sorry to hear of your missing chickens & they are pets just as all the others you care for. Perhaps Hazel sensed your sad heart 😢
Take care Mary.
Oh, Mary, that is so sad. All of our critters are special. Do you have coyotes out there. My friend’s older dog was out in their yard for 20 minutes at 9:00 in the morning and they couldn’t find one bit of him. Her students told her coyotes do that. They will drag something far away and eat all of it. Yes, so watch to see if they are around. I hope you don’t have coyotes!
You should get a donkey for your critters. I am reliably told that they are the early alert system for amy predators bothering your other critters. The predators may not be animal or fowl.
So sorry, hope you find the chickens & roaster.
Hopefully they’re just hideing..
Love watching the corn grow, it’s amazing. Your yard is so pretty.
Hugs Linda
Hi Mary, sorry to hear about your chickens, it’s odd there are no feathers or signs of them around.just babysat Stella and Luna, Stella talks non stop and Luna was practising her downward dog yoga position! Good luck with the chickens, best wishes from sandy
Yes, I was also wondering if somebody stole the chickens? Do you put the chickens in the barn at night? It doesn’t sound like a coyote could jump the fence. My niece lives on a ranch outside of Timber Lake, SD. It is on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. She has an older terrier and a coyote grabbed him and was leaving on a dead run. The guys chased him and rescued the dog who was only a bit worse for wear. About 10 years ago an older lady was living on a small ranch a few miles from town. A mountain lion grabbed her dog, she grabbed her gun and killed the lion. She had to call Game & Parks because she had killed the lion. They promptly asked her why she had a loaded gun, to her answer ‘what use is an unloaded gun?’ Gotta love us old ladies!! Even in town the mountain lions who can’t hunt for some reason will grab a small dog or cat, too. Easy prey. You may never find out where they went.
Betty in Rapid City
We have raccoons and other predators here so I lock up my chickens snd count head every night. I had one missing for 20 days starting on December 26. I looked snd looked and finally found her in the barn behind a couple of hat bales about 75 feet from her chicken house lying on 20 eggs! She was fine and hasn’t done it since. I hope you have a similar outcome….
By the way I have donkeys and Guineas (who are also good about alerting us of strange goings on. When I have lost birds to predators the donkeys have not been concerned.
Rosalie – yup, and I’d probably be asleep!
Maybe it happened at night? Thought the geese would have raised a ruckus?
I understand about losing your chickens. I only have 6 hens, but they are my pets and they follow me when I go outside. Of course, they think I might have a treat for them! Mine all have names, too. My oldest hen is 6 1/2 years old, but still lays some eggs. We do enjoy our hens. Enjoyed seeing all the farm pictures today. We have a gourd that is doing the same thing to one of our tomato plants. We have had a large crop of tomatoes this year, and I don’t need to can anything this summer. We take them to church to give them away.
OHH! I really hope all those chickens just come strolling around the corner. That’s got to be devastating not being able to find them! Hope they’re just all hanging out together somewhere. And that’s so cool that you guys go and entertain the folks; I know they loved Hazel.
So sorry about your chickens, hopefully they will not be lost! How wonderful that Hazel is so connected to you and got to come along with you today . Everyone would love seeing her I am sure so now you can do it again! Penny loves everyone so it is fun to take her but she is almost too loving! Hopefully your chickens will return, they love you too!!
Please consider that trail cam. Walmart has them for $20. We have seen deer, turkey, bear, coyote, bobcat, and racoon.
I’m so sorry to hear about your chickens. That’s sad. Seems like Hazel knew something wasn’t right. I think if a bird of prey took a chicken, there would be a pile of feathers left behind. Someone mentioned a trail cam~ that’s a good idea – we capture Dee, bear, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, possums & cats prowling at night. For sure I’d lock them up at night. If a coyote or something else discovered “fast food”, it might return.
On a happy note~ I’m sure Hazel made a lot of new friends at the Care Center. ♥️
Mary, that is so sad. Your chickens are beautiful. I can see why you’re so concerned.
I’m sure your musical entertainment was welcomed today. Those folks looked like they could use some toe tapping music!
Boy, it’s ice cream weather here.
So sorry about your flock… maybe a couple game cams would be of help in identifying what’s going on. You’d think if there was a ruckus Hazel would alert you. Hope you can figure it out!
So sorry about your losing beautiful Daddio and your missing chickens, also. It is puzzling there are no telltale signs. It will be interesting to hear the rest of this mystery.
I am accomplishing quite a bit in my sewing room, since the humidity is keeping us indoors. Take Care. 🤗
Oh, Mary. So sorry to hear about your feathered babies. I hope they are hanging out somewhere all together and show up soon. Hazel knew something was off and wanted to comfort you. I’m sure she was a hit with the gang at the care center! Thinking of you and yours.
What a mystery! I hope you can solve it, Mary. Maybe they will come wandering back. Mine like to hide out sometimes. My feed dish usually brings them out, though. Maybe the dogs could sniff them out. Did you take them on your search? I really, really hope you find them.
Oh Mary I’m so sorry about your chickens. I hope you find them.
Wow look at those tomatoes! I planted 3 tomato plants in my little garden and they are doing well. I’m going to pick some tomorrow, cook them and put them in the freezer. I had to take out my zucchini plant and my yellow squash plant. The squash bugs were driving me crazy. I’ve had them for the last 2 years and can’t get rid of them. I even planted nasturtiums but nothing seems to work. I have drowned so many in a jar of water but it’s hard to catch some of them especially the babies. I think I’ll just buy my zucchini next year!
Mary I hope your chickens show up. They are so beautiful and I used the pictures to decide how to quilt my Home to Roost quilt. We hear coyotes quite often where we live. Thursday we had about 5 turkey hens with their brood running around our back yard. Have not seen that before. Must be safety in numbers!
Oh Mary, you have such a sweet farm and I love reading about all your animals even in the sad times because that’s life on a farm. You are so compassionate and your animals and those around you know it.
We lost our elderly cat one afternoon, she was 19 years old and I let her sit on the back deck in the late November sun because she loved it. I left her for a few minutes to feed our horses and when I returned she was gone. We all searched for her for days..Never found a trace, my college age son I remember took it very hard.
So sorry to hear about your loss of your chickens. They do become very close to you and hopefully they just hunkered down elsewhere for the night. I would hate to think that a predator got them. It sounds like maybe a human helped themselves to your flock if you can’t find even a feather around. My heart hurts for you.
I’m so sorry to hear about your chickens. Those roosters are beautiful. I hope you don’t lose any more. I’m sure that Hazel’s trip to the care center was much appreciated along with the music. Some of the assisted living centers around here allow pets now. I would have a hard time not having a cat. Thanks for the pictures of the animals I always love them.
So sad to hear about your lost chickens. I agree with the others who suggested a trail cam or two. We had a problem with deer coming into the front yard and eating branches off the apple trees. My husband went on a rampage and put electric fencing around the yard and garden. I hate it, as I feel confined, but it seems to be working.
Sorry to hear about your chickens. Farm animals are part of your family. I also like the idea of a
trail camera. Maybe even a couple as you have a big yard. At least you would hopefully find out what is going on. My brother in Minn. has tall tomato plants like yours. Very impressive. You have such a green thumb. Like all your pictures of the farm and your flowers. Enjoyed Betty Klosterman’s 2 stories. I would say that the center residents like when you and Becky come and play. That also turned out good for Hazel to go with you. Hazel sensed that you were sad. Got 2 1/2″ of rain night before last. It soaked away. Came down in sheets with high winds. We didn’t get hail like the people north of us. Dell Rapids had quarter size hail. Brandon had a house roof torn off. Can’t remember the town that had tennis ball size hail. Like the rain but not the extras.
If I lived near you I would spend my nights walking areas where the chickens hang out. I do not care for farm animal theft . I am so sorry for your loss. If it is a human and you catch them .report to police can go from chicken to horse. Or cow. Do you have a dog that stays out at nigh? We locked our chicken up at night. Sorry but I angry about the birds.
I’m so sorry for your losses and the mystery of it. Watch the want ads to see if they’re offered for sale?
Sorry about your missing chickens. I’ve heard big owls can grab chickens too. They often carry them to a rooftop so maybe glance up there for signs of feathers. Shoot.
You and Becky made the residents day with your music. Thank you. Iam sure they also enjoyed Hazel.
Sorry about the chickens. Hope they show up.
We have had deer, raccoons, and a possum. Now a neighbor has been hearing a coyote. They all seem to be enjoying my garden.
We are getting much needed rain today. It will be a nice day to sew.
Mary, I’m so very sorry to hear the chickens are lost. I can feel your pain. Keep hope – maybe they’ve just gone on a walk-about. Surely if a predator got them, you’d see signs, feathers at least. Give Hazel a hug – she’s a good friend and knows you’re sad.
I have a friend who lived on a busy street and their dog was snatched right out of their front yard by a white truck. That was before cameras on houses like so many have now to offer footage to police. I can’t believe how brazen people are. No morals. Hope the flock comes back soon. I feel bad you are experiencing this loss. Hazel knows something isn’t right so glad you took her with you for her own anxiety.
So sorry for the loss of Daddio. Hoping that the mystery of your roosters will be solved soon. The suggestion of a trail camera sounds like a good idea.
What a wonderful and kind things that you and Becky do to play for the seniors….bless you both.
Love that adorable Hazel!!
Sure hope that your chickens come home safe and sound. They aren’t just chickens, as some feel. All living creatures have their own persona, so to speak. I feel for them all. If they could speak, or we could learn to communicate better maybe they would be more regarded. I’m sure that you feel the same.
Mary, Sorry to hear about Daddio. How strange about the missing roosters and hens. Hoping they’ll show up soon. Any chance they got out the main gate, and are somewhere down your side road?