The chicken tunnels are finally up. These constructs have kept my flock safe for several years. We have many toothy critters that would happily stalk a juicy chicken dinner. One of the main reasons for having chickens was to let them free range, we were able to do so for nearly 10 years. They were better for it and so were we. They kept the multitude of bugs at bay and got fat and sassy for doing it.
I would find them in all manner of places. They even made a nest in the llama feed trough. They would actually stand in line and take turns laying eggs there. Then one evening my husband and I went in for dinner. The girls and my rooster Neon at the time were happy pecking around the pole barn. I came out an hour later to check on the llamas and my heart nearly stopped. I saw a wide swath of feathers on the ground, a clear sign there had been an attack.
I looked around for the flock and saw another swath of feathers and another. I saw Neon hiding with several girls under a table behind some bricks. I went in search of the rest of the flock. Several were in the bushes. It was a group surrounding one that was missing all her tail feathers, protecting her. A few made it back to the coop. I had to expand my search. I found one girl on a trail laying next to the body of another. It tore at my heart.
In all, eight were lost to us. It was likely foxes. They will continue to take so long as there are targets. They move their ‘kills’ away and go back again. As I took in the event, in that moment, it was impossible to see, but they were just trying to provide food for their families. There was no malice, just the fabric of life. It was up to me to protect the flock, thus the tunnels were made.
They allow the girls to be out and about but safe. I can move them easily, so they get to new ground to peck and pull at everything. The first day I deployed them a fox attacked. What I could garner from the scene it looked like he got a mouth full of feathers but nothing more. I miss having the chickens follow me around as I do my chores, but I am grateful they are safe.
May you always be surrounded by friends when you’ve lost your tail feathers.
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