Some mornings, it is great to wake up, until you realize what happened the night before.
Today was one of those days. I had woken up early to get some T-shirts made and some fence put in before the heat of the day. I made my morning post and enjoyed a cup of coffee. When I started to make my rounds though, my heart sank.
The back door of one of our chicken tractors was open. Such things should not be. This was the first clue that I was not going to have a good morning.
Inside, I could already see that there was a whole mess of feathers. Since we had not fed our chickens Alka-Seltzer tablets as an after dinner snack, the cause of this was limited.
Sure enough, broken eggs and feathers were all over outside of the chicken tractor too. Someone had enjoyed a feast last night, at the cost of our animals. When it comes to chickens, we still previously had nine hens, and two roosters. Additionally, one of our Muscovy duck mamas had taken to laying her eggs in the chicken coop. Since they were all getting along, we just let her make her nest there. Thankfully, I did not see any duck feathers, so that gave me hope. Soon I was searching the woods around the pen, looking for that lost duck.
As heartache would have it, I soon came upon the cold corpse of what had once been our duck. It is a tragic sight to behold. The duck wasn’t really even eaten, and was mostly intact. It had just been killed, and its neck had been nibbled on.
Most likely, one of these guys came over to see if it could get an easy meal last night. Unfortunately, it did. This Raccoon was one that we had recently trapped, and the photo is from another post that I had made. We enjoyed catching some fish as a family and used some the extra ones to bait traps with, since some of the neighbors had been having trouble with them lately too. It looks like I'll have to set some more traps. Tonight, I'll chop up the duck carcass and bait some traps. Hopefully, I can catch some more raccoons before they continue to feast on my flock.
Upon further investigation, I found the root of the problem. When the @little-peppers locked up the animals last night, they did not really lock them all up. This chicken tractor can be closed without locking it, as the door fits inside the metal roofing and pops shut.
This lock is supposed shut at night, but, unfortunately, it wasn't. If it had been done properly, it would have looked the photo above...
But, it looked like this instead. Lessons like this are tough ones to learn. Obviously my @little-peppers could have done a better job, but then again, @papa-pepper could have done a better job training them, or at least double-checking their work.
Since we have been hatching out a few ducklings, we were excited that our second mother duck was laying and sitting on the eggs. This could have meant a lot more free ducks for us. Thankfully, our first mama duck is hard at work raising the two she hatched first.
Additionally, one of the other babies that hatched later is still doing well, though we had to separate it from the others. For some reason, it's mother is very aggressive towards it, so we are having to raise it separately, which is fine. We would rather put forth the effort of raising it ourselves than have it end up dead.
In the end, at least we got the three original ducks that we had for free. Now, one of them is dead, but the other mother has blessed us with three new ducklings, so we are still up five ducks. Interestingly enough, one of our chicken hens has actually taken sitting over on our dead ducks nest. She has been there all morning. We are really hoping that she will hatch out the eggs that our dead mama left behind. I'll keep you posted.
Also, for those of you who were wondering, yes, "Heartache on the Homestead" is a variation on the series that @bluerthangreen has been posting, called "Hardships on the Homestead." You should check out some of those posts from @bluerthangreen. Hopefully, he will get past his hardships and I can get over my heartache.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-heartbreaking-morning
Until next time…
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You really look like a wild person, do you manage to make steemit your primary income source ? this is so amazing. I wonder when I'll be able to do the same!!
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Raccoons can be some pretty vicious creatures. They are very smart as well which enables them to find their way into everything. Haven't had them get any chickens yet, but have heard some bad stories. Thanks for the post! Steem on!
Yeah, they are crafty and cunning.
Good post, thanks for sharing
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I am sorry for the loss of your family. Yup I understand that they are family. I once raised a duck for two years. She would follow me everywhere. She was even house trained.. Mostly. She loved it when I showered but sadly one day while I was at work the neighbours dog jumped my fence and killed her.
Dogs, another potential menace. At least you had some great times first.
It does not matter if it was locked as raccons easily figure out locks especially latches. Probable woukd have unkatchec them. If you had guinnees they woukd have had such a loud noise you woukd gave known.
The loss is hard ,but even harder when they are left nearly intact,and not eaten.
I understand nature and have respect for the wild things that we have displaced for our comfort and civilization. But I also recognize the need to establish these process's ,and to try and find harmony. Glad to see use of live trap,rather than poisons,or other deadly means.
Amazing how fast animals will foster an others young so easy!,even across species lines. ... love the animals ,be wary of the humans... :-)
Hope you have a good day!... "life is to short for bad day's!"
namaste!
Thank you, life needs more good days. Mine are all pretty excellent overall. Thanks.
Aww, wow. Sorry for such a sad morning. I do feel bad for the little pepper who's responsibility this fell too, but what a visceral lesson! Not one that will be easily forgotten.
It's lessons like these that are impossible to learn without tactile experience. I think life on a homestead is powerful, particularly for young kids (this is one of the primary reasons we moved our family out to the Ozarks, too!) I used to work at a school that "padded" everything for the children. Nothing too upsetting, controversial, or difficult--and as a result, I don't think that those kids were experiencing reality, or being prepared for the real world. The real world can be hard, cruel, and it makes you tough if you're willing to learn. The real world is also beautiful at times, and the grace of having another bird take on the dead duck's brood is a gentle reminder of that as well.
Hope that the littles on the homestead recover, a little wiser, a little more tough, and a little more grateful. Thanks for a great article!
In my neck of the Caribbean Rain Forest, I have a problem with Jaguarundi, a smaller version of Jaguar who are being forced out of their natural habitat due to rain forests destruction and development and into my cacao farm. Last week, one literally jumped my into my fenced yard around my house, even though the dogs where nearby and grabbed the chicken who it had missed a few weeks earlier. I was shocked that he would be so bold with dogs and all, but gosh, they are hungry. A few weeks earlier he took 2 hens. I didn't feel so bad about it, as I know that they have to eat too. He missed the 3rd hen, as she was in the house "setting" at the time. But since she lost her tribe, she has been sleeping near our house, which I have a fence around for my dogs and puppies. I never thought the cat would jump the fence, for fear of the dogs. Poor thing, he must be extremely hungry.
I thought that he got the 3rd hen as I did not see her for several days. I must have scared the cat when I started screaming when I heard the scandal; when I investigated I saw a slew of feathers and no chicken, so of course I thought the worst. She appeared back but she has a broken wing and a loss of feathers. I am considering giving her away. Poor thing.
I know how you feel, @papa-pepper!
Man that sucks. Well it could have been worse though, and that means today is a good day to teach your little peppers a lesson and help them grow! Glad that your looking at the postive parts. Hope the chicken hatches your duck eggs too!!
If that hen hatches those eggs, it will receive a place of honor among my people.
Then I'm your people because I will honor him too haha
when I was homesteading on the Llano back in the eighties
I slept lite..and had a shotgun beside my bed.
If I heard a racket...I grabbed my gun and run
a LOT of coyotes, coons and stray dogs.
BOOM!
din't run fast enough.
another one bit the dust.
We got all three of them out here too.
Sorry to hear about the loss of the chickens and the duck. I have 8 chickens and would be upset if anything got them. I know nature will find a weak spot and exploit it, but it still stings🐓
It does still sting.
oh you should get them inside maybe, i had bunnies one time and the same thing happend to them!
Oh no, baby bunnies!
Yes! 2 baby bunnies man :(
I like the way the article flow, when do ducks usually start producing?
Once they do lay, Muscovy Ducks take 35 days to incubate. Not sure how old before laying though, but I could ask.
Looks like you've had some trouble today! I'm sorry to hear!
Moving past it, but a rough start, to be sure.
I'm sorry, that really sucks.
Great articel
Hey @papa-pepper
I have never kept ducks BEFORE ,only pegions and guinea pigs.I should try Ducks will they do well in hot climate?
There are ducks that can do well in hot climates. It's pretty hot here and lots of folks have them.
Ok thank you .
Hmmm, you should release the hounds to patrol at night!
That usually works really well. However, someone took my Rottweiler mix (she was so friendly, I am sure she just followed someone into their car, and broke their heart lol), and that's the night the 'coons ate all my pheasant brains. Apparently brains are the part they will focus on when food is plentiful.
Bear eat the brains and eggs of salmon when the fishing is good, and leave the rest for the birds. Birds don't mind the free fish, so nothing gets wasted on the spawning grounds, like it does when you end up with 40 headless pheasants of a morning.
You can only eat so many pheasants, and if you don't have a freezer (a homestead essential, but we were just starting out in an old school bus) there's not much you can do.
Perhaps it's time to build an electric fence to protect your animals.
What animals? Coons ate their brains, ending my exotic pheasant enterprise.
sorry to see such carnage, Pepper family. Lots of lessons learned this morning. Makes me want to go double check my coop today and repair any holes. Hope the rest of your day is a little more happy. Much love guys.
Thanks. So far so good since then.
:) Great news!
Nobody ever likes to see the "proof of death" shot at the end...but it's part of living on the farm, unfortunately. Coons can wreak havoc, and with fur prices non-existent, they really don't have anything to keep them in check anymore. Good luck to you @papa-pepper
Thanks. I will be fighting the good fight!
They still make good hats.
That they do lol!
oh no! So sorry this happened to your chickens. They become our family :(
What a disappointment. I hope you manage to catch the critter. Good luck with the survivors.
I'll let you know if I catch the culprit.
Sorry for the ducks :( But I think it is not necessary to destroy raccoons. Suffice it to securely lock the duck house.
Mostly I relocate.
@Papa-Pepper...Really like how You use many photos to document & explain what happened.
Here in southern Florida the Muscovy ducks usually have between 10 to 16 ducklings... is there a reason why they have so many ducklings here vs where You live ? Just curious.
Thanks @Papa-Pepper
First time mother, still figuring things out. Did you ever get me a shipping address for your tee shirt?
Not yet... You have a Very Good memory...haven't seen You in SteemChat.
Will go there now and see if there is a way to private message.
Ah...I found You, am still learning how things work. Just left my address.
Thank You Again Papa-Pepper... Have a Great Weekend !!
so sorry about your racoon problem, we do not have them here in Alaska but foxes get our ducks..... very sad
Depending on where you're at in AK, marten, mink, or various other voracious mustelids are every bit as hungry as 'possums and 'coons. I don't ever remember seeing a skunk when I was there, but wolverines could open a pickup truck like a canopener if it was full of juicy ducks.
Good thing they're kinda scarce where people are.
Yes you are right no skunks. Wolverines are something trappers worry about not so much around people. That would be my worse nightmare meeting a wolverine in my animal pen..... I would rather meet a bear!
One of the many perils of homesteading. Hope your little ones are ok and understand.
sorry to hear about your chickens at least you still have a pretty good sense of humor with the Alka-Seltzer joke I wish you the best in recouping your coop
Lol, thanks for reading. Alka-seltzer...
damn that's sad!
cyber hugs sent!
i lol'ed
O no! Sorry for your loss ☹️
So sad. Nature can be cruel but then there are always the ones like the mother hen trying to sit on the dead duck's eggs and hatch them.
Sorry to see this. I know it is discouraging when you put so much care into your animals.
I am sorry for your loss sir @papa-pepper - you are correct that some things should not be. I hope your flock comes back ten times stronger and the coons are able to be shuttled far far away.
That's really sad. Even chickens can be cute. Ducks for sure. We had to evacuate recently for a wildfire and opened the gate to the chicken coop so they at least had a chance if the fire made it our way. Lost two birds when we were able to come back the next day and check the property. It is sad, they have personality.
It's always sad to lose your duck friends. My dad lost his goose to some neighbor's dogs that were roaming the block.
It's a tough lesson -- for kids and adults -- but a good one to learn. One of the benefits to raising kids on a homestead or farm is that they get to experience and appreciate the full cycle of life, as well as the very real consequences of our actions and inactions.
I hope your hen hatches out the duck eggs for you. It would be a silver lining to a sad tale.
sad to hear that man....
Sorry to hear about your chickens and your duck buddy. We lost a hen to a dog earlier and it's terrible. I can't imagine losing so many. Trap those raccoons up.
Sorry to hear that. We had a whole duck nest destroyed by a raccoon a few years back too. They're crafty little fuckers.
Some of 'em ain't so little. Raccoons can reach 60 lbs. That's the size of a Doberman.
Sorry for your loss brother. Hope you catch the offender.
Oh my goodness, I'm in tears. How tragic. Yes, hard lessons. Hugs and wishing you the best.
Could the raccoon have shaken the clasp open? The little peppers must feel real bad, so maybe not their fault.
That's a bummer
So sorry about your chickens and duck. I bet the little preppers feel terrible about it. It's a hard thing for children to learn that animals will pray on other animals.
Sorry to hear that! This truly is a wilder land down here. I sometimes forget that critters are always out hunting for these livestock, and probably are doing their rounds once a night to check.
Oh sorry to hear that @papa-pepper ! @little-peppers must have been very heart broken!
That would really be very great and interesting if she manages to hatch out the eggs!
I'm so sorry to hear that! It is a tough lesson to learn, and it's also part of the reality of how the animal world works. At the risk of offending someone, I have never liked raccoons. It annoys me when people call them "cute." To me they have always been trouble, maybe because they burrowed in our attic when I was a kid and would come out and knock the garbage cans over and would sometimes appear out of nowhere in our driveway, hissing at me. But of course raccoons are just doing what their nature tells them to, so I can't blame them either.
Hope your week gets better!
I did not realize that raccoons would kill chickens. :(
Hey buddy, be strong!
I have had this happen to me numerous times, mongooses always found a way to eat my chickens.
Those mongooses!
They suck, but this is nature, need to dig the fence deeper. good luck :)
Aww I'm so sorry! Poor chickens and ducks... it seems homesteading without some heartache and hardships is impossible. I think it would be good for people to recognize that homesteads are not all sunshine and rainbows, may I link this article in the next Weekly Homesteading Newsletter? Also, can we donate any SBD to help if you want to get new additions for the flock or are you waiting to see if the eggs hatch successfully?? I'm always willing to pitch in what I can to help a fellow homesteader :)
Well that sucks.
Don't be too hard on the @little-peppers. Not all lessons learned are easy ones of pleasant ones.
I'm sure whoever it was that was supposed to look the door feels really bad today. And I have no doubt that they loved the chickens and the duck just as much as you did.
All you can do is take the hit, learn from it, and move on and make sure it doesn't happen again.
Can you spring load all the doors you have, to make them stay shut tight in case someone forgets again?
You might want to look at getting some geese. They are really good at guarding a property, and very few animals will take them on.
I hope your day improves. ;-)
Geese would be no challenge for a big raccoon. They'd be helpful for most normal raccoons though, I think, especially if you had a half dozen. Geese will gang up on enemies.
They also make a bunch of noise when they feel threatened, which can be good for alerting the homeowners to trouble.
Boy do they! Not many will sleep through it, that's for sure.