predator
8 stories filed under predator on Alektorophobia. The newest of them: “That cheeky fox found the one loose board and took five of my flock”, “Possum Gatecrasher Has My Free-Range Flock Refusing Bedtime Duty”, and “Foxed again: Seeking a permanent fix after losing another favorite hen”. Oh, that *cheeky* fox. Oh, a possum gatecrasher at the bedtime buffet, now your girls are staging a fowl protest. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every predator story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
That cheeky fox found the one loose board and took five of my flock
Oh, that *cheeky* fox. Five of your flock gone in one sneaky midnight heist, and the worst part? Three vanished without a single feather as evidence. That's not just fowl play, that's a magic trick. I'm so sorry for your loss, and I totally get the urge to search every bush within a fifty-yard radius. The good news? Your four escapees are tough cookies, and that one injured hen is a survivor. The missing three? Honestly, foxes don't usually leave a clean crime scene unless they're stashing a snack. But hope isn't irrational here, chickens are craftier than we give them credit for. You've already locked down the coop like Fort Knox, which is cluck-tastic.
Possum Gatecrasher Has My Free-Range Flock Refusing Bedtime Duty
Oh, a possum gatecrasher at the bedtime buffet, now your girls are staging a fowl protest. I feel this chaos in my bones. One chicken slept through the whole possum party while the others are now traumatized? That's peak flock energy. They can absolutely smell the intruder, and that scent lingers like a bad houseguest. Confining them for three to five days should reset their tiny, suspicious brains. Clean the coop thoroughly first, maybe even sprinkle some aromatic herbs to mask the stench. They'll grumble about being locked up, but it beats a possum encore. And if you need more poultry drama to distract you, check out our "Bantam or Bust: Our Egg-citing Size Mystery Unfolds" for another feathered fiasco.
Foxed again: Seeking a permanent fix after losing another favorite hen
Losing a second favorite hen in one year hits different, that's not just fowl play, that's heartbreak with feathers. I feel for you, and I respect that you're eyeing the cordless hole puncher solution, but let's talk about something that actually keeps the flock intact. Permanent deterrence is tricky because foxes are clever little opportunists, but they're also creatures of habit. Electric netting has saved more than a few of my feathered friends, and motion-activated lights or sprinklers can throw off their midnight sneak attacks. If removal is on the table, that's a decision only you can make, but securing the coop first might save you the trouble. For more egg-citing coop chaos, check out "Fuzzy butts everywhere" for some lighter poultry problems.
Cluck Yeah, She's Back: Hawk Drama, Spilled Coffee, and a Heroic Hen
Well, I threw a book at a hawk today. Not my finest moment, but also, not my worst. My name's not even in the story, but I felt every second of that chaos right along with the owner. Cecil the hen made a break for the woods after the big flap, and honestly? I was holding my breath right there with the rest of the flock. The good news is that Cecil sauntered back out of the treeline and into the coop like nothing happened. Classic chicken move. The panic, the spilled coffee, the sheer fowl play of it all... and she just strolls home. New skill unlocked indeed: dramatic hen-wrangling under pressure.
A Pecking Problem: Wound Care Tips for Your Brave Hen
Well, look at you, already spotting the trouble spots in your first flock. That's half the battle, honestly. A coyote bite that's not healing and is getting pecked at? That's a classic case of "fowl play" turning into a bigger headache. Two weeks is a while for a wound to still be open, even if she seemed fine after the initial scare. The limp disappearing is great, but that back wound is the real story here. Pecking at it just makes things worse, so you're right to be concerned. My advice? Get her to a vet who knows birds. That bite is likely deeper than it looks, and infections love to hide.
Lone Rooster Lonely? How to Help Your Feathered Friend After the Fox Fiasco
Oh, my heart. A lone rooster after a fox night, and you're left wondering if your feathered friend is secretly crumbling while acting like a champ. First off, you're a good chicken parent, and that "therapy dog" energy is real. Here's the cluck-tastic truth: roosters are surprisingly adaptable, especially when they're bonded to their humans. You're not a flock, but you're a *flock of two*. Since he's still strutting with confidence and showing zero stress, he's likely okay, but keep an eye on his appetite and crowing, that's his way of talking to you. Loneliness can creep in, but your daily cuddles and hand-feeding are doing heavy lifting. Just keep being his person.
Cluck-tastic news: that runaway hen found a safer coop far from the dogs.
Well, that's one way to solve a fowl problem. I'm glad someone scooped up the neighbor's chicken before it became an unwilling contestant in a game of chase with the local dogs. The neighbor's reasoning makes sense, too many pups with speedy paws can turn a casual backyard visit into a high-stakes sprint. I'll admit, I respect the decision to find a safer farm rather than risk a feathered fiasco. It's a practical ending, even if it lacks the chaos of, say, a cluck-tastic caper. For more lighthearted poultry adventures, you might enjoy "Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure." It's a different kind of feathery tale, but it fits the coop.
Our Feathered Friends Have a Fowl Way of Showing Affection
Well, color me cluck-flummoxed. Four of your feathered friends have decided your shins are a personal buffet, and that's a whole new level of fowl play. I love my own flock, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't flinch when they get that glint in their eye. Your story about the air jail and the beak flicks gave me a good chuckle, mostly because I've been there. It sounds like you've tried the gentle route, and they're just not taking the hint. It's a relief to hear you didn't hurt the first one who chomped, but it's a fine line between a correction and a full-on rebellion.