protection
protection at Alektorophobia is a file of 6 stories. The newest of them: “When your new chick loses her head, the older hens might be the ones to blame”, “Hurricane refugees turn my coop into an egg-citing new flock”, and “Foxed again: Seeking a permanent fix after losing another favorite hen”. Oh, fowl play indeed, and not the fun kind. The sight of panicked hens dodging falling trees in a hurricane is the kind of fowl play that breaks your heart, and then makes you act. Chickens. Everything there is to know about chickens and the fear of them. The list below is every protection story on Alektorophobia, newest first.
When your new chick loses her head, the older hens might be the ones to blame
Oh, fowl play indeed, and not the fun kind. Finding your new chick decapitated in the center of a covered pen is the stuff of nightmares, and I feel that horror right in my bones. You're smart to rule out raccoons or hawks; those predators usually leave a messier scene or a missing body. Could the older girls have done this? Unfortunately, yes. Hens can be brutal when they decide a newcomer doesn't belong, and pecking can escalate to deadly levels, especially in tight quarters. It's a grim reminder that flock integration is no joke. For more on mysterious chicken sounds that make you question your sanity, check out "When your hen's 'barking' sounds more like a sneeze, is it asthma or just fowl play."
Hurricane refugees turn my coop into an egg-citing new flock
The sight of panicked hens dodging falling trees in a hurricane is the kind of fowl play that breaks your heart, and then makes you act. When a Redditor in the Florida panhandle saw those poor girls running through sideways rain, they didn't just cluck their tongue and move on. They grabbed their grandson, caught every last one, and tucked them into a cozy, unused coop. Turns out, the original owner was a nightmare: no shelter, no care, and code enforcement had already written her up. When she refused to chase them down after the storm, the decision was made. Those feathered friends aren't going back. They're safe, loved, and protected for life.
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.
Winter is Coming! Cluck-tastic Tips for Chicken Coop Weatherproofing
Snow's flirting with the forecast, and while I'm over here stocking up on hot cocoa, our feathered friends need a game plan. Weatherproofing the coop isn't just about dodging drafts; it's about outsmarting winter's fowl play before it turns your girls into unhappy campers. I've been through enough frosty mornings to know a little prep beats a frantic chase with a heat lamp. And hey, if you're new to the flock, don't chicken out now. We've covered the basics elsewhere, like in that "Chickens Got Her Good!" adventure, but this guide? It's your no-nonsense, cluck-tastic roadmap to keeping things toasty. So grab a shovel and let's get cracking, because these ladies deserve a five-star winter retreat.
Egg-cellent Summer: Keeping Your Chicken Eggs Cool & Cluck-tastic
Summer heat has a way of making even the calmest chicken keeper sweat, but nothing throws a barnyard curveball quite like a warm egg straight from the nest. Yikes, right? We love our feathered friends, but nobody loves a runny yolk that's been sitting in the sun. That's why we're clucking about keeping things cool and collected this season. A little shade, a splash of fresh water, and maybe a frozen treat or two can turn a scorching afternoon into a proper peck-icnic. And if you're new to the flock, don't worry; we've all been there, chasing our tails and learning the ropes. Speaking of adventures, our pals over at "Chickens Got Her Good!
Our gentle rooster Marto has crowed his last good morning
This morning was disturbingly quiet, and I felt that ache right along with the community. Marto, the rooster who became a beloved feathered friend, passed away yesterday, and his human is devastated. He wasn't the most confident guy, but he was good to his girls and the ducks, and that's what made him a true protector. I love that his person snuck him extra food when he was unpopular, turning a simple act into "their thing." That's the kind of bond that makes this chicken-keeping life so egg-citing and so hard. His crow song will be missed, but those ridiculous videos? Priceless. For more heartwarming flock moments, check out our piece on six fluffy chicks hatching, it's cluck-tastic. Rest easy, Marto.