This event has been upsetting for our chickens. Ronnie seems particularly disturbed by the whole event. There’s a problem with this. The chicks follow Ronnie anywhere and everywhere, with the attack two nights ago he’s become determined to not roost in the coop anymore. So the chicks need some encouragement to go in. In fact, Julian (probably the smartest of them all next to Ronnie) tried to roost in a plum tree the night after the attack.
The problem though is that even though they are scared the coop is still by far the safest place they could go - even before I made the changes to secure it.
I found evidence of Raccoon tracks, small piles of Ivy and Dandelion feathers, and scratch marks at the top of the coop where it seems clear the raccoon got them. I’ve put boards in place that will stop a raccoon from being able to get them in that same place. I secured anything else that looks like it might have even had a chance at being a problem.
We’ve been checking on them a couple of times through the night to make sure nothings happening. I’ve been checking for anymore tracks or evidence our raccoon has come back for more but haven’t seen anything yet. Although the chicks were obviously more chipper today than they had been.
They have been very careful and very somber the last two days. Pepper is still limping around but she appears to be doing well - she’s become very diligent at finding the highest place possible in the coop very quickly lately as well.
Hopefully tonight Ronnie will be feeling more comfortable and will be willing to sleep in the coop again without us having to carry him out at night - it’s cumbersome task each night.
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