Lucy girl...

I'm sad to share with you guys that I lost my Lucy girl earlier this week.  The music man built the girls coop like a fortress, it's solid and very secure. In addition to the front door there is a small, very small side door that I can open and close for them to come and go as they please. Recently I had been leaving the small door open 24 hours a day since we have been in and out a lot. Most of our predators are large... coyotes, bob cats, mountain lions etc. nothing that could fit through that little door. I haven't had a problem or seen any tracks around the coop.

Unfortunately I found out that we do have small predator around here. Something small got into the coop the other night and took my Lucy right off the roost. Whatever it was came in quietly and defeathered her inside the coop and left with her. There was no blood, no body... Strange and very upsetting.  I didn't hear a thing, nothing, neither did the dogs. I feel terrible and am a really bad chicken mama for leaving the damn door open.  The other girls were not bothered at all, in fact no trauma whatsoever and they laid like normal that morning.

 The following evening I sprinkled flour around the coop knowing whatever came and took her would be back. Sure enough the next morning there were tracks.  I think it was a raccoon. There were tracks that seemed to make a beeline straight to the small door that of course was closed and locked tight. It also tried to dig under the coop? No problem there since we have wire underneath it.

I am so thankful for my time with Lucy, she was my beautiful black Australorp who blessed us with an egg every single day. I had her for over a year and a half and she always greeted me so sweetly.  I am so sorry I left that door open assuming we were okay... hard lesson learned.

I love this country life but I do not like the loss that is sometimes brings. The country is gorgeous, the not being part of the rat race soothes me but the room for error out here is small and unforgiving. RIP Lucy girl, I'm so sorry.