Last summer we added 6 more chickens to our flock of 6. These 12 hens gave us plenty of eggs and entertainment all summer and fall. Until the coyotes moved in. Then the raccoons. One by one, our chicken flock dwindled. We had them fenced in all day and locked in their coop at night, but still chickens were going missing (sometimes in broad daylight while I was home). Greg got on the lookout with the shotgun, but didn't get a coyote until 11 were already dead. The raccoons left telltale paw prints in the snow where they had broken into the hen house at night, left 2 dead inside and then escaped over the fence to get away.
Needless to say, our lone chicken Bridget (named for a Busytown character) was a little spooked to sleep in her coop. We thought she might be lonely, so we sent her over to live at our neighbors who have a flock of their own (although also dwindling due to coyotes). After a few days, we see Bridget strutting her way back home to our house. She settled back in and has been spending her days digging up my garden (ugh!) and her nights up in our other neighbors holly bush (a pretty safe choice). She's stayed alive for now 5 months longer than the rest, and faithfully gives us 1 egg each day.
