Today’s Run:  4.22 miles

I am a woman on a mission.

Yesterday I told you about how my hen Ginger met her demise at the hand(s) of a Raccoon.  At least I am pretty sure it was a Raccoon.  This morning, another one of my hens met the same fate. This time it was Mutt.  Mutt was a brown “Easter Egger” and she laid light blue eggs.  They were very pretty and delicate looking.  She has now passed to that great chicken tractor in the sky.

I left on my run this morning at 5:15 am.  I check on the chickens by peeking out the back door.  They were not up yet so I took off for my run.  I returned an hour later and the chickens were clucking and running around in circles.  I thought they were just hungry and hurried to go down and feed them.  When I arrived I was met with a grisly scene of what was left of Mutt.  And it wasn’t much.  Something had gone over the fencing I have around my chicken tractor and grabbed her and tried to pull her through the tractor itself.  It then had had itself breakfast.  The other hens were frantic.

I needed help to get Mutt out of the tractor wires and called my Dad to help.  My parents came over and we were able to erase all evidence of Mutt and the hens quieted down after that.  That is when I went into action.

I called the Tractor Supply Store.  Yes, they had animal traps.  Yes, they were on special right now~two traps for $25.00.  I took off for tractor supply and Lowe’s with my son it tow.

I purchased the traps.  I purchased metal hardware cloth.  I stapled the hardware cloth all around the parameter of the chicken tractor (with my son’s help). If a critter can reach through that, I will eat my hat!).  Tonight I will bait the traps and place one outside the fencing of the tractor and the other one inside the fencing of the tractor.

The last thing I did today was practice target shooting with the .22.  I am a good shot with that thing and at point blank range, it will be really hard to miss.

So tomorrow morning, bright and early, you will find me checking my traps and see what has been eating my chickens.   I hope it is not a skunk!