Sophia was murdered

PDFPTR

I have several chickens. I’ve had them for about 2 years now, acquiring after a friend of mine decided to get them and then abandoned them with me after they moved on.

For the past 18+ months I’ve taken care of them. We started with 3 & then 4 more for a total if 7. Dick had to go, that left us 6. Later I lost 2 of the Goldens due to simple health issues (both of those were lost a year ago). So for the past year it’s been the four.

Of those remaining four there was Luna (white), Petunia (speckled black), Sophie (red-brown), the original 3 and Goldie (the last of the 4 Goldens).

Over time I’ve been known once or twice to forget to put them away at night, which includes a secure lockup. I do run in to an issue on mornings I work, as I leave at 5am. To which I let them out early.

Today oddly enough would have been on of those mornings and for some odd reason last night I did not lock them up. My mistake!

I got up late today as I took Tuesdays off this month. When I got out there today it was a crime scene, and Sophie was the victim. She was dead & gutted in the yard, with feathers everywhere.

I FUCKED UP! I am responsible. I should have put them away last night. I should have ensured they safety. Now I feel bad, horrible in fact.

Now moving forward, I’ve cleaned up the mess. The remaining chickens seems quite upset and did not want to leave their enclosure. I chose to close the door and let them stay in for a while today.

The problem is, what to do in the future. Could the murder return? Does it hunt in the day or just at night? Was it at night this happened? I don’t know and don’t know what to do, what is right for them and their safety.

Should I not let them out any more? Should I somehow enclose the whole yard or build some sort of pen?

And lastly should I alert that friend of this event? I did, I sent a message mid-day, no reply.

I am responsible, last night I started watching the movie The 355. I had gotten half way through it, when I realized I had not been watching. I rewound it to a point I remembered watch up to, got in bed and finished watching it. I totally forgot about the chickens, and this (her death) is the price. I am sorry, Sophia.

😢