I have had my 6 chickens for about a year and a half. I have a completly closed in pen that almost no predator could get in. Then they have a much bigger fenced in area with 4' chicken wire nicely tight, with stakes between the fence posts keeping the wire in place.
Well last week at about 3pm I was mowing and found one of my chickens out in the yard. Clearly that ment something was wrong. Went, grabbed my gun, and headed for the pen. Found feathers every where and one dead chicken After some looking finally found another. 4 more still missing. One was a great hider so I figured she would show up, and one was in the front yard where I was mowing. But two were still missing. The day pen was big but not that big, however with more looking I found where something had pushed under. I also found what I thought was dog dooky next to one of the killed chickens. Ok so I was really mad. I went to my neighbors the ones whos dogs had killed before. Upon rousting them out of the house they proved that their dogs were chained up. (Sadly chained and tangled in the lawn furnichure) So at least they untangled the poor dog. I was convinced it wasnt their dog(s). By this time I rounded up the chicken from the front yard and got her back into the pen. By calling the other hidden chcken came out of hiding. So now at least 2 hours after the kills I was out calling my chickens in their pen. I heard this faint cluck like call that they make when I shut them in their night pen. Following it I found one of my girls on her back under a tree. Still alive I carried her in the house thinking that there is no way this chicken will live the night. I put dried grass clippings in an empty box and put her down in the box. Covered it with a throw rug and let here just chill. Its been a week now she is still in the box. (well about her 4th box) she can stand up and in fact got out of the most recient shallow box yesterday. (twice today) She is eating well for the lack of activity. She can stand up but usually falls forward or back word. She now cleans her feathers and loves the treats I share. sliced open squash that is too big to cook, cucumbers, bread crumbs. She can waddle to her water and food dish. I am thinking that she probably has a broken pelvis. I am hoping that by next week I can have her out in the yard for short periods of time.
Now yesterday I was looking out the back window at the chicken pen. I dont let the two (ok) girls out yet. I have a steel trap (leg hold) in the push under area as there has been activity there several time since the big kill. Ok so I am looking out the window hoping the dog will come back as I am gun ready. Across the yard trots a Red fox.
This explains why I could not find one of my dead chickens. Because at the time of the kill the fox hauled one off to eat. Now I am stunned whey did it kill others? This is usually characteristic of domestic dogs. I watched the fox for a few minutes as it went behind the day pen towards the push under area where I had seen the additional digging, and where the trap was set. After about 10 minutes and no fox showing up trying to get into the protected pen I went out to check. No Fox in sight but clearly it was digging right beside the trap. Sly Fox it knew to stay away from the trap. So now I 98% sure it was a Fox that killed the chickens. My Question is do Foxes normally kill more than they haul off? Maybe it was a stupid kid fox? I dont hate foxes, I would rather have a fox in the yard than some nasty stray cat. In the end my plan is to run a 2' roll of chicken wire along the outside and on the ground of my pen. Then use "J" clips to hold it in place against the upright wire.
Now I have questions about egg laying. My hen in the box laid a broken (ruptured) egg the day after the attack but no eggs since. My two (Ok) hens have laid about 3 eggs in a week between the two. I have no doubts that they have all laid well, and its time for a moult, but any one have any comments on how fast a chicken can shut down production? My two (ok) girls were just stunned the day of the big kill. For two days they just stood around didnt eat much really didnt even leave the night perch. The one in the box was of course mentally and physically tramatised. I am assuming it is a safety mechanisim. After the last dog attack where I lost other hens I noticed a dramatic reduction from the remaining hens, but they came back on line after about a week or two. I guess I am just wondering if any one can offer some insight on the starting and stopping of egg production in chickens.
Well last week at about 3pm I was mowing and found one of my chickens out in the yard. Clearly that ment something was wrong. Went, grabbed my gun, and headed for the pen. Found feathers every where and one dead chicken After some looking finally found another. 4 more still missing. One was a great hider so I figured she would show up, and one was in the front yard where I was mowing. But two were still missing. The day pen was big but not that big, however with more looking I found where something had pushed under. I also found what I thought was dog dooky next to one of the killed chickens. Ok so I was really mad. I went to my neighbors the ones whos dogs had killed before. Upon rousting them out of the house they proved that their dogs were chained up. (Sadly chained and tangled in the lawn furnichure) So at least they untangled the poor dog. I was convinced it wasnt their dog(s). By this time I rounded up the chicken from the front yard and got her back into the pen. By calling the other hidden chcken came out of hiding. So now at least 2 hours after the kills I was out calling my chickens in their pen. I heard this faint cluck like call that they make when I shut them in their night pen. Following it I found one of my girls on her back under a tree. Still alive I carried her in the house thinking that there is no way this chicken will live the night. I put dried grass clippings in an empty box and put her down in the box. Covered it with a throw rug and let here just chill. Its been a week now she is still in the box. (well about her 4th box) she can stand up and in fact got out of the most recient shallow box yesterday. (twice today) She is eating well for the lack of activity. She can stand up but usually falls forward or back word. She now cleans her feathers and loves the treats I share. sliced open squash that is too big to cook, cucumbers, bread crumbs. She can waddle to her water and food dish. I am thinking that she probably has a broken pelvis. I am hoping that by next week I can have her out in the yard for short periods of time.
Now yesterday I was looking out the back window at the chicken pen. I dont let the two (ok) girls out yet. I have a steel trap (leg hold) in the push under area as there has been activity there several time since the big kill. Ok so I am looking out the window hoping the dog will come back as I am gun ready. Across the yard trots a Red fox.
This explains why I could not find one of my dead chickens. Because at the time of the kill the fox hauled one off to eat. Now I am stunned whey did it kill others? This is usually characteristic of domestic dogs. I watched the fox for a few minutes as it went behind the day pen towards the push under area where I had seen the additional digging, and where the trap was set. After about 10 minutes and no fox showing up trying to get into the protected pen I went out to check. No Fox in sight but clearly it was digging right beside the trap. Sly Fox it knew to stay away from the trap. So now I 98% sure it was a Fox that killed the chickens. My Question is do Foxes normally kill more than they haul off? Maybe it was a stupid kid fox? I dont hate foxes, I would rather have a fox in the yard than some nasty stray cat. In the end my plan is to run a 2' roll of chicken wire along the outside and on the ground of my pen. Then use "J" clips to hold it in place against the upright wire.
Now I have questions about egg laying. My hen in the box laid a broken (ruptured) egg the day after the attack but no eggs since. My two (Ok) hens have laid about 3 eggs in a week between the two. I have no doubts that they have all laid well, and its time for a moult, but any one have any comments on how fast a chicken can shut down production? My two (ok) girls were just stunned the day of the big kill. For two days they just stood around didnt eat much really didnt even leave the night perch. The one in the box was of course mentally and physically tramatised. I am assuming it is a safety mechanisim. After the last dog attack where I lost other hens I noticed a dramatic reduction from the remaining hens, but they came back on line after about a week or two. I guess I am just wondering if any one can offer some insight on the starting and stopping of egg production in chickens.
