This morning I was upstairs with my 9 month old daughter. The chickens started making a terrible racket at the back of the house. I ran to the window with the baby, whipped the blind up just in time to see a fox grab our favorite girl and run!!! I flew down the stairs and out the front door, screaming as loud as I know how. I took off after the thief, into the woods, still screaming at the top of my lungs. It worked, that rascal dropped her. I picked her up and carried her and the baby to the coop. She has been very quiet, sitting on a roost. There was a tiny bit of blood on her chest, but that's all the injury I can see. Is there anything I can do for her?
She should be fine if you have checked her over really well. You may want to keep them locked up from now on because the fox WILL be back.
She needs some antibiotics so her wounds don't get infected. Make sure the other chickens don't pick on her while she's healing. Other than that only time will tell if she has any internal injuries.
Wow! You go Mama! Maybe she's a bit shocky. Some vitamins/electrolites in her water would probably be a good idea. A little extra TLC too.....maybe some Sulmet in the water as well so the bite marks don't become infected...... Good luck with your hen! Sharon
Wow! You must be in great shape! Not many people can chase down a fox and get their chicken back, all the while carrying a baby! I hope your daughter didn't get the daylights scared out of her with this whole episode, but now she is learning how to be a good chicken mama. Good for you for not letting the fox get away with it. Hope your hen is all right. She will be quiet for a while as she was badly frightened at the least, even if not hurt. Keep us posted on her progress. You and the baby can laugh about this someday when you tell her the story.
Well, Regular chicken has survived. (That's her name.) The others had to be found after the episode. They were all hiding in the woods. Everybody is staying in the pen from now on. The whole bunch has been very quiet today. Everybody has been on high allert. My best girl has been very quiet and inside a nesting box. She has one puncture wound on her chest. Her friends kept checking on her through the day. I'll try to find that Sulmet stuff tomorrow. I washed the wound with betadine and water. She went out and ate and drank late in the afternoon. The socks I was wearing on the run through the woods will never be the same... I nearly cried when it was all over and couldn't find the rest of them. I had no idea I would be so emotionally invested in these lovely birds.
