Chicken Attacked?

[YoshiWolfox]

@WiddleChix
If he can drink by himself, I'm sure he can eat too, but I'll still make sure to feed him if he isnt just yet. I still don't know where my other hen went, I didn't find any signs of her (no feathers anywhere, just Hickory's feathers), but what I don't understand is that she's been very broody and not coming out of the coop. The one time she does, a fox encounter happens. When she's broody, she doesn't stay with the other hens because they seem to bite broody hens, and then she runs back into her nest. I'm hoping she's somewhere laying on more eggs, and not the fox's dinner

 

[WiddleChix]

I'm sure he's eating too. Yeah that's really weird, can anything get into the coop? I'm really stumped because I've read if a fox gets into the coop or run, they'll kill all the birds because when the chickens get excited and are flapping around squaking, the fox gets excited and will get all the birds, and that it'll usually only take one of the birds with it. I also read that usually there'll be some feathers if the bird was killed by a fox and since you saw no feathers from her I can't be sure she was taken by a fox. Did this happen at night or in the daytime? Are you sure they were your roosters feathers that you saw?

If your chickens free range and you notice she's been away from the flock instead of with them during that period of time she very well could be laying on another clutch. Only time will tell I suppose as I have read stories of people thinking their chicken was gone and a couple weeks go by and here comes their hen with chicks in tow! I really hope she wasn't eaten, that's devastating.

 

[YoshiWolfox]

@WiddleChix
I just went and looked back at the pile of feathers, but I just found a trail of them that ends but they're rooster ones. Butterscotch and Hickory are the same breed, but since Hickory's tail and neck feathers got ripped out, I only see those and no hen feathers. I can tell it's his because Butterscotch doesn't have green on her, and rooster feathers have that shininess to them, almost like that greasy look. And my coop is pretty secure, nothing's been in it besides a few squirrels and birds in the day time, one time a deer stumbled in trying to get old cereal, and recently a baby skunk but that was before I was able to put them in due to me coming home at dusk after hunting. Those happened when the doors were open, but when the doors are closed, nothing can get inside. The crime scene is pretty far from the coop, and at the edge of the yard where the chickens rarely visit. I set the trap there, too. My mom really doesn't want chicks, but I think it'd be the happiest day to see her come back alive at least, lol. I forgot to mention, the fox attack happened in broad daylight! One of my bantams a few years ago got attacked by a fox in daylight too, right outside the coop.

 

[WiddleChix]

Yeah that's a really good sign you only saw Hickory's feathers, they do look greasy lol. Maybe he followed Butterscotch to where she might have a nest? It would be really exciting if she came around with a bunch of chicks wouldn't it lol. If I were you I would go look around where he was attacked and see if you can find any trace of her or a nest she could be laying on if it's possible for you. I've never seen a fox around here I live in California (I noticed you do as well) I see coyotes quite often but my chickens are in a fully enclosed run that only squirrels and little birds can get in, so I've never dealt with a big predator. If I were you I wouldn't get my hopes up just because if it turns out bad you'd be really heart broken anticipating her return, but it sounds like she could still be out there, I really hope she is. If you can snoop around out there let us know what you find. Good luck!

 

[YoshiWolfox]

@WiddleChix
I live up on the north west coast of California, we do have coyotes but I haven't seen one in my yard before. There's also bears and mountain lions but *knock on wood* they don't mess with my chickens! And for Butterscotch, she's the broody one of the bunch and tends to lay on eggs in the woods before I find her stashes

 

[WiddleChix]

I live on the coast of Southern California and I see coyotes weekly, no bears, I have seen raccoons and possums but I have yet to see a fox, *knock on wood* cuz I dont free range and they're very protected in the run.

That's sounds like she really could be laying on eggs in the woods especially if she has before. Have you checked out there yet? Let me know if you do.

 

[YoshiWolfox]

@WiddleChix
I checked this morning and the trap door was closed but something dug under the trap a bunch. I also found oldish fox poop in different places, so that definitely means it's a fox territory. Me and my dog have been looking through the bushes and in previous egg spots, but no luck yet

 

[WiddleChix]

Hmm yeah that's definitely an active fox! Did you bait the trap with food? I really hope you find Butterscotch. Maybe she got scared further into the woods or has a nest further in that you just haven't seen yet.

 

[YoshiWolfox]

@WiddleChix
I baited it with canned cat food, dried dog food, and a few eggs. I also found a fox print close by my house that looked pretty fresh, and it looks like a pretty big fox for the paw! We have gray foxes here, and their paws are pretty tiny. My dog definitely senses something, he's been going crazy running around the yard with his nose down and tail up. I've been getting him to run into the bushes to see if Butterscotch makes those defensive brooding squeals. The morning after the attack, I went to pick a few apples off the tree before school and I thought I heard her somewhere in the bushes, but it could've been something else. And an update on Hickory, he's been drinking a ton lately and I think he's happier with the hens around. He isn't moping around laying down. He's been standing up and raising his head, and even got up and down on the low roost all by himself! I've been putting cream and this spray on his skin, it's supposed to keep dirt off and help heal

 

[WiddleChix]

That's great to hear about Hickory! It's seems like he's doing really good.That really makes me wonder about Butterscotch if she is laying on a nest...Have you checked that spot by where you were picking apples? I know I ask a lot if you've checked places but it's just because I'm curious and can't check for myself

I'm thinking you might've seen a coyote. If you look at pictures of a gray fox and a coyote they look similar and coyotes are like twice as big as foxes so I'm thinking maybe that's what your neighbors saw, especially since it was at night and you said the paw print was bigger than that of a gray fox's. Coyotes and foxes hunt in the same way so they leave behind the same signs, so that's my thought on what type of predator you've got.