(Content Warning) What Killed Our Hen?

LottieAmias

Hatching
May 5, 2020
3
3
9
Hi Everyone,

We're feeling pretty sad in our house tonight. Our beloved pullet (almost a hen), Tiggy Winkles, got killed today... we think. Tiggy was a Golden Comet/Red Star with the prettiest markings: she was a gorgeous rust color with a white, lacey collar around her neck (think RBG). She was a funny, clever, and social girl. We really loved her. She would get out of the run regularly and enjoy time free ranging around our yard (we have realized we need to make it more secure and we're feeling terrible about that- please no comments). She would usually come running to us when we came outside though, or, a bag of treats would lure her our way.

This morning I let the girls out of the coop at 7 am and she was there. Around late morning my ten-year-old daughter noticed that a couple of them were out and went outside to put them back in the run. She couldn't find Tiggy. I didn't worry too much at that point, but then I noticed an alarming text from our neighbor saying she feared something bad had happened to one of our chickens. When I asked why she said that she told me there were feathers all around her yard and she saw that one of them was missing.

My daughter and I ran outside and found tons of feathers all around her driveway, yard, and under a couple of trees. They were both shorter, fluffy feathers and long wing feathers. There were SO MANY of them : (. My poor daughter started sobbing... she is one of their primary caretakers and she is a little mama to them.

We looked all around several times, but we haven't seen any other sign of her. Is it even remotely possible that she's injured somewhere, but still alive? (I know that's a long shot.) Any idea what killed her? Somehow that's eating at me too. Thanks so much, BC community.

~ Lottie
 
Wouldn't it be more likely to be a hawk or similar since owls are primarily nocturnal and Tiggy was seen around 7am?

OP - I'm very sorry for what happened.
There are a few daytime owls and normally smaller than night time owls but since it was a younger it may have been one or it could be a hawk
 
I would say a large predator (dog, coyote, fox(maybe)). Depending on your area and the size of the chicken, (Red-Tailed) hawks are not able to carry off a standard-sized hen and would eat it where the kill was made. I had a (possible) raccoon attack last night and the body was left in my yard in the morning. If the body is gone my bet is on a canine or large cat.
 
:welcome :frow
Hi Everyone,

We're feeling pretty sad in our house tonight. Our beloved pullet (almost a hen), Tiggy Winkles, got killed today... we think. Tiggy was a Golden Comet/Red Star with the prettiest markings: she was a gorgeous rust color with a white, lacey collar around her neck (think RBG). She was a funny, clever, and social girl. We really loved her. She would get out of the run regularly and enjoy time free ranging around our yard (we have realized we need to make it more secure and we're feeling terrible about that- please no comments). She would usually come running to us when we came outside though, or, a bag of treats would lure her our way.

This morning I let the girls out of the coop at 7 am and she was there. Around late morning my ten-year-old daughter noticed that a couple of them were out and went outside to put them back in the run. She couldn't find Tiggy. I didn't worry too much at that point, but then I noticed an alarming text from our neighbor saying she feared something bad had happened to one of our chickens. When I asked why she said that she told me there were feathers all around her yard and she saw that one of them was missing.

My daughter and I ran outside and found tons of feathers all around her driveway, yard, and under a couple of trees. They were both shorter, fluffy feathers and long wing feathers. There were SO MANY of them : (. My poor daughter started sobbing... she is one of their primary caretakers and she is a little mama to them.

We looked all around several times, but we haven't seen any other sign of her. Is it even remotely possible that she's injured somewhere, but still alive? (I know that's a long shot.) Any idea what killed her? Somehow that's eating at me too. Thanks so much, BC community.

~ Lottie

I think it has to be large predator opossum will just eat part if then sane with raccoons. Coyotes will move their kill to a “safe” area. Also may be an bird if that most likely a owl
So sorry for your loss. It's hard to say but my guess would be a fox. If you have a game camera put it up because the predator will be back and has probably been lurking looking for an opportunity and took one. At least you will know for sure what you're dealing with and can make a plan. Personally I would trap and eliminate because it will keep coming back lurking and looking for another opportunity. If you can trap it but unable to eliminate it, there are usually wildlife rescues that will take the trapped predator. Most predators are not endangered, exception birds of prey, and even if you eliminate a predator another one will eventually replace it. I have several game cameras up on my property and see predators quite regularly on them. I love my cameras. Sad to say that you will loose a bird or birds eventually when you free range and it is a risk you take. Lessons learned the hard way. Good luck...
 

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