I am so devastated today and, before I hear it from every level headed poultry owner, I know, it was all my fault.
I just moved to a farm of 45 acres in Glen Mills PA. My girls have been happily foraging in the 4-5 acres around the house for the past week. They were fine when we were there and built a tractor for when we weren't. For the past two days though, I had a hard time rounding them up to put away when I left for work so I left them out. I know, I know, STUPID!
They actually were fine for the first two days and seemed happy, but yesterday I came to find 3 of my 5 dead. I was so sad. Sad beyond belief. They were my sweet beautiful pets.
Anyway, I found a pile of feathers with no chicken to speak of. Her feathers led down by a pond where I didn't find anything else, but more feathers. #2 was found with a bunch of feathers and no head, otherwise untouched. #3 was the most painful to me. She was stopped in one area where her back end was lacerated, a long stripe, and lost feathers. Then she ran about 10 yards where there were many feathers and her dead body, otherwise untouched.
Upon examining her I found that her neck was slightly bloody and broken, I think. But she was not eaten.
Now, I have seen multiple hawks in the area and yesterday after the attack, I took a walk around the 5 acres and found a large male fox living in an abandoned trailer covered in weeds. He was in there when I happened upon it and then ran. I am not sure if multiple predators played a part in this or if it was just the fox or a weasel, if they even live around me? I couldn't find evidence of the missing chicken in the foxes home, but couldn't really see all the way in either.
Lastly, I felt so bad that my sweet pets died in vain that I drove up the road a mile and left the two carcasses in fox den where I saw 6 kits. Was this even more stupid? Any help would be appreciated. I am looking for opinions on what killed my birds and whether I should kill that fox or live and let live. I certainly don't hate him for doing what was natural.
I just moved to a farm of 45 acres in Glen Mills PA. My girls have been happily foraging in the 4-5 acres around the house for the past week. They were fine when we were there and built a tractor for when we weren't. For the past two days though, I had a hard time rounding them up to put away when I left for work so I left them out. I know, I know, STUPID!
They actually were fine for the first two days and seemed happy, but yesterday I came to find 3 of my 5 dead. I was so sad. Sad beyond belief. They were my sweet beautiful pets.
Anyway, I found a pile of feathers with no chicken to speak of. Her feathers led down by a pond where I didn't find anything else, but more feathers. #2 was found with a bunch of feathers and no head, otherwise untouched. #3 was the most painful to me. She was stopped in one area where her back end was lacerated, a long stripe, and lost feathers. Then she ran about 10 yards where there were many feathers and her dead body, otherwise untouched.
Upon examining her I found that her neck was slightly bloody and broken, I think. But she was not eaten.
Now, I have seen multiple hawks in the area and yesterday after the attack, I took a walk around the 5 acres and found a large male fox living in an abandoned trailer covered in weeds. He was in there when I happened upon it and then ran. I am not sure if multiple predators played a part in this or if it was just the fox or a weasel, if they even live around me? I couldn't find evidence of the missing chicken in the foxes home, but couldn't really see all the way in either.
Lastly, I felt so bad that my sweet pets died in vain that I drove up the road a mile and left the two carcasses in fox den where I saw 6 kits. Was this even more stupid? Any help would be appreciated. I am looking for opinions on what killed my birds and whether I should kill that fox or live and let live. I certainly don't hate him for doing what was natural.
