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Hello,
Sorry I’ve been absent lately. Truth is, I’ve been focusing on wellness for my flock instead of illness and injury. With the health issues they’ve been having, I figured I better make a drastic change. But this post isn’t about that.
Today I was working on enhancing the run while the girls were out free ranging. Dog was out, too, but wasn’t with the flock; she was waiting for me to throw a ball. Thing is, she’s been playing this control game lately where she won’t bring the ball to me, so I was somewhat ignoring her. Usually I repeatedly throw the ball in the direction of the flock so any predators see the dog. So that was my stupid mistake. Also, CalFire cleared our road this week. It looks awesome, but it’s ironic that my neighbor and I had been chatting about how visible the yard would be now to predators (they have lots of outdoor cats, so predators are a mutual concern.)
So I’m drilling away when I hear the frantic cluck, clucking. I KNEW it was a predator, as I had not heard that sound from the flock before. I ran over and they were hiding under my neighbor’s tree. 1,3,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9. Wait, 9? 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Who was missing? Ruby.
There were LOTS of Minnie feathers strewn about. Her tail and wing had feathers torn out and broken feathers and she was limping. It took quite awhile, as I had to let them calm down, but eventually got them back in the run. All except Ruby, who was missing entirely. Ruby is the same breed as Minnie, but I was pretty sure the feathers were from a Minnie, who had clearly been attacked. With no evidence of Ruby being taken, I remained cautiously hopeful that she could be hiding somewhere. I search all over calling for her, and finally accepted (except for that glimmer of hope that would not give up) that Ruby has probably been taken. I hoped it was quick and that she did not suffer.
I looked Minnie over best I could until she started open mouth breathing from stress or pain, I couldn’t tell, and brought her back outside.
As I was sitting in the run observing the flock, my neighbor came over and cheerfully said “I found Ruby!” She was behind his porch under a rosemary bush. I got her out and carried her home. She vocalized her happiness to be back in safety and with the flock.
Minnie sat most of the day, but ate a little damp feed. I had seen her poop shortly after the incident and had checked that her vent was intact. Her breathing seemed fine. She would take a couple limping steps and then sit. Since she did not seem critical, I thought I’d just let her rest with the flock. It was a beautiful day. Eventually Minnie perked up and started drinking the electrolyte solution I made her and eating heartily. She limped around and self-limited activity, based on pain level, I assume. At one point I went to che kc and she had managed to get up on a 3-foot outdoor roost!
The flock was a little off today. I’m sure they were stressed out, but everyone went to roost as normal, including Minnie.
I’ll provide electrolyte water tomorrow and damp feed for the flock. I’ll also try to look Minnie over better for punctures or gashes. I concentrated my first exam on the areas where her feathers were damaged and on the sore leg/hip. It’s possible she just strained it getting away. What a fighter! Here’s my little trooper on the outdoor roost:
Since the predator will undoubtedly be back, the flock will be on lock down for a bit.
Sorry I’ve been absent lately. Truth is, I’ve been focusing on wellness for my flock instead of illness and injury. With the health issues they’ve been having, I figured I better make a drastic change. But this post isn’t about that.
Today I was working on enhancing the run while the girls were out free ranging. Dog was out, too, but wasn’t with the flock; she was waiting for me to throw a ball. Thing is, she’s been playing this control game lately where she won’t bring the ball to me, so I was somewhat ignoring her. Usually I repeatedly throw the ball in the direction of the flock so any predators see the dog. So that was my stupid mistake. Also, CalFire cleared our road this week. It looks awesome, but it’s ironic that my neighbor and I had been chatting about how visible the yard would be now to predators (they have lots of outdoor cats, so predators are a mutual concern.)
So I’m drilling away when I hear the frantic cluck, clucking. I KNEW it was a predator, as I had not heard that sound from the flock before. I ran over and they were hiding under my neighbor’s tree. 1,3,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9. Wait, 9? 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9. Who was missing? Ruby.
There were LOTS of Minnie feathers strewn about. Her tail and wing had feathers torn out and broken feathers and she was limping. It took quite awhile, as I had to let them calm down, but eventually got them back in the run. All except Ruby, who was missing entirely. Ruby is the same breed as Minnie, but I was pretty sure the feathers were from a Minnie, who had clearly been attacked. With no evidence of Ruby being taken, I remained cautiously hopeful that she could be hiding somewhere. I search all over calling for her, and finally accepted (except for that glimmer of hope that would not give up) that Ruby has probably been taken. I hoped it was quick and that she did not suffer.
I looked Minnie over best I could until she started open mouth breathing from stress or pain, I couldn’t tell, and brought her back outside.
As I was sitting in the run observing the flock, my neighbor came over and cheerfully said “I found Ruby!” She was behind his porch under a rosemary bush. I got her out and carried her home. She vocalized her happiness to be back in safety and with the flock.
Minnie sat most of the day, but ate a little damp feed. I had seen her poop shortly after the incident and had checked that her vent was intact. Her breathing seemed fine. She would take a couple limping steps and then sit. Since she did not seem critical, I thought I’d just let her rest with the flock. It was a beautiful day. Eventually Minnie perked up and started drinking the electrolyte solution I made her and eating heartily. She limped around and self-limited activity, based on pain level, I assume. At one point I went to che kc and she had managed to get up on a 3-foot outdoor roost!
The flock was a little off today. I’m sure they were stressed out, but everyone went to roost as normal, including Minnie.
I’ll provide electrolyte water tomorrow and damp feed for the flock. I’ll also try to look Minnie over better for punctures or gashes. I concentrated my first exam on the areas where her feathers were damaged and on the sore leg/hip. It’s possible she just strained it getting away. What a fighter! Here’s my little trooper on the outdoor roost:
Since the predator will undoubtedly be back, the flock will be on lock down for a bit.
