FLORIDA!!!!!ALWAYS SUNNY SIDE UP!!!

[Red Banks]

I have had a very hard chicken week. I lost a lavender Ameraucana pullet to a ruptured crop. My Bielefelder pullet's head was all banged up and bloody but she is okay. I lost my favorite blue pullet to a predator. I rehomed a big beautiful Splash Marans rooster because he and my black Ameraucana rooster decided one of them had to die.

The little blue pullet was my favorite, she followed me everywhere and never stopped chatting with me the whole way, very talkative. I will miss her so much. I have some questions for y'all because I am just trying to figure out what could have happened. I know it is an exercise in futility but one has to try.

I found a big pile of blue feathers and then about 25 feet away I found another very small batch of feathers. Not a trace of the chicken. Predator? Is is possible that a very large feral cat could kill a chicken? Could the ruptured crop also because of a predator attack?

 

[LocalYokel]

I know how u feel i lost four chicks and a quail sad day my heat lamp failed me while i was gone , awe too cute , well that doesnt help too much local lol i really would like a hen , im just not sure which roo i trade for cause they both are purrtttyyy roos lol

I can't keep a roo...
I lost a quail yesterday too
I am thinking aggressive male cuz he was in the male only pen

 

[LocalYokel]

I have had a very hard chicken week. I lost a lavender Ameraucana pullet to a ruptured crop. My Bielefelder pullet's head was all banged up and bloody but she is okay. I lost my favorite blue pullet to a predator. I rehomed a big beautiful Splash Marans rooster because he and my black Ameraucana rooster decided one of them had to die. The little blue pullet was my favorite, she followed me everywhere and never stopped chatting with me the whole way, very talkative. I will miss her so much. I have some questions for y'all because I am just trying to figure out what could have happened. I know it is an exercise in futility but one has to try. I found a big pile of blue feathers and then about 25 feet away I found another very small batch of feathers. Not a trace of the chicken. Predator? Is is possible that a very large feral cat could kill a chicken? Could the ruptured crop also because of a predator attack?

Predator I am thinking hawk A cat can take down a chicken no problem as well, I would think you would find more there though.

 

[Red Banks]

Seramas in lockdown
I don't have any adult serama
Lost 5 chicks yesterday when I was at work, the ones under my broody.
Took the last egg in to finish up

I am thinking rodents

The last one

I lost chicks to rats once. It was awful. Sorry for your loss.

 

[LocalYokel]

I lost chicks to rats once.  It was awful.  Sorry for your loss.

Excrement happens.

 

[Red Banks]

Predator
I am thinking hawk
A cat can take down a chicken no problem as well, I would think you would find more there though.

This week I have had a very large feral cat in my yard every day. It comes on the porch and eats my cat's food. These problems started with his arrival. My cats are terrified of him.

It could be a hawk, plenty of them around. It just seems strange to me that all this happened this week.

I was thinking that hawk sounds reasonable because if it was fox or coyote it would have already been back for seconds.

 

[Red Banks]

Yes well I think I am knee deep in it!

 

[LocalYokel]

This week I have had a very large feral cat in my yard every day.  It comes on the porch and eats my cat's food.  These problems started with his arrival.  My cats are terrified of him.

It could be a hawk, plenty of them around.  It just seems strange to me that all this happened this week.

I was thinking that hawk sounds reasonable because if it was fox or coyote it would have already been back for seconds.

I would trap the feral
Could also bring other critters around

The hawk, if it was one, will be back.
Count on it
Its just another "stop" for em to make.
Lately ALOT of folks I know have had hawk issues
Must be getting hungry.....

 

[LocalYokel]

Yes well I think I am knee deep in it! 

If it helps I'm in cow sheet every monin....

 

[Red Banks]

I would trap the feral
Could also bring other critters around

The hawk, if it was one, will be back.
Count on it
Its just another "stop" for em to make.
Lately ALOT of folks I know have had hawk issues
Must be getting hungry.....

Good advice.... but a lot of work trapping wouldn't a shotgun be easier.