Well our 4 banty opringtons were missing after a post free-range headcount. We walked all around and could not find them and then on the far side of the house... Feathers EVERYWHERE.
That was one sinking feeling
We followed the feather trail and found all 4 chickens under the front porch ALIVE and without noticeable INJURY!!!
I don't know what got after them but it must have been large enough that it couldn't get under my front porch. My 40 pound dog can get under there so this must have been a big animal of some sort. I found paw prints in the sand and they looked like a very large dog. I have heard rumors of wolves around here, but during the daytime I think a stray dog is more probable. I was in and out of the house the whole time the chickens were free ranging and I never heard or saw anything.
Thank god they had enough brains to get under the porch. They were so scared when we tried to get them out. The roo lost most of his tail feathers but the hens are unscathed. I checked them over thoroughly and other than the rooster being a little plucked they all look and act fine.
I have some photos of the paw prints but they basically look just like a large dog... About 4" long prints.
That was one sinking feeling

We followed the feather trail and found all 4 chickens under the front porch ALIVE and without noticeable INJURY!!!

I don't know what got after them but it must have been large enough that it couldn't get under my front porch. My 40 pound dog can get under there so this must have been a big animal of some sort. I found paw prints in the sand and they looked like a very large dog. I have heard rumors of wolves around here, but during the daytime I think a stray dog is more probable. I was in and out of the house the whole time the chickens were free ranging and I never heard or saw anything.
Thank god they had enough brains to get under the porch. They were so scared when we tried to get them out. The roo lost most of his tail feathers but the hens are unscathed. I checked them over thoroughly and other than the rooster being a little plucked they all look and act fine.
I have some photos of the paw prints but they basically look just like a large dog... About 4" long prints.
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