Fox Attack, Blood, but Can't Find Injury!

[Anon112]

I was out in my hammock watching my chickens free range. Some of them wandered inside the woodline of my property (I have several acres of forest). Suddenly a chorus of squawks and one of my roosters, Bernard, exploded out of the forest with a fox hot on his tail. He dodged and dodged as I got up yelling. Once the fox saw me, it turned and went back into the woods. I don't think I actually saw the fox bite Bernard.

Everyone scattered (I have 11 chickens and 8 chicks with their mamas), and thankfully all were eventually accounted for. But there's a chair near the run that I noticed fresh blood on. It all happened so fast, but the only chicken I think flew up toward the chair was Bernard. I have now looked him over three different times. He is a very white rooster and I don't see any blood on him. I have parted his feathers and run my hands all over. Nothing!! The only thing I see is that he has some fresh (but not super fresh) scabbing on his comb.

So . . . what am I missing here?! None of the hens are acting injured or uncomfortable. I don't see blood on any of them (with two exceptions, they are all very white). I have not examined all of their bodies yet. Within about 20 minutes of it all being over, everyone was back to their normal selves.

Could this blood just be from a nicked comb? (He had to fly through some thorny bushes as he made his escape from the fox).

 

[FrostRanger]

Either the blood is from his comb or the fox got injured somehow. I would check everyone for injuries tonight though just to be safe

 

[Anon112]

Either the blood is from his comb or the fox got injured somehow. I would check everyone for injuries tonight though just to be safe

It'll be dark in about 20 minutes and everyone will get a once-over when they get up on the roost.

 

[Anon112]

I always have a harder time than I'd hope looking over a chicken by myself. I couldn't see any signs of injury, no blood or broken feathers, etc. One of my roosters (not the one who was chased) was breathing a little harder than usual, but he's kind of a wheezy boy generally and I think he was more hot than hurt (it's a muggy, hot night here). I looked him over really carefully and didn't see or feel any signs of injury. I got exactly one hen-bite for my troubles.

I guess I'll see how everyone looks in the morning.

Thank you for the reply!