Fox Attack: Rooster Missing

[Jimmy_WI]

Question at the end of this about the potential outcome of our rooster.

This morning our flock were the unfortunate victims of a fox attack. My outdoor camera captured the entire thing as it unfolded. Our rooster must have suspected danger around 7a, he rounded up the flock and got them back in the pen. They can fly in, but the enclosure is too tall for a fox to jump into. After getting them all in he stood guard, but positioned himself a little low on a perch. The fox rounded the pen and jumped and took a swipe at him. Spooked him good enough to get him to fly out of the coop. Fox chase ensued. They made 2 laps around my house. On the second lap the Rooster got ahead of him and snuck around the backside of the house. The fox lost him and headed back for the hens. He messed around with the hens for another 5 minutes before losing interest and running off into the woods.

Now our rooster... My daughter happened to see the rooster entering the woods in the backyard after he escaped (I was in the shower when it all unfolded). Upon investigation it looks like the fox and the rooster tussled on one of their laps. I found 2 piles of feathers. Hard to describe how many it was, wasn't a ton, but not a small amount either. No blood from what we could find. But he seemed to enter the woods without the fox on his tail from my daughters description.

We searched high and low for him, alive or dead. The woods are thick right now so it would be easy to miss him. Brought one of his hens with us at one point and she was squawking pretty good. He is normally very vocal crowing all hours of the day, unfortunately 7:07a was his last crow today. Anyone have any thoughts on him recovering and returning? He may have made the ultimate sacrifice. I hope he shows up, but I don't have the best feeling. Going to miss his crow...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

He may show up tomorrow. I wouldn't count him out until a day or so passes. Hopefully he returns after he recovers. Sounds like a really good rooster. Unfortunately the good ones often sacrifice themselves, but that is a trait of a good rooster.

 

[centrarchid]

I would go out with flashlight and look for him. Chase likely did not go far before you can find sign. Look low in trees as well.

 

[Jimmy_WI]

I would go out with flashlight and look for him. Chase likely did not go far before you can find sign. Look low in trees as well.

Chase happened at 7a today. Wife and daughter looked for a good portion of the day. I spent an hour looking when I got home from work. I carried a squawking hen around for a portion of that search as well. No sign so far. The feathers we found this morning were obviously from the chase and my daughter believes she saw the rooster enter the woods after the chase. Her timing is right with the camera. The camera shows him ditching the fox after his last lap around the house. Fox went back to the hen house until I came out of the house and obviously spooked the fox. I only had 5 minutes to spare before I had to run for work but wife picked up the search shortly after I left.

He was a little aggressive but definitely a good rooster. We lost a hen once to a predator here, but this one is a little different in that we know from the camera evidence that he ditched the fox. Just a question of whether his wounds were fatal. He was running really good on his last lap.

 

[centrarchid]

A large rooster is not an easy kill for a Red Fox. Most instances the fox has to deliver multiple bites and kill is not terribly quick. Many times the Red Fox will decapitate larger chicken as quickly as it can before carrying it off. The fox often will not carry victim more than a few additional hundred yards, usually less, before dismembering and caching bulk of carcass and taking balance back to young if they still need it.

 

[Jimmy_WI]

No crowing or sign of him this morning. We kept the hens in the coop so far today, they are squawking plenty so if he’s around I would think he could hear them.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

Can you post the camera footage to youtube and share the link here?

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Can you post the camera footage to youtube and share the link here?

Yes... we all want to see the action! Hahaha.