Fox killed my chicken, rooster did nothing?

[BlueChai]

The stories about roosters fighting off Grizzly Bears, Killer Whales or other predators are similar to the fairy tales about DE fighting mites. They are just old wives and husbands tails. That is why the LOVELY, AMAZING ,or AWESOME, (I chose to use a different adjective) Great Horned Owl is such a fearsome predator of tree roosting free range chickens because after the Sun goes down chickens are totally at the mercy of every chicken killing varmint known to man.

I agree with you about the roosters, most roosters won't fight big predators, but the DE fighting mites? That is true, as far as I know. No old wives tale there. I had an outbreak of mites not too long ago and DE shut it down real quick. I covered my birds and covered my coop area. I haven't seen a since mite since. I've also taken in a sickly silkie from a run down feedstore in my area and she was covered in red mites and she was very pale. After a few days of putting her on vitamins and bathing her and coating her in DE, she continued to live just fine and haven't seen a mite on her since.

 

[2 many chickens]

Thanks guys. I know it's my fault. I should have been home and locked them up on time. I'm angry at myself for this. It was also my job to protect them and I failed. Watching her die before my eyes was a wake up call. A couple of weeks ago I had two go missing. Never found them. I locked them up for a long time, figured whatever it was would move on now that the food was gone. No, it came back. I'm going to buy fencing now and seal off an area so they can still 'free range' a bit but remain safe. Going to put net on top too. I'll spend what I need to so I can protect them more.
I left a trap out last night and everything, he didn't come back. :/

 

[2 many chickens]

Roosters are good at warning the flock of danger but they aren't going to go after a fox or coyote or dog. I have had roosters that attack marauding hawks. I think the roosters see the hawks as competitors for their hens and that is why they attack them and not ground predators.

That said, if your roosters are attacking you then you might want to get rid of them as that is a behavior that is difficult to correct.

I've tried to tame them, no luck so far. I think what bothers me the most is when they try to come at my sons. A few months ago one scatched his leg up pretty bad. I love the dudes, raised them since they were chicks but the constant being watched or 'sneak' attacks are getting old.

 

[BlueChai]

I'm so sorry for your loss, watching a beloved bird die is a terrible, terrible thing. Don't be too hard on yourself, chicken raising is full of lessons to learn, even if you've been doing it for a while. I'm sorry your roosters did not help, unfortunately most just aren't that brave. I hope this never happens to you again, no one deserves to go through that.

 

[JedJackson]

Thanks guys. I know it's my fault. I should have been home and locked them up on time. I'm angry at myself for this. It was also my job to protect them and I failed. Watching her die before my eyes was a wake up call. A couple of weeks ago I had two go missing. Never found them. I locked them up for a long time, figured whatever it was would move on now that the food was gone. No, it came back. I'm going to buy fencing now and seal off an area so they can still 'free range' a bit but remain safe. Going to put net on top too. I'll spend what I need to so I can protect them more.
I left a trap out last night and everything, he didn't come back. :/

Don't be so hard on yourself. We've all been in the same situation-- life happens and we can't always be perfect. It sounds like you care a lot about your birds and take great care of them. One mishap doesn't erase all that. And it sounds like you're on to some good ideas. Good luck and enjoy your birds!

 

[Frazzemrat1]

I've tried to tame them, no luck so far. I think what bothers me the most is when they try to come at my sons. A few months ago one scatched his leg up pretty bad. I love the dudes, raised them since they were chicks but the constant being watched or 'sneak' attacks are getting old.

That would be my last straw... attacking the kids, be it a dog, a cat, a rooster or a person.... they're out. Mind you, I don't have a rooster, but if I couldn't break it of paying more attention to me walking around the yard instead of to the skies, he'd have to go visit the crock pot and take an onion bath. And if you can't do it... which nobody would hold against you... there are tons of people who will take them off your hands.


ETA... I apologize if that came across harshly. Kids are a big button for me.

 

[BlueChai]

That would be my last straw... attacking the kids, be it a dog, a cat, a rooster or a person.... they're out. Mind you, I don't have a rooster, but if I couldn't break it of paying more attention to me walking around the yard instead of to the skies, he'd have to go visit the crock pot and take an onion bath. And if you can't do it... which nobody would hold against you... there are tons of people who will take them off your hands.

If your rooster is attacking children, you, and other domestic animals you own, you need to assert yourself with him or get rid of him. When a rooster attacks me, I grab him and pin him down and loudly and firmly tell him 'no' until he stops struggling, then I let him go. In my experience the only way I've been able to tame aggressive roosters is by dominating them. If that doesn't work, I would get rid of him.

 

[RodNTN]

I am very sorry about what happened I agree with most members, a good rooster is hard to come by.
I have a rooster that will attack any cat or dog that bothers his girls. He screams at hawks and won't take cover until he has herded each chicken to safety.
I am very thankful for him.

 

[Chickassan]

You're definitely learning! I'm with the others on those roosters though, if they aren't treating their keeper nicely then they aren't good for your flock. Its hard to send off babies you've raised but once they start acting like hooligans they're not your sweet boys anymore and they don't have the same affection for you that you have for them. Its sad, but its the chicken way sometimes.

Thanks guys. I know it's my fault. I should have been home and locked them up on time. I'm angry at myself for this. It was also my job to protect them and I failed. Watching her die before my eyes was a wake up call. A couple of weeks ago I had two go missing. Never found them. I locked them up for a long time, figured whatever it was would move on now that the food was gone. No, it came back. I'm going to buy fencing now and seal off an area so they can still 'free range' a bit but remain safe. Going to put net on top too. I'll spend what I need to so I can protect them more.
I left a trap out last night and everything, he didn't come back. :/

 

[2 many chickens]

That would be my last straw... attacking the kids, be it a dog, a cat, a rooster or a person.... they're out. Mind you, I don't have a rooster, but if I couldn't break it of paying more attention to me walking around the yard instead of to the skies, he'd have to go visit the crock pot and take an onion bath. And if you can't do it... which nobody would hold against you... there are tons of people who will take them off your hands.


ETA... I apologize if that came across harshly. Kids are a big button for me.

No no you're not being harsh, I agree completely. I was so mad I chased him with a stick.. smacked his tail feathers with it. Not abuse like, just a smack. My 8 year old didn't even do anything wrong, just walked by him. The kids stand frozen now whenever the roos come by them. I don't like it. Can't even play on the farm without being scared the buttheads are going to come by. I'll figure out what to do with them, not going to keep this up. It's not like they earn their keep. Obviously don't protect their flock very well. And they seem to like to make some of my hens half bald with the feather plucking. I have a guy who owns another farm that needs a roo so I'll give him a call. Would like a good mannered roo. Hopefully the hens will accept a new one.