HELP!!!CHICK IS DEAD HEN IS HURT

[SegiDream]

Oppossums and raccoons and owls are night time predators, and raccoons are more likely to break into or reach through to grab a chicken. Oppossums are sneaky and opportunistic. I assumed the attack happened during the day? It seems like a majority of chicken predators are night hunters, and hawks and fox are daytime... knowing the time of day/night narrows the possibilities of exactly what type of predator you are dealing with.

 

[SegiDream]

We kept our meat bird hen and she is definitely the alpha hen. Out of all our chicks hatched in March and April she is the only one that has started laying eggs so far. And she is a real sweetie. However, food is definitely her thing. If given a chance she will camp out by the food bowl all day. So the water and food dishes are far apart so she is forced to be more mobile. She also uses the food bowl to establish her dominance. Things are usually quite calm unless someone gets in her way and then a peck puts them in their place. Offer two food bowls but not extra food.

 

[Vickischics]

We kept our meat bird hen and she is definitely the alpha hen. Out of all our chicks hatched in March and April she is the only one that has started laying eggs so far. And she is a real sweetie. However, food is definitely her thing. If given a chance she will camp out by the food bowl all day. So the water and food dishes are far apart so she is forced to be more mobile. She also uses the food bowl to establish her dominance. Things are usually quite calm unless someone gets in her way and then a peck puts them in their place. Offer two food bowls but not extra food.

You stated:
"We kept our meat bird hen and she is definitely the alpha hen. Out of all our chicks hatched in March and April she is the only one that has started laying eggs so far"

Is your Meat Hen laying eggs?
I thought they did not lay eggs.

 

[mommiesrcool]

Oppossums and raccoons and owls are night time predators, and raccoons are more likely to break into or reach through to grab a chicken. Oppossums are sneaky and opportunistic. I assumed the attack happened during the day? It seems like a majority of chicken predators are night hunters, and hawks and fox are daytime... knowing the time of day/night narrows the possibilities of exactly what type of predator you are dealing with.

it happened at 5 am, and i am starting to think it was a raccoon because there is a weak spot in the fence where they can get through and my great aunt saw a raccoon in our trash next to the side of the house and if you walk more down that's where the weak spot is. it looks like the animal grabbed one chick out of the dog crate because when i woke up to go feed them there was blood on their waterer which is where i saw all of the feathers and heart

 

[mommiesrcool]

You stated:
"We kept our meat bird hen and she is definitely the alpha hen. Out of all our chicks hatched in March and April she is the only one that has started laying eggs so far"

Is your Meat Hen laying eggs?
I thought they did not lay eggs.

if you keep them healthy( not overweight) after a while they'll lay you an egg but it won't be everyday like a normal chicken

 

[mommiesrcool]

but i think my meat chicken will lay an because when ever she sees me from above she sometimes lowers down to the ground and makes her wings spread apart.

 

[Pasha838]

Sometimes predators are very annoying. I remember a fox settled on my site, which did not hunt anywhere else except in my chicken coop.
I ended up having to quickly build a trap. One night I heard a rumble, went to look - and there a fox was caught.
After this fox, there was a lull, no one attacks my bird, although I lock all the sheds every evening.

Until the fox was caught, I was as if under siege - I was constantly on duty at night near the chicken coop with a gun and a huge knife, did not get enough sleep, and was very nervous. It even got to the point that I slept in the same barn with the ducks ))) Everything was complicated by the fact that my old dog died and I didn't buy a new one. If I had a dog at this time, I think it would have chased the fox away.

 

[SegiDream]

You stated:
"We kept our meat bird hen and she is definitely the alpha hen. Out of all our chicks hatched in March and April she is the only one that has started laying eggs so far"

Is your Meat Hen laying eggs?
I thought they did not lay eggs.

Sorry I didn't see your reply until now for some reason. Yes she lays eggs. She is over 6 months old and has been laying very consistently since she was 4 months old. She lays a pale cream egg that is small to medium size and about 5 eggs per week. She's at least trying to earn her keep unlike the others lol. She's goofy and adds humor to the flock. She will follow you anywhere and be first in line with every awkward ounce of effort she has, as long as she thinks you have food.

They are bred for meat but they still have their reproductive functions. She seemed to mature very quickly compared to the other dual purpose chickens that was a nice plus because she started laying pretty early. But she eats alot and produces smaller eggs. If you want a chicken for egg laying purposes you'd be better off with a leghorn - better feed to egg ratio and probably better survival instincts.

 

[mommiesrcool]

Sorry I didn't see your reply until now for some reason. Yes she lays eggs. She is over 6 months old and has been laying very consistently since she was 4 months old. She lays a pale cream egg that is small to medium size and about 5 eggs per week. She's at least trying to earn her keep unlike the others lol. She's goofy and adds humor to the flock. She will follow you anywhere and be first in line with every awkward ounce of effort she has, as long as she thinks you have food.

They are bred for meat but they still have their reproductive functions. She seemed to mature very quickly compared to the other dual purpose chickens that was a nice plus because she started laying pretty early. But she eats alot and produces smaller eggs. If you want a chicken for egg laying purposes you'd be better off with a leghorn - better feed to egg ratio and probably better survival instincts.

guys, I woke up today to go feed the chicks today and when I went outside the hawk was staring at them on the powerline and once it saw me it flew away but today the chicks are going to stay in the coop run because I don't feel safe about letting them out today because i KNOW it'll be back but even when the coop door is open they stay in the run. we will be buying the owl very soon the chicks are 7 weeks old

 

[CaroleW]

You could try a net or just stringing yarn/string/ribbon in a criss-cross fashion to deter the aerial predators. Even some big potted plants (fake or real) to obscure the runway/landing pad for a hawk and give some cover to the chicks. You might be able to find these items free/cheap at goodwill or on neighbors curb after a garage sale or on craigslist. Hope you can build your hoop coop soon!