Help.

[whitls88]

We noticed yesterday that our buff rooster was hiding and looked like he had been roughed up. Then we found two of our hens dead with no apparent injuries. When he cooped up we noticed claw marks all over him. This morning we decided to leave him and the only hen that is left in the run instead of free range until we find out what happened to them. He just sits there with his head down. Is this depression? Yesterday he was walking around fine or could his injuries be catching up to him...he is not eating here, he usually runs up to us

 

[chickydo81]

Do you have a rooster? Sometimes they can be very rough and can leave scratches with the spur or other claws. have you inspected for predators? is your coop and fence in tact? no holes in fence or areas dug around fence or coop? that is really sad I'm sorry. I would take this poor buff indoors with some good food and love and inspect her closely for any treatable wounds. separate her for a day or two with good food/love/bedding/quiet and see if this helps. hopefully she isn't injured too badly she looks pretty roughed up. the two dead with no injuries is weird. another reason to separate living birds until you get a better idea of what's going on here. I would clean coop and run real well and sprinkle wood ash all over to sanitize the ground. If they're free ranging bring them back in. the two that died might have been from disease, or shock from predator coming after them. just spitballing here but I've heard that can happen. I lost 6 hens to cayotes one day free ranging my girls. they came right in my yard! keep us posted.

 

[whitls88]

Hey, he's our rooster. He was clawed up by a predator I'm guessing trying to protect our girls. Unfortunately my boyfriend just had to put him down He laid down on the ground until ants started taking him over and he wouldn't get back up. We're very sad. Thank you for all your advice and replying.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. He may have suffered wry neck from a head injury. There could have been other internal injuries as well.

 

[whitls88]

Thanks, hope we find out what did this. It was during the day in the woods behind our house.

 

[chickydo81]

My gosh I'm so sorry that is super sad. One of the cons of free ranging I guess.. I lost all my flock but one hen I don't put them out anymore just not worth it. Sorry

 

[whitls88]

Thanks, we just have one Australorp hen left. I feel so sad for her. We won't be letting her free range any longer. We were thinking about getting her a Muscovy or two to coop and be in the run with her but I'm not sure how that would go.