Hens killed by predators, rooster ran off this am

[Dockellyg]

My rooster of 2 years ran off this am. He has been without a hen for 2 days as a predator has been getting them at night lately. I see and hear him crowing down the way but he won't come back to the cowbell we use to call them for treats. I know he is off looking or another flock. If we get a couple hens today, will he know and return?

 

[centrarchid]

He left because of close call(s) with predator. Catch him and confine him in more predator resistant location for short-term.

What type of predator is involved and have you done anything about it?

 

[Dockellyg]

That's a whole other issue. They stopped going into the coop last week and have been roosting in trees. We live in the mountains of NC by the way. I am not sure why as the hens would still go in and lay, but at night, they didn't go in and I couldn't even coax them. They free range during day. We have a lot of predators... Fox, owls, hawks, raccoons, stray cats occ in yard.... For 2 years all has been well when they were using the coop. I have a new, bigger, better coop being delivered next week and am very excited. We were hoping to wait to get a couple of hens until then, but am worried now we will lose our rooster we love. He has been so sad and crows all day since last hen gone 2 days ago and that's why I think he is off looking for a new hen. There are backyard flocks all around the area as I can hear the roosters crowing at each other every am! We just want Sparty to come back. He is so sweet and the kids love him. And he was a good rooster until he stopped using the coop!

 

[centrarchid]

Catch and pen him. His current movements are to avoid predator. Set out a baited live-trap near his pen. My usual bet would be raccoon but great-horned owl or even gray fox would be a continued problem in trees. Getting additional hens and penning them as bait would enable predator ID and possibly more effective handling of issue. Do you have dog that could at least serve as an alarm?

 

[Dockellyg]

We thought about a live trap, but haven't gotten one yet. My dogs are inside at night, so not much help. Thanks for your advice.

 

[centrarchid]

I am betting your dogs got riled up at night when something was getting into your birds, especially if they are near house.

You could also have rooster roosting on front porch until situation resolved. Messy but enables rapid response to predators.


Will you be upgrading roosting site? Long-term that is often best option and can be constructed to make so predator has a more difficult time getting at birds without compromising free-range time.