We have had an influx of predators since spring. This is the first time we have had any issue in over two years of having chickens here. We have removed 8 raccoons and a possum in just a couple of weeks. We have been very careful making sure to only free range in the middle of the day and making sure they were all back in the run before dusk. We had recently moved our 2 EE babies, the were 15 weeks, in with the flock and they had been free ranging with them for a couple of weeks already and had been in a separate pen in the run for several before that.
Wednesday of last week, they were all out in the yard, I went in the house for a break from working in the yard. It was later in the day and when we went out back out to put the chickens in the run and the 6 older hens were all up by the house. But the two EE babies and the rooster were no where in site. After searching everywhere we could think of. We headed down the path to the pond. About half way down we found our little Edna. She was scared to death and soaking wet. But didn't have a mark on her. She ran right to me to be picked up and buried herself in my chest. We continued searching down the path and as we rounded the pond found little Gladys' body. It appeared that her neck had been broken, but there were no other bite marks. We continued to search but found no sign of the rooster anywhere. What would kill a chicken and then just leave it there dead?
Loosing the rooster was very hard as well. He was actually a young rescue EE rooster that we brought in a couple months a go. He had been beaten up pretty bad by the older roosters at the farm where he was. He was covered with scabs and was missing most of his feathers. He had started to heal up and his feathers were coming back in. He had really come into his own and was taking care of his hens. Which is what he was doing right to the end I am sure.
What my concern now is for little Edna. She is really all alone. The older hens have not accepted her. The two bottom hens are really picking on her. So she spends most of her time running or hiding alone. I feel so bad for her. She is sleeping in the coop with them, but she is sleeping in the window seal instead of on the roost. I wish there was something I could do for her now. Any suggestions? Do you think the hens will accept her? How long will it be like this. Should I try to get another chicken or rooster? She flies to my shoulder or into my arms as soon as I go in the run.
Wednesday of last week, they were all out in the yard, I went in the house for a break from working in the yard. It was later in the day and when we went out back out to put the chickens in the run and the 6 older hens were all up by the house. But the two EE babies and the rooster were no where in site. After searching everywhere we could think of. We headed down the path to the pond. About half way down we found our little Edna. She was scared to death and soaking wet. But didn't have a mark on her. She ran right to me to be picked up and buried herself in my chest. We continued searching down the path and as we rounded the pond found little Gladys' body. It appeared that her neck had been broken, but there were no other bite marks. We continued to search but found no sign of the rooster anywhere. What would kill a chicken and then just leave it there dead?
Loosing the rooster was very hard as well. He was actually a young rescue EE rooster that we brought in a couple months a go. He had been beaten up pretty bad by the older roosters at the farm where he was. He was covered with scabs and was missing most of his feathers. He had started to heal up and his feathers were coming back in. He had really come into his own and was taking care of his hens. Which is what he was doing right to the end I am sure.
What my concern now is for little Edna. She is really all alone. The older hens have not accepted her. The two bottom hens are really picking on her. So she spends most of her time running or hiding alone. I feel so bad for her. She is sleeping in the coop with them, but she is sleeping in the window seal instead of on the roost. I wish there was something I could do for her now. Any suggestions? Do you think the hens will accept her? How long will it be like this. Should I try to get another chicken or rooster? She flies to my shoulder or into my arms as soon as I go in the run.