Something attacked and killed one of my Buff Orps today, I let them free range all day, and I thought there were enough hiding places what with the shrubberies and small groups of trees, but no...
I'm now down to five laying hens
The predator basically stripped the neck bare down to the sinews, ate half the head, and left a large gutted area that allowed me to see the internal organs, she was laying on her right side underneath one of the low lying shrubs (which are bare due to winter) most of the corpse was left to waste, I disposed of it in the field, the ground is frozen, and I couldn't dig a grave anyway....
Based on what I've read, I'm thinking possibly a hawk, we have those in the area, and it matches the attack profile
I fully admit that I'm to blame here, I let them free range, but they're just so happy out in the yard that I couldn't bear to close them in, and yes, I accept that this is one of the inherent risks of free ranging, my flock are not really "pets" per se, but it's still dissapointing and I can't help feeling I failed them.
This weekend's project will be predator (and escape) proofing their run, so I have some control over their comings and goings and they have a protected area for inclement weather
This won't stop me from free ranging them, they enjoy the freedom too much, and I can't deny them that, plus, it will give me an excuse to add more birds to the flock, five hens aren't enough, I'll probably add another four or five, and if one of my existing flock goes broody, I'll let her hatch some chicks
Sorry for failing you, Minion 1
As far as Hawks go, well, let's just say having a shotgun reloading press gives me the ability to handload some non-lethal shells, noisemakers basically, a light load of Unique powder (8 grains) and a wad filled with air soft pellets makes a shell that has its range measured in feet, yet makes enough noise to scare off undesirable avians without hurting them, heck, from 20 feet away, the pellets won't even puncture an empty plastic soda bottle...
Oh, forgot to say, looks like the two roosters are failures when it comes to protecting the flock, the hens bully them around during the day (the hens were here first, they established a pecking order before the roosters were added) and when Cooper, my Portie runs to the flock to greet them, the Roos take off in a panic while the hens stand their ground, if the Roos weren't so endearingly cute, and fertilizing the eggs, they'd be given a "pink slip"
Hmm, perhaps I should check Craigslist for an incubator, I have fertile eggs, instead of buying more chicks come spring, just hatch my own.... Even better try to force one of my hens to go broody now....
I'm now down to five laying hens
The predator basically stripped the neck bare down to the sinews, ate half the head, and left a large gutted area that allowed me to see the internal organs, she was laying on her right side underneath one of the low lying shrubs (which are bare due to winter) most of the corpse was left to waste, I disposed of it in the field, the ground is frozen, and I couldn't dig a grave anyway....
Based on what I've read, I'm thinking possibly a hawk, we have those in the area, and it matches the attack profile
I fully admit that I'm to blame here, I let them free range, but they're just so happy out in the yard that I couldn't bear to close them in, and yes, I accept that this is one of the inherent risks of free ranging, my flock are not really "pets" per se, but it's still dissapointing and I can't help feeling I failed them.
This weekend's project will be predator (and escape) proofing their run, so I have some control over their comings and goings and they have a protected area for inclement weather
This won't stop me from free ranging them, they enjoy the freedom too much, and I can't deny them that, plus, it will give me an excuse to add more birds to the flock, five hens aren't enough, I'll probably add another four or five, and if one of my existing flock goes broody, I'll let her hatch some chicks
Sorry for failing you, Minion 1
As far as Hawks go, well, let's just say having a shotgun reloading press gives me the ability to handload some non-lethal shells, noisemakers basically, a light load of Unique powder (8 grains) and a wad filled with air soft pellets makes a shell that has its range measured in feet, yet makes enough noise to scare off undesirable avians without hurting them, heck, from 20 feet away, the pellets won't even puncture an empty plastic soda bottle...
Oh, forgot to say, looks like the two roosters are failures when it comes to protecting the flock, the hens bully them around during the day (the hens were here first, they established a pecking order before the roosters were added) and when Cooper, my Portie runs to the flock to greet them, the Roos take off in a panic while the hens stand their ground, if the Roos weren't so endearingly cute, and fertilizing the eggs, they'd be given a "pink slip"
Hmm, perhaps I should check Craigslist for an incubator, I have fertile eggs, instead of buying more chicks come spring, just hatch my own.... Even better try to force one of my hens to go broody now....
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