LGBTQ+ Poultry Keepers

[BelovedBirds]

I see all 4 feet, was the tail intact? Gonna be an odd question, can you tell if it was a male? I'd wonder if ymtwo boys got into a fight

I probably could tell but I didn't think to check tbh, I think my dad already disposed of it, I just had time to grab a couple pics.

Tail was intact, as far as I could see, externally there's just the head injury. The way it's curled up makes me think perhaps it crawled off to die, and then perhaps a bird or something pecked the wound further? Idk, seems such a severe wound.

My first thought was perhaps something like a weasle, but surely that would have at least taken the head or actually eaten the thing? Would a cat do this?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Well it's definitely not from poisoning! If it was a rat fight, it was a very serious one. I'd say either a rat fight where the winning rat didn't want to let t go, or something slightly bigger got it

When you say slightly bigger, what are your thoughts?
In the UK, so most of our predators come in the form of birds, foxes, badgers, cats and rats. A little more into the countryside you may find snakes, weasels etc. Never seen those in person though, so not common right on my doorstep.
My main worry is if it wasn't a rat, what else may be able to get into my duck pen right now.
The rats burrow under the mesh skirt so I can't seem to keep them out, if something more dangerous is able to follow them in, that worries me.

I have to say though. I love how the animals are sorting this out all by themselves, between Dougie eating mice and rats killing eachother, my poison is hardly even needed!

 

[fluffycrow]

OK my thought was a weasel, but since you say you've never seen one in person I'd say it was a bad rat fight

 

[BelovedBirds]

Was wrong, my dad hadn't thrown it out
Apparently my parents were too scared to touch it incase it was "alive"

So yeah, it was a male, and it did have another puncture like wound on the under side of the neck, you could see the neck vertebrae from underneath too! Kinda cool, I didn't realise their spines were that thick.
Double bagged n binned. I feel fairly sure it was either killed by a rat, or had its neck and scalp wounded badly during the fight, crawled off and then got pecked n peeled by birds, probably magpies.

That's just a theory but.... hmm

 

[BelovedBirds]

Going to the fair soon!
I'm excited again!
The mood in my house is very low so going out for the evening feels good!
My dad's really upset after seeing the rat

....
Don't ask why because I don't know

 

[KikiDeAnime]

I seriously don't understand people...
I've been on the search for at least 2 female ducks for Colonel so he isn't alone but so far all I've gotten are messages from people who are only selling their females with a free drake included....
I feel terrible that Colonel doesn't have any females.
Luckily he's so well behaved free ranging & living with the chickens.

Our 2 WH females are currently in the breeding pen with our WH male so I'm unable to separate.

 

[Canadian Wind]

Was wrong, my dad hadn't thrown it out
Apparently my parents were too scared to touch it incase it was "alive"

Only way that thing would be 'alive' is if it were a zombie!!!

And you weren't kidding about a bloodbath! WOW!

 

[fluffycrow]

Oh don't get me started on our rodent problem. I've had ppison out for them, but now with the aseel I'm not too comfortable doing that. The other chickens typically don't eat them if they seem dead or close to it, but the aseel are much more predatory, and definitely will. That's why I'm looking to possibly get a terrier as my next show prospect, though I don't know how much my migraines will like the barking

 

[BelovedBirds]

Only way that thing would be 'alive' is if it were a zombie!!!

And you weren't kidding about a bloodbath! WOW!

That's the exact words I said. "Mum. Unless it's a zombie rat. It's dead"
She still made me poke it and get it out before she was convinced.

Yup quite a blood bath! I have more photos too, it was all around the pen and dripping from the mesh. Still fresh when I discovered it

 

[BelovedBirds]

Oh don't get me started on our rodent problem. I've had ppison out for them, but now with the aseel I'm not too comfortable doing that. The other chickens typically don't eat them if they seem dead or close to it, but the aseel are much more predatory, and definitely will. That's why I'm looking to possibly get a terrier as my next show prospect, though I don't know how much my migraines will like the barking

What about cats?
The neighbours cats seem to deter the rats here. She liked to nap on the fence behind my pen, watched the animals and keeps the rats away