...Lost a bird today---I am sad--I want to know who dun it!!

[litl red hen]

I found one of my chickens in the yard, with her neck feathers striped and left there all alone and dead. My other birds were hiding, which leads me to believe there was considerable struggle and torment from the attackers. We have set a trap out, but don't know what we are trapping. One suggestion--could it be a cat? We live near a woods and possible have some wild cats.

I don't know, I am devistated. This is my first loss and I have had the birds since March--from chicks. Will my remaining birds suffer mental trauma from this? (I do mother them a little.....)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions/guidance anyone can give.

Sad Mama hen

 

[ThePamperedPullet]

So Sorry for your loss. Never a fun moment. We had one of our little ones get attacked by a hawk and it stripped the feathers and skin and all from it's neck. All that was left was a small bit of skin in front. You could see her spine and wind pipe but there was no blood. She did survive and is doing great. Daytime attacks are usually from predatory birds. A cat or dog will usually drag the chicken away. Coons are at night. But where it was just the neck, it sounds like a hawk.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I'm so sorry. It is really hard to raise them from little babies and then lose them like that.

Chickens sometimes do get traumatized after a violent predator attack. Usually, I think they get over it in a few days. I think it's worse for the ones that get attacked in their own coop. Hopefully, yours will still feel safe and comfortable in their coop. Spend a little time talking to them and give out some of their favorite snacks, if you want to give them a little comfort.

I'm not sure who dun it. It could have been a cat, if it was a particularly aggressive killer. Most cats don't take an adult chicken, only little chicks. It could have been a dog. They sometimes just kill and play with the chicken. It depends on the dog. It could very well have been a large hawk. They'll kill a large chicken and eat it on the ground. Sometimes they get scared away from the kill.

Do you have a covered run you can keep them in tomorrow? Whatever it was, will probably be back. If you can keep them in temporarily, it may give you a little time to figure this out and take whatever measures you need to. I'd hate to see you lose more. It often happens that way.

 

[chicken+quail=luv]

aww... i feel so sorry for you. i know what it feels like to lose a loved chickie.....

(do you have a dog? that may help ((my dog is a lifesaver! literally)))

 

[litl red hen]

Thank you for the support and response. I too felt it was probably a predatory bird of some sort. Yes, my girls will have to be in for the day until we got a top on the run. We had one on our original run but changed homes and didn't get a top on it. I feel soooo bad.

I will be first thing talking to my girls in the morning.

I do have a Dachushund. She likes to get out of the yard at times. If I put her in the coop for the day...... No---she'll roll in the chicken 'stuff'. But she is a good protector. She helped us find one that got snuggled in under a board one day.

My poor chick.....

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Friend if your chicken was killed in the day and short of torn flesh and lost feathers it was most likley a dog. A cat would have drug it off and tried to eat some of it. So would a hawk. No offence intended here but I am not sure I would put my Dachhound in the coop with the chickens. unless you were there. Any way I am sorry for your loss.

 

[litl red hen]

Thanks Mike.

No, didn't intend on putting the dog in there.

Thanks for your input. After my original post I learned the flesh was gone--down to the bone. Appears more like a Hawk/predatory bird. My roommate found the bird. I didn't have--sorry--all the details right away.

Anyway, getting a cover on the run today. They are housebound for the day, windows open for viewing though. They seemed ok this a.m.

 

[thethreadedgarden]

SO SORRY!!! I came home today and found a hawk in the garden with one of my girls. My butterscotch a mille fluer bantie is now dead. My other six girls were all in hiding, but came out slowly after I walked around the yard for an hour. Well Butterscoth's eyes were pecked out and all the feathers on her neck were stripped. Her head was dangling, I think the hawk broke her neck. I had to chase the hawk away, but it just flew from tree to tree and watched me. I took pictures to try to I.D. the hawk and I think it is a Goshawk. Anyhow I am soooo mad that Butterscotch is gone! I feel your pain!!

 

[chickenannie]

try this (scroll down)

http://icwdm.org/Inspection/livestock.asp

 

[SharonX]

I am so sorry for your loss. I think I know how heart sick you feel. I came home from work tonight and found something had killed two of my girls. I think it was a coon. Feathers all inside the coop (probably my Silkie) and then a partially eaten carcass of my big Delaware hen under my shed.

I found my middle-sized Delaware huddled in the side yard scared to death but all in one piece. Bless her heart, she must have been scared to death while the others were killed. I am especially upset about "Della" my big Delaware. She left her beautiful first perfect pink egg in the nest before she was attacked and killed.

I loved that girl. She would sit in my lap and I would hug and kiss her. So sad... I feel so bad I was not there to protect them. I have to get a 22 or a CO2 gun or Red Ryder or something. The coon will be back and it means I have to keep all my girls locked up and they love their garden foraging. I am just sick about this.

I have 6 other girls -- only about 3 months old and 2 one month olds. They always are in a dog kennel or bird cage. I would let the older girls out of the stagecoach and let the 3 month olds in for the day. I then would bring the teenagers inside to the dog kennel and put the hens in the stagecoach or leave their door open so they could go to roost. Bad idea. As soon as it is dusk, they need to go to roost and be locked in safely.

I am an idiot.