Lost one of my RIRs

[PotterWatch]

My husband woke me up this morning and told me one of our RIRs was gone. Appears something, most likely a possom I think, nabbed it out of the coop last night. All that was in the yard were some feathers and one tiny piece of bone. I know that my dogs ate some of the feathers at least, but neither of them had any evidence of blood anywhere on them (and one is white so I know we would be able to see it). We have plugged up the hole in the coop where the critter got in but now the other RIR (10wks old) is all by herself. I can't put any of our other chickens in with her because they all peck at her too much and keep her away from the food/water. Should I get a couple 4wk old chicks from the feed store to keep her company? She is obviously missing her friend, poor thing.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I am so sorry.

I would try to find something else more age compatable to put with her. 4 wk. old chicks and a 10 wk. old might not go together to well. There is a definite size difference there!

Again, I'm so sorry.

 

[PotterWatch]

I don't really have a lot of options. No one around here sells older chicks, so I think it's a younger one or none at all. Any opinions on what kind of animal would have done it? There really was nothing but feathers left (though I'm not sure how much the dogs ate).

 

[PotterWatch]

Anyone else?

 

[rooster-red]

Sorry for your loss.

Possums won't usually drag their prey off, they sit and eat what they can and leave the rest.

Thats why so many are killed eating roadkill in the road.

 

[PotterWatch]

I am going to be baiting a trap tonight. Should I just put in a variety of things? I'm sure if I put in cat food or anything like that I will trap a cat... we have tons of feral cats around here @@. I just don't want to get up and find another bird gone.