Lost our first chicken - after a year of being a chicken owner.

[CandiceN]

We only had 4 chickens to begin with, and they roam the yard when we are home - get locked up safely when we are gone. But I can't watch them all the time. Today, one went missing, the rest were all screaming and spread out across the back yard instead of in a group; and I just knew the missing one was dead/gone. So I went looking a few hours later and sure enough, it's dead. Broken neck, feathers everywhere, completely intact. No blood, nothing else broken. We have stray cats and foxes in the area, so I'm guessing one of those did it. But it it was a fox, I'm surprised that it didn't take it. Maybe I scared it off when I went out into the yard because the other birds were making all that noise. This was at about 1pm, and I know foxes generally stick to night time but I have seen them in the yard during the day before.

I know they aren't really "pets", but man do I feel depressed about this! I'm just so glad I found her before my young boys did while they were playing in the yard. You can't un-see something like that. And now I'm worried about leaving the others out to roam like we were. Now that something has killed one - I bet it will be back. But I can't see leaving them locked up all the time, either. What kind of life is that? I guess we just let them out and hope for the best? Not much else we can do.

We probably won't bother replacing her. 3 chickens is enough to supply our family.

What do you all do for disposal? The body is bagged up (about 6 bags actually - I really don't want to see it again) and I am not sure what to do next.


Thanks.

 

[mommissan]

I feel your pain. I lost 3 birds in 2 days this week. I have no body to dispose of though. You could either dispose of her in the trash, or try to bury her in your yard. If you bury, remember to go at least 2 or 3 feet deep. You don't want that being dug up again. However, since she's heavily bagged, nature won't be able to reclaim her very easily.

Your predator will be back. The fact that it didn't take it, makes me think a domestic predator is involved. Wild ones hunt to eat and rarely leave their meals behind. Also, predators don't read the wildlife manuals. They don't know they are nocturnal. I have foxes and fishers that have stolen birds from our yards in broad daylight. If it's hungry, it hunts. Simple.

I feel awful that my entire flock (now 21) are confined to their run. Although I do notice now that they are much less anxious to run free since they lost 3 flock members recently. I've bought and set a live trap out tonight and I have electric fence on order. Goodness these eggs are getting expensive!

You can have supervised free range time?

 

[dancingflower68]

I only let my 3 free range when I'm home outside, right there watching them. If I have to run in for a minute I make my son babysit!! I'm terrified of a hawk swooping down and grabbing one, hopefully one wouldn't try to do that if I am right there, but I don't know how brave they are. Even though I live on a small suburban lot, I have seen plenty of hawks soaring overhead and I am constantly scanning the skies when I am out there with my girls! I'm sorry you lost one

 

[CandiceN]

Thanks for the replies. When we first got them, up until a couple months ago actually, we used to only do supervised ranging. I guess we got comfortable with them being out and figured they were fine since nothing ever happened. Obviously we were wrong. I was home, just inside, and I feel awful. Poor bird! We will probably go back to the way it was now, especially since whatever got the chicken today is likely to come back now that it's succeeded once.

 

[holyhart]

Could you build a portable tractor? That way they are still out and about in the yard, but not open to easy attack. If something was trying to get them, it wouldn't have time to get through the tractor before you could scare it off. With only 3 chickens it wouldn't have to be a huge one either.

Sorry for your loss.