Minnesota!

[scandiafowl]

Oh - Sit rep... The good news is that it was only 1 chicken.  one of my older leghorns. poor girl  she was one of my first chickens on the new farm.

I found the remains of the hen under the edge of a pine tree.  The neck is mostly eaten away with the head dangling from just a little skin.  I have a photo to share if that will help but its gruesome so i wont unless I must.

My wife said when she pulled into the driveway this afternoon a large dark colored bird flew away from that area and that is when she noticed the feathers.  She was thinking a hawk because of the coloring.  She said no white head or tail, that she noticed aka not a bald eagle.  The only thing she said was unique was it seemed really big for a hawk.

She said I "Need to get online and talk to my chicken friends" to see if you guys know what we are dealing with and if we need to keep the girls locked up for a day or two to keep them safe.  I have heard someone on here talk about a kind of hawk setting up shop for the winter and i want to make sure that isnt a problem we have.  


Can you help me??? this is our first predator kill so we are pretty bummed.

Could be an immature bald eagle. Their heads don't turn white until they are about five years old.

Options:
1. Unless you know for certain, no shooting. An immature eagle may decide to snack and if he/she finds your hens to be tasty they'll be back. Jail time isn't worth it.

2. Restricted access. Not that they even want to be out right now. Since our fox visit the gals are on lock down. If the bird is passing through they'll move on. They get a bit pissy about the lack of freedom.

Is your rooster doing his job?

 

[NikonD2xer]

It could very well be a golden eagle. I see 1 or 2 a year, usually while hunting in the fall.
There is or were resident goldens that wintered along the Mississippi River bluffs in SE Mn.

Quite a few years back the DNR suffocated a small lake near my house to kill all the fish.
The eagles were having a field day. There were over 2 dozen golden eagles and many bald eagles.
I could see the eagles sitting high in the trees about 3/4 miles away.
Golden eagles always seem bigger to me than bald eagles, but are very close to the same size.
I think it is because I see bald eagles all the time and goldens so seldom.


Whatever attacked your chickens, I hope it doesn't visit again.
I would keep them on lock down for a while to make sure.

Sorry for your loss and good luck.

 

[scandiafowl]

I made flock blocks today found more than I thought I would to add to it!

layer feed
wheat berries
boss
corn meal
wheat flour
oatmeal
coconut flour
quinoa
alfalfa seed
kelp
raisens
dried comfrey leaves
dehydrated kale
pumpkin puree
apple sauce
4 eggs
crushed dry egg shells
cinnamon
cayenne pepper & red pepper
melted coconut oil

I mushed it all together with my hands and packed it into bread pans 2 regular sized and 4 small ones then baked it until it looked done-over an hour @325

What a great idea!

Does the pepper go over well?

 

[ejb3810]

Klopklop, I would be willing to wager that the bird in question was a Goshawk. The females can be quite large. If they find a food source they will remain in the area and continue their attacks.
Free range in the open is likely to result in more losses unless the culprit is relocated.

 

[Cluckies]

So, a little story about my day....

I have to pick up my son from school every day at 1:35. He is a senior and gets out for work study rather than have two study halls at the end of the day. On my way into town, I have to go down the hill (Zumbrota is in a valley of one of the forks of the Zumbro River) to get there. About halfway down, in the rain and sleet and wind, I see a guy riding (or trying to) a bike up the hill. He had some big jackets and a big backpack and decided to get off and push his bike. I picked up son, and headed home again, and here is this guy still trudging up the hill. I asked son, "Should we give him a ride?" Son says, "Yes." So, I stop and ask him. He didn't think long on it and put his bike and pack in the back of the truck and got in. He came from Dallas TEXAS on a bike!!!! His buddy said there is a job in Minneapolis if he could make it up. I guess he took a train part way, but mostly he rode that bike. He was going to get to Red Wing and go to a church there to see if they could help him to get the rest of the way. So, I took him. This weather was not meant for man nor beast and my softer side said it was the thing to do, and I am sure that he was grateful to be out of this lovely, welcoming Minnesota weather.

I am reminded of times when we used to travel to Florida with all of us rug rats in the car or later in the motor home. My dad would pick up hitch hikers and give them rides, and some times I think, "They could have been axe murderers, and he would give them rides with all of us kids (we had a family of 11 children) in the car!" Then when they got out, my dad would rant about how long the guys hair was, or "Did you see his clothes!?" which made us wonder, why he stopped and gave them a ride?
I briefly thought about that whole axe murderer part for a fleeting second, but I knew somehow, this guy just needed a break. I hope he gets the job... so he can buy some long johns and boots! Cuz he is going to need them!

Then....
I got a notice that something went awry using paypal last week. I don't need to go into details with that, but it was obviously a snafu on the pay pal's part. I had to call our credit union in Virginia (the state, not the Iron Range one), and as the woman is helping me, she asked if I was employed, I answered, "Well, sort of, I am a chicken farmer." She says, "Oh, I have four chickens and I just love them!" This is my life, I mention chickens for any reason and then next thing you know......

Well, folks, you all keep warm, be safe on the roads and walking to your coops. Be ready, because Mother Nature is gearing up to freeze our tookuses again.

I believe what we have here is a God moment. I'm sure that guy is very appreciative, and even if he doesn't get that job, there are tons of other jobs here in Minnesota right now. Because you had a feeling you were suppose to pick him up, it is good. I believe If you weren't suppose to pick up the guy, you would have felt that. Did you take him to Red Wing? or to Mpls?

 

[Cluckies]

KlopKlop, so sorry to hear about your girl.

Thanks for sharing the photos of the kitties, they are getting so big!

 

[KlopKlop]

THanks for the kind words all - I showed photos of juvie bald eagles, goshawks, and golden eagles to DW and she say the Juvie bald eagle looks most like what she remembers. This doesnt surprise me really. We live just close to Rice Lake State Park where a large population of bald eagles live. Do bald eagles migrate? we havent ever seen them at our place before but plenty in the area.

 

[The BlanchRanch]

Murdock,mn

Welcome!!

 

[The BlanchRanch]

This looks like fun. I would be interested in the outcome.

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Eagles stay put, I believe. Although I think they'll move to or enjoy open water areas a lot. So rivers with current, etc. that keep ice at bay...etc. sometimes baldies will work in pairs too

Sorry for your loss klop.