My chickens got attacked tonight.

[Diamante]

Well me and my sister are awake during the night she heard our chickens making noise and we got out there and our mille fluer hen is missing a chunk out of her shoulder and or roo is missing a toe. The animal, probably a coon, didnt try to get the sebrights or the red pyles because they were sleeping in the back wood part of the cage The milles sleep up in the fence part. They are really scared and normally we cant hold them but since they are tired and hurt they seamed to want us too. How long with the predators keep coming back and looking for them and would it help to move the cages closer to the house, untill we find a way to kill them? Will her shoulder grow back? I know his toe wont.
Thanks for any help.
Lisa

 

[CMV]

Chickens sleeping up against your fence will always be in danger. Raccoons grab hold and will try to pull them through the fence, even if it is a piece at a time. I strongly recommend you lock your birds into a predator proof coop each night. Your birds have been found, and now something is going to come visiting as long as either 1) chickens are around, or 2) predator is killed.

Now to address the injuries. Separate the victims from the rest of the flock if they are getting picked on. Put them someplace warm, dim and dry. Neither injury is likely to be a bite since you think they were next to the fence, they are probably injuries from being grabbed. Clean the wounds with betadine tea (one part betadine to 9 parts water), and cover with Neosporin or Blukote. Put some electrolytes in their water for the next couple days to treat for shock, and make sure to feed them some high protein food for the next month or so. They love eggs, yogurt, bits of meat and mealy worms. Your rooster should be just fine as long as you keep his foot clean. Toe losses are a common injury and don't usually hamper them much. Your hen should regrow the patch of missing skin, but may never regrow her feathers. Keep the injuries clean and they should be fine.

Sorry your birds were hurt.

 

[patyrdz]

I'm sorry about you chickens! I hope they recover soon! Trap that coon!!!

 

[hillerfamily]

Well i hope you get some money off youre chicks and i love the baby duck!

 

[chickencoop31320]

I second everything that CMV said.
Coons are TERRIBLE animals. When they find a food source, they just keep coming back for more.
I have been lucky so far (knock on wood) but my friends have lost several ducks and chickens to them.

 

[hen-thusiast]

Quote:
Ditto. Better take care of the raccoon.