My girl was attacked by a groundhog

[chickensducks&agoose]

Quote:
I would LOVE to see a veterinarian Groundhog!

We've got groundhogs and they never bother our birds, i can't imagine it Wanted to get your hens, probably just was freaked out to be locked in. hope the hen gets better soon!

 

[Churkenduse]

I am sure that was just a typo and (s)he meant to say vegatarian, I never look at mispelled words I do them all the time.
Besides we all know what was meant and the kindness of his or her response was appreciated.
I did not know they only ate plant material either.

Like I said if he wanted to eat them I am sure he would not let the chance to kill them go by, he would have made the kill eat then worry about leaving last. they are not as smart as us they have no cognitive skills.

 

[jaimslee4u]

Maybe the ground hog was in the food & not totally trying to attack the chicken

My friend has a frequent skunk visitor that likes to get into the vegetable scraps she leaves out for the chickens.

 

[Churkenduse]

That is what I thought and then the chickens got scared.
She seems ok although I do think it is broken, I read where she can live nicely with a broken wing as long as she has food and sheter, and that she has. If it were her leg she would be in trouble.
I just can't figure how he got in the doors were shut tight.
Thanks

 

[franklinstreetwest]

I live in Michigan, and we had a Vet that practiced in town that specialized in birds. He loved chickens and had a creative streak....One winter he ended up with a rooster that's feet were frost-bit off. He made prosthetic feet for his roo. He also amputated the wing on my mother's beloved peacock when it was attacked. Sadly we lost our Vet to Chicago. But Mom's peacock lived a happy one winged life.

I hope your girl heals quickly! She sounds like one tough lady.

 

[Churkenduse]

Thanks everyone, but she is not long for this world she refuses to go in the coop, can't blame her, her sister had the same problem and was gone in a week. I cannot reach her she is under the low deck.
I don't know what it is but noone seems to like the RUR's they only pick on the polish and Lakenvelders. Coincidence I am sure.

 

[jaimslee4u]

You could make her a sling. I know it sounds silly and I have never done it but I know plenty of people have and somewhere's on here there are directions.

 

[Churkenduse]

jaimslee4u
Yes thank you great idea, I did read about that but she will not let me near her. She is the least friendly one. I have only been able to corner her once for her own good and pick her upo but that was only with some fighting, they said if she would fight me then she may get more injured so I felt I had to pass on this. If I could catch her I know she would never sit still for me to fix her.
Believe me I want to help her but I don't want to hurt her more either.
Thank you

franklinstreetwest
If your vet was the one featured on TV then I saw him, it was amazing how he could do that for a chicken. My girls is at least 5-1/2 y/o she is at that time when she probably is at the end of the line. Upsetting her now would do more harm than good.
I also read that she can live a long life with a broken wing they just cant live with a broken leg.
I will watch her carefully and make sure she comes out, llike she did this morning, and get plenty of good food.

The last chicken that got spooked took three days to snap out of the fear, but she never wanted to go back to the coop. they seem to feel that being out in the open to see what is coming a good thing. Just my take.
Thanks

 

[Churkenduse]

Thank you all for your help. My girl would not go to the coop, she must have been so afraid to go in there she stayed under the deck and hid, this morning I did not see her so I lay down on the groudn to look for her and she was gone.
She must have been taken away in the night. I will never get another Lakenvelder, they may be beautiful but they are not very bright, this is the second Laky that I lost in two months because of their fear.
Thank you all again.
Rosemarie

 

[Cutepal]

When my chickens were little, their biggest fear was groundhogs. When it first came to them, it started attacking them. He killed 3 chicks and there were only 4 survivors. I was too busy talking on the phone, and I noticed that Peeps would not stop jumping, so I ran outside and a groundhog sprang out of the pen and ran under a fence and into a burrow. I was screaming for my brother, and I was crying. Poofleek, Cookie, and Sweetie. That stupid groundhog killed them. That is when we decided to always watch them no matter what, and when we needed a break, one of us had to come outside and stay with them. That groundhog returned a few times during the week. The morning after that pesky thing killed 3 chicks, we found groundhog poop lying on their coop. Everytime we saw it we would scare the crap out of him, and he'd leave. Though, if you have hens, they are more likely to be safe from the groundhog, my chickens are hens now, and they can easily escape their new biggest fear, dogs.