So after we got home from work tonight one of our hens was missing from the coop. I feel horribly guilty because I let them out to free range today because they LOVE it so much. I usually try to make sure we are home while they are free-ranging but I started a bad habit when I began to let them out in the mornings. My husband searched all over the yard for about an hour and then after I got home I noticed some blood on our roo's tail feathers so I figured a predator must have gotten her
Then I found her under a tree surrounded by hundreds of feathers EVERYWHERE dead and half-eaten. I am SOOOO sad and feel like such an AWFUL chicken momma
Everyone told us it would happen and it's just something you have to expect when you let them free range, but I guess I just thought it wouldn't happen to me. They are just so much healthier and happier when they are free ranging. I have one roo and two hens (left) and the poor things went through such a traumatic experience today....What kind of predator would have done this and will it come back? A fox or coyote maybe?
I checked Mr. Rue over and didn't see any gashes or anything, I think he just got a big chunk of his tail feathers pulled out. Is there any other first aid that I should give him?
Everyone told us it would happen and it's just something you have to expect when you let them free range, but I guess I just thought it wouldn't happen to me. They are just so much healthier and happier when they are free ranging. I have one roo and two hens (left) and the poor things went through such a traumatic experience today....What kind of predator would have done this and will it come back? A fox or coyote maybe?
I checked Mr. Rue over and didn't see any gashes or anything, I think he just got a big chunk of his tail feathers pulled out. Is there any other first aid that I should give him?