mystery predator

[nstilwater]

i free ranged my chickens all year last year with no problems, the other day i let my hens out with their appointed roo for the day and one dissapeared by noon, didnt see it for three days, then it shows back up with symmetrical wounds on each side right behind its wings, our property is covered in tall pine trees, does not provide a very good spot for eagles or hawks to hunt, lots of brush and sticker bushes, no other signs of predators at all, any advice?

 

[locke2121]

Sounds almost like a large owl. They excel in areas with heavy tree populations.

 

[sourland]

Wounds that you describe in the area that you mention are frequently caused by the mating attempts of a large/clumsy/aggressive rooster.

 

[nstilwater]

IT was the the middle of the day, and ive never seen an owl around here, i realize they do exist but have not seen one around as we have quite a few eagles since we are near the river, as for the rooster, I suppose thats possible but my roos have never been aggressive with the hens, and they are young, and do not have hardly anything for spurs,

 

[KFaye]

I had 5 roos for 8 hens. Teen agers I was just deciphering my straight run brood. The roos were vicious as they would all gang up on one hen at a time. It was an awful sight. So I culled roos.