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The patient. At least her comb is still nice and rosy. Maybe that is a good sign?

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CSAchook said:
It somehow ripped a cattle panel off the run frame. Also destroyed a compost bin and took some chunks out of the smaller coop.
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I’m thinking bear. That’s a lot of damage. It makes me wonder about the others. I wouldn’t think a bear would take out the whole flock. Maybe in the confusion the others ran.
And yes, electric fence!
 
Chooky, if all else fails, syringe feed Gerber's chicken baby food or puree the fish and add some raw egg or a little water to get it syringe thickness and feed that. I hope she heals and that any other survivors trickle back in. Have you tried calling for them. If they're scared they may come if they hear you and know you're there. If they do come home, I'd put them inside for a few days so they can feel safe again.

I'm so very sorry that you lost your birds, it's a devastating thing to find. Do your best to upgrade the security, and hopefully you won't have to start over from scratch. Check with neighbors and see if they know anything about any new predators and if they've seen or heard any of the missing flock.
 
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FlyingNunFarm said:
I’m thinking bear. That’s a lot of damage. It makes me wonder about the others. I wouldn’t think a bear would take out the whole flock. Maybe in the confusion the others ran.
And yes, electric fence!
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Yes, I am hoping some of them were able to run away and escape. It seems odd that so many would be carried off
Anansi said:
Chooky, if all else fails, syringe feed Gerber's chicken baby food or puree the fish and add some raw egg or a little water to get it syringe thickness and feed that. I hope she heals and that any other survivors trickle back in. Have you tried calling for them. If they're scared they may come if they hear you and know you're there. If they do come home, I'd put them inside for a few days so they can feel safe again.

I'm so very sorry that you lost your birds, it's a devastating thing to find. Do your best to upgrade the security, and hopefully you won't have to start over from scratch. Check with neighbors and see if they know anything about any new predators and if they've seen or heard any of the missing flock.
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Thanks Anansi :hugs DH talked to all the closest neighbors. And we tried calling, but if they went farther than our property they probably would not hear us :( We will keep hoping and looking though. And in the meantime I will keep coaxing Blossom to eat. She seems to do best with someone to encourage her :)
 
CSAchook said:
I have been holding off posting in the hopes of better news, but I am losing hope by the day.

My flock is gone. Something (I can only assume dogs) tore open the run and damaged one of the coops on Saturday. 1 hen was dead when I found her, 1 hen was injured but alive. The other 7 (my rooster, the last hen, and all 5 pullets) are still missing. No other bodies have been found, but there are feathers from everyone strewn throughout the run. I am absolutely shattered.
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Oh no! I'm so sorry. I agree, it does sound bear like b/c ripping off the cattle panel. If it were dogs I would expect them to pull back a section & squeeze inside. I guess a group of dogs or coyotes could manage that, but it seems to me that they'd not be able to remove it entirely. If I were you I'd be looking at the dirt for paw prints or fur or something that might indicate what exactly it was. If it's a bear, it might come back. As for the missing birds, I'd leave food out for them & the coop door open, as suggested by others. They may find their way back. When something got my bird there was a large poof of feathers on the ground, then a trail through the woods of a few feathers here and there, then a small poof of feathers and the trail stopped. Even days later the wind hadn't carried the feathers off, so you might go outside and look around for any feather trails (mine were white so it was easier to follow). Do they have access under the coop? If so they might be hiding under there. Also check under porches, sheds, non moving cars, or anything they might squeeze themselves under. I really hope you find them.

CSAchook said:
The patient. At least her comb is still nice and rosy. Maybe that is a good sign?

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I hope she makes it. Poor thing.
 

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