Poor Chickens are sad....

[Ponyfeather]

Where I board my horse at my friends we've lost 4 hens in the past few months. First it was what turned out to be the brat hen, which wasn't so bad. She led the pack of 3 other black jersey hens. After she was gone those hens went from avoiding me and refusing to make eye contact to turning into rather sweet birds. But then my cripple hen Tofu was snagged only her head and circle of feathers where left of her. Then a few days later her sister was gone out of the pen yard... a trail of feathers leading away from the coop and over into the pasture next door. The horses had tired to save her from the predator. Proof my lame mare is really hurting, it didn't become obvious until today. Then obviously the thing learned because the next day the hen we'd dubbed 'Little Red Hen' because there was a larger red hen in flock was taken out of the hen house and ate in the chicken yard so the horses didn't stop it from leaving with the hen.

All the chickens you can tell are a bit on distressed and grieving side, especially the remaining red hen and rooster. Rooster is over vigilant when I shooed the hens in to lock in to prevent any more chicken loss he was in the middle of the hens wings stretched over them. Poor guy is worried about his little ladies. The only neat thing is I am going to get to tend to some pullets after I reinforce and cover an old rabbit hutch I was using to keep Tofu in. I am also going to reinforce the chicken pen because I know right where the beastie got in to the yard.

 

[boskelli1571]

Hello & welcome! You need to do some serious chicken security in your yard! Sounds like the critter knows where the 'fast, easy food' is - it will be back. You should be prepared to trap or shoot the critter, it will keep coming back and you will lose more hens. Look in the learning tab to pick up ideas on security for your birds.