Rooster Killed in Broad Daylight

[teriz1091]

Our 4 month old Barred Rock rooster was killed while we were in town for a bit today. There was a large amount of feathers in front of our garage, & my husband found his carcass behind the garage. We have 4 barn cats, who were eating him. The cats were raised with the chickens, so I don’t believe they would have attacked him, but I can’t guarantee that they didn’t.

It was impossible to tell what damage was from the cats, & what killed him. He was decapitated, his neck chewed on, & his breast was opened & the cats had just started on that area. He hadn’t been dead long, he wasn’t frozen yet.

Any idea what could have gotten him? There was a hawk in a tree on the other side of the property when we got home.

 

[The Golden Egg5]

Our 4 month old Barred Rock rooster was killed while we were in town for a bit today. There was a large amount of feathers in front of our garage, & my husband found his carcass behind the garage. We have 4 barn cats, who were eating him. The cats were raised with the chickens, so I don’t believe they would have attacked him, but I can’t guarantee that they didn’t.

It was impossible to tell what damage was from the cats, & what killed him. He was decapitated, his neck chewed on, & his breast was opened & the cats had just started on that area. He hadn’t been dead long, he wasn’t frozen yet.

Any idea what could have gotten him? There was a hawk in a tree on the other side of the property when we got home.

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I’m so sorry for your loss! He was very beautiful.
It would pretty much be a guess at what killed him, but I think it was the hawk. I have cats out with my chickens and my chickens chase the cats, not the other way around. That would just be my guess, but I’m sure others will have more input.
Once again, I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[sourland]

Very likely it was the hawk. Can you keep your hens penned up for a bit ? Whatever it was, it will be back now that it has found a source of food.

 

[junebuggena]

It was the hawk.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I've heard crazy stories about what unfed barn cats will do, taking down much bigger animals than a chicken. Normal, not starving cats are no match for a chicken though. Rare exceptions could exist I guess. But I vote hawk as well.

 

[teriz1091]

Very likely it was the hawk. Can you keep your hens penned up for a bit ? Whatever it was, it will be back now that it has found a source of food.

Yeah, we’re going to keep them penned now, at least for a few weeks. They’ll be very grumpy since they’re used to free ranging during the day, but better grumpy than dead!

 

[sourland]

Better grumpy than dead, for sure. You can also use shot gun monitored free ranging when you are around.

 

[teriz1091]

I've heard crazy stories about what unfed barn cats will do, taking down much bigger animals than a chicken. Normal, not starving cats are no match for a chicken though. Rare exceptions could exist I guess. But I vote hawk as well.

We feed the barn cats twice a day, & they’re all filled out & have nice coats. The runt is even borderline chunky now. I’ve seen them with mice, rats & moles, however, so I’m not feeding them so much as to keep them from doing their job.

I’m hoping it wasn’t them. The cats have been around the chickens since the day they showed up, & have never bothered them.

 

[song of joy]

Sounds like a hawk. They often start with the head and neck.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry! I agree about probable hawk, although maybe weasel? Usually only one bird at a time with a raptor, and multiple with weasels.
Keep them in their safe coop and run as you said!
Mary