Stella's Social Club

[Happy Chooks]

Well, I had a predator attack while we were gone.

Hopefully it was not my best Welsummer hen.

I won't know until they start laying again. Her egg is very dark. I believe it was a daytime attack from the feather pattern and where what was left of the body was. You could see what looked like chew marks. Whatever it was ate her inside the run (my orchard, so it's not covered), it didn't carry her off.

 

[The Sheriff]

So sorry Kelly! RIP little hen.

 

[1muttsfan]

Oh that's too bad Kelli! Only one - maybe could be a lot worse.

 

[mlm Mike]

Sorry about the hen Kelly.

 

[drumstick diva]

Sorry Kelly , ALL chickens' lives matter - - whatever got her will be back sadly. Prepare battle stations.

 

[The Sheriff]

My knee was hurting so bad last night that I couldn't sleep. I wrapped a heating pad around it set on the lowest setting and slept like a rock. Woke up with first degree burns all the way around my knee.

 

[Happy Chooks]

My knee was hurting so bad last night that I couldn't sleep. I wrapped a heating pad around it set on the lowest setting and slept like a rock. Woke up with first degree burns all the way around my knee.

Ouch!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks everyone. Yes, it could have been much worse. When I went up this morning and there were no chickens out in the run, I knew something was wrong. You do your best to protect them, and it's frustrating when something gets to them anyway.

There is absolutely no sign of entry - no claw marks in the lodge poles, no footprints, no dig marks, etc. Whatever got her climbed a 6 foot fence. My dog usually chases everything off, but she was with us this weekend. I've left them many times before without issue. I haven't had a hawk attack in years, and the hen was completely gutted, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't a hawk. (plus hawks usually leave a bigger feather area) I'm thinking a fox. Whatever it was has the chickens completely freaked, as they are not coming out of the coop.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Well, looks like it was a hawk after all. My oldest son saw it on the ground in the chicken run and chased it off. He said it was either a Cooper's hawk or a Red Shouldered hawk by it's markings.

 

[1muttsfan]

Lots of young birds migrating around right now. Looking for a free chicken dinner.

Mary, ouch