The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[speckledhen]

Yikes, Lisa! That's awful. I hate to think of that happening for the first time here. I've been so lucky on this count so far, I can't believe that eventually it won't happen. There was a scare today, in fact. I think it was a hawk diving on the bantams, but luckily, they are in a covered pen.

 

[1muttsfan]

So sorry! Don't owls usually take their prey and go?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

These are big full grown turkey hens. Probably around 12-15 pounds at least. I'm not sure how much an owl or hawk can carry off.

I had a hawk a few years ago kill one of my muscovy duck hens. The hawk couldn't carry it off, and the hen must have dragged herself and the hawk under an old truck that was there for cover. I found the hawk sitting on her under the truck.

Last year I lost my favorite buff polish hen to a hawk. This is the first time I've lost any turkeys, so it's unusual. Hopefully it isn't foreboding a high predator year here. I already see lots of big hawks hunting the fields.

My bantams are the only chickens with a run. The rest need to rely on those roosters doing their job of lookouts, and they need to stick to cover which there's plenty of. My chickens are too bold this year already. Hopefully they smarten up.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sigh. That's just an awful thing to find.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sigh. That's just an awful thing to find.

I was pretty shocked. Husband isn't convinced it was a bird of prey. We are setting up the game cameras to see if anything returns for another snack. We also noticed that end of the fence heaved pretty bad from all this rain, so something could have pushed under it. So hopefully we see something. If not I'm back to thinking owl myself. Husband said the chest bones were cracked a bit on the one. No visible tracks or hair.

 

[seminolewind]

I woke up to 2 dead turkey hens. My old black hen is missing her head and her chest is eaten. 2 feet away is a younger Palm that looks flattened with her flanks chewed on. Both were on the far end of the run sitting on a nest. They were killed halfway back to the shed. They are about 2 feet apart. I'm suspecting an owl or else one would have escaped I think. Husband will look around when he gets home.

With all that, did you maybe think racoon? That is so sad.

 

[seminolewind]

I can see why you like it so much there, it is beautiful.

I am enjoying the spring bulbs right now, lots of bright daffodils, the result of years of bulb planing in the fall which has payed off well. Still spending most days in the 50's here, unseasonably cool - we should be 60's most days by now. Cold, windy and rainy today.

I'm enjoying the bulbs left here by previous owners. I may dig them up and save a few of each and put them all in one bed. The beds especially need to be cleaned up.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

With all that, did you maybe think racoon? That is so sad.

It does come to mind, but the woods are far off. We set up our trail cameras. I'm not sure if I should hope to see something or not.

Two other turkey hens decided tonight to fly out of the pen and roost on the goat fence, which is definitely right out in the open. We caught them and clipped their wings. They apparently are freaked out enough to want to leave their pen.

 

[getaclue]

oldhens, at least if you catch the predator on the game cam, you'll know what you're up against. That isn't much of an upside, is it?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Well sometimes came back and fed on the carcasses, but the dang camera caught nothing. My husband says that was the unreliable camera of the pair. The good one was covering the turkey run. We will switch them out and see. I hate to keep feeding this thing. I'm sure my husband will try to feed it some lead on the following night after we see what it is.