The price of freedom.

[mamabigbird]

I went to lock up and count 17 butts last evening ...16. Count again ...16. Okay who's missing?
I had hoped that there was a straggler that just didn't want to go to bed yet.
Well, sadly I found a huge pile of grey feathers, and then another pile of feathers and finally,
the remains of Spackle-butt, one of my older very heavy birds. I guess she just couldn't move fast enough.
My BIL who is an old wilderness guy says it was most likely an eagle kill.
Such is the price of freedom, eh? R.I.P. Spackle. I'll miss you.

A pic of Spackle-butt (back) with Dutchess (front)

 

[ocpoolguy]

RIP

Eagles need to live and eat as well. We can wish it was a Bald Eagle

 

[mamabigbird]

Yes. Bald eagle. I think that's the only kind we have here. I hate to say it but bald eagles are as common and plentiful as rats here.
They are amazing to see though. So majestic.
But the food chain is what it is. I would rather have my birds feed a wild animal than to be killed by a car or a stray dog.

 

[Oregon Blues]

A little unfair to blame the eagle when nobody saw one around. Lots of things kill and eat chickens and leave feathers around.

Whatever killed your chicken has found an easy source of good food, so be expecting to pay some more of that "price of freedom" because it will be back.

 

[mamabigbird]

The predator may come back. Nothing I can do about that.The chickens are going to have to learn to keep one eye on the sky.
They have been free ranging for years and there have always been eagles, ravens and hawks around. Usually one of the hens will let out a warning squawk and they run for cover. This time the hen must have wandered too far into the pasture and got caught.
The only other option is to lock them up in their pen which is not appealing.
If the eagle keeps coming back I may pen them up for a week or so until the eagle moves on.