Thinking of trying an experiment.

[bobbi-j]

Ugh! that is how it seems to go with this chicken planning or at least for me! And the predators ALWAYS take the favorite! Ugh!

Glad hubby is on the mend. And I don't think it was the dog! In my experience, dogs leave them close by, or you catch them playing with it. When they just up and disappear, something took it to dinner!

Go into lock down is a good idea!

Mrs K

The reason my dog is always going to be a suspect is, one day last fall I was coming home from work and saw the dog go into the grove with a dead chicken. You're right - he didn't go far with it, but he did put it behind a log before coming out to greet me, all happy and tail-waggy. I went to where he ditched the chicken, carried it out and he immediately tried to crawl under my car - tail between his legs. He's a sneaky bugger! But you're right - it's also altogether possible that it was invited to dinner by something else. There are lots of possibilities. If I get a chance, I may just wander around outside to look for feathers or some sign of the rooster. I doubt I'll find any, though.

 

[bobbi-j]

I had a chance to get my hands on that hen I thought was injured yesterday. She's got a deep wound at the base of her skull, and one at the bottom of her neck. Not sure those would be dog bites since there are no wounds on her front that I noticed (There would be, wouldn't there? From top and bottom dog jaw?). It was dark before I got to check her out, so I was trying to hold a flashlight and look at these wounds. Will try to get some Blu Kote on her tomorrow. The wounds look old, and she was actually on the roost with the rest of the chickens tonight, so I guess I'll see how she does. She is also recovering from a pretty hard molt. I should be able to get out there during daylight hours tomorrow to let them out, see how she's acting and maybe see if I can find any sign of my rooster.

 

[aart]

Need a headlight ;-)

 

[bobbi-j]

These days I sure do! I absolutely hate this time change!

 

[aart]

All year round, best for examining birds off the roost after dark(which come agonizingly early per the clock these days)..
One of the best tools I have, starting using one 20 years ago for camping, now I use it in all sorts of situations....especially as my eyesight dims evermore.
Get one with a tilt mount, and 3 brightness settings....the tilt is essential, especially if you wear multi-focal lenses<rolleyes>

 

[lazy gardener]

Thanks, LG - you're right, it could have been worse. We're thankful it wasn't.

I wasn't sure if he was the only one to go missing. I was so tired when I counted last night, I couldn't figure out if I had 23 or 24 (I don't always count - I also check to see how many of which ones I have in there. "OK, the two white ones are here, four barred rocks - check, three buffs, OK...") But this evening when I went down to check on them, one of my older barred rock hens was outside the run, looking terrible. Lots of feathers missing - I know she was molting, but she didn't look that bad a couple of days ago - and also looks like blood on the back of her neck. It was getting dark, so I just let her in and will check on her tomorrow. She was moving fine, and went straight for the water. If I need to separate her, I can close off part of the coop. So maybe something had ahold of her, and the roo tried to protect her? My guess, anyway. I'll likely never know.

Glad you discovered the wound. Sounds like a predator, for sure, and most likely not the dog. If dog, I think there'd more wounds and more superficial than the 2 you describe in your following post.

Need a headlight ;-)

One of the Must have's in the poultry keeper's tool kit.

All year round, best for examining birds off the roost after dark(which come agonizingly early per the clock these days)..
One of the best tools I have, starting using one 20 years ago for camping, now I use it in all sorts of situations....especially as my eyesight dims evermore.
Get one with a tilt mount, and 3 brightness settings....the tilt is essential, especially if you wear multi-focal lenses<rolleyes>

Also good to have: a red light setting. Last night when I was wearing my head lamp, I came to the conclusion that it would be easier to do dog poo patrol with head lamp in the evening b/c of the excellent illumination and contrast it provides. Also, easier to break the yard into a grid pattern for thorough pick up. Have yet to do evening poo patrol, but at least that option is available to me!!!

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks Aart and LG for the information! Chicken will have to wait for treatment tonight since she's out pecking and scratching with the rest of the gang today. She went right out with them when I opened the gate this morning. Don't want to cause her more stress by catching and messing with her now.

 

[aart]

Thanks Aart and LG for the information! Chicken will have to wait for treatment tonight since she's out pecking and scratching with the rest of the gang today. She went right out with them when I opened the gate this morning. Don't want to cause her more stress by catching and messing with her now.

I always wait until night....unless they're so sick they are easy to catch.

 

[bobbi-j]

I always wait until night....unless they're so sick they are easy to catch.

And at that point, I don't think they even care any more. I agree that waiting until night is the best. At least this one roosts within reach and not 7' up in the rafters...

 

[bobbi-j]

Glad you discovered the wound. Sounds like a predator, for sure, and most likely not the dog. If dog, I think there'd more wounds and more superficial than the 2 you describe in your following post.

Yeah, I think if the dog had grabbed her by the head and neck, she wouldn't have survived.