jwsmith1959
Songster
Exciting day after my 3rd full month of Chicken Wrangling (Yesterday now).
Started out like any normal day...I've had my Production Reds for right at 3 months. They were about 14-15 weeks old when I got them and I figure about 22-23 weeks when they started laying. I started with 6 hens but had one murdered at +2 weeks. Either a raccoon reached in through the chain link of the coop or a really big Western Rat Snake got it by the head. Either way, her head and neck were damaged but no bodily injuries. She got away from whatever got her, but the damage had been done. I've since buttoned up the chain link areas where critters might reach through.
We've had almost constant rain for about a week which gives everyone a bit of cabin fever. I let the girls free-range during this time and they would hide out in the barn, under vehicles, my front porch, under the BBQ pit, in their coop, or wherever they darn well pleased. We were rain free Saturday afternoon and yesterday so I let the girls out early and decided to do a little mowing today. I have about eight acres and the girls were happy to be out in some sunshine and chase me around the property a bit. They ate some figs, went to the edge of my Oxbow lake, kicked a bunch of leaves along a couple of edges of the property. It was a glorious day out for all of us. They stood their ground against a couple pushy Cattle Egrets and explored a bit more than normal. I am a "early to bed" person and usually put them up around 6-7 p.m. and they roost inside their coop at close to sundown at about 8:30-9:00.
At about 6, I went to put them up and there were only 3 who responded to my calls....Hmmmmm. Missing two. Okay...I figured they were enjoying some of our first sunshine in awhile. Went back out @ around 7:30 and refreshed their water and made sure food was full and noticed a small group of feathers outside the coop. Another mystery and I'm starting to get worried. At this time there were 4....so still missing one.
Went back out at about 8:15 and still only four of my girls, so I put them in the coop and closed it up. I made a run completely around the property on my mower...they will usually come out to the noise of the motor if they are hiding somewhere. No sign of my missing girl. I decided to look one last time as the light was fading. Went out and the four in the coop had already roosted and almost out of nowhere comes my missing hen. Thank goodness!! She was making some distressing noises and when I let her in the coop, she immediately roosted and I decided to leave her be and I would check on her this morning.
First thing this morning I let them out and no funny noises from any of them and the hen in question immediately zoomed off to lay. For some reason, they don't like laying in the coop. I have a small Well House and a Sago Palm that is very private that they prefer which is close to my house, but about 60 yards away from the coop. After she laid, I got a good look and she definitely lost some feathers from her left flank. She is walking fine and behavior seems to be normal.
The best I can "guess" is that maybe a Bobcat missed her. I live about 1/4 mile from the Brazos river and there are thick woods between me and the river. My immediate neighbor on one side has about 15 acres of overgrown pasture. I have seen Bobcats here, but none since I've gotten the chickens. I keep pretty much all of my 8 acres mowed, but still see some critters. I surprised (or he surprised me) a 3 foot Speckled Kingsnake in the coop a couple of days ago. I left him alone as they are mainly mice (and other snake) eaters. I do get the occasional Rat Snake that I will relocate when I can catch them. On the other side of the property is an Oxbow remnant of the Brazos which I do have alligators visit from time to time...but never seen one on shore. I have seen the lone coyote within a 1/2 mile or so, but never on my property and no packs I can hear at night. Believe me...I know coyotes!!!
The other possibility is Owls? I have a bajillion Barred Owls and some Eastern Screech Owls which I think are too small to tackle a chicken. There are plenty of Great Horned Owls in Fort Bend County, and although I hear them at night sometimes, it is rare. After a week of rain, they will sometimes hunt during the day...but crows will usually alert me to that possibility.
My best guesses are supposition, but based on my experience. I am a little bumfuzzled as to what actually happened, but I am glad to have my Girl back. My girls talk to me all the time, but I wished they could tell me the story from yesterday.
Sorry for the novel, but I needed to say it.
Good luck and all the best!
Joel
Started out like any normal day...I've had my Production Reds for right at 3 months. They were about 14-15 weeks old when I got them and I figure about 22-23 weeks when they started laying. I started with 6 hens but had one murdered at +2 weeks. Either a raccoon reached in through the chain link of the coop or a really big Western Rat Snake got it by the head. Either way, her head and neck were damaged but no bodily injuries. She got away from whatever got her, but the damage had been done. I've since buttoned up the chain link areas where critters might reach through.
We've had almost constant rain for about a week which gives everyone a bit of cabin fever. I let the girls free-range during this time and they would hide out in the barn, under vehicles, my front porch, under the BBQ pit, in their coop, or wherever they darn well pleased. We were rain free Saturday afternoon and yesterday so I let the girls out early and decided to do a little mowing today. I have about eight acres and the girls were happy to be out in some sunshine and chase me around the property a bit. They ate some figs, went to the edge of my Oxbow lake, kicked a bunch of leaves along a couple of edges of the property. It was a glorious day out for all of us. They stood their ground against a couple pushy Cattle Egrets and explored a bit more than normal. I am a "early to bed" person and usually put them up around 6-7 p.m. and they roost inside their coop at close to sundown at about 8:30-9:00.
At about 6, I went to put them up and there were only 3 who responded to my calls....Hmmmmm. Missing two. Okay...I figured they were enjoying some of our first sunshine in awhile. Went back out @ around 7:30 and refreshed their water and made sure food was full and noticed a small group of feathers outside the coop. Another mystery and I'm starting to get worried. At this time there were 4....so still missing one.
Went back out at about 8:15 and still only four of my girls, so I put them in the coop and closed it up. I made a run completely around the property on my mower...they will usually come out to the noise of the motor if they are hiding somewhere. No sign of my missing girl. I decided to look one last time as the light was fading. Went out and the four in the coop had already roosted and almost out of nowhere comes my missing hen. Thank goodness!! She was making some distressing noises and when I let her in the coop, she immediately roosted and I decided to leave her be and I would check on her this morning.
First thing this morning I let them out and no funny noises from any of them and the hen in question immediately zoomed off to lay. For some reason, they don't like laying in the coop. I have a small Well House and a Sago Palm that is very private that they prefer which is close to my house, but about 60 yards away from the coop. After she laid, I got a good look and she definitely lost some feathers from her left flank. She is walking fine and behavior seems to be normal.
The best I can "guess" is that maybe a Bobcat missed her. I live about 1/4 mile from the Brazos river and there are thick woods between me and the river. My immediate neighbor on one side has about 15 acres of overgrown pasture. I have seen Bobcats here, but none since I've gotten the chickens. I keep pretty much all of my 8 acres mowed, but still see some critters. I surprised (or he surprised me) a 3 foot Speckled Kingsnake in the coop a couple of days ago. I left him alone as they are mainly mice (and other snake) eaters. I do get the occasional Rat Snake that I will relocate when I can catch them. On the other side of the property is an Oxbow remnant of the Brazos which I do have alligators visit from time to time...but never seen one on shore. I have seen the lone coyote within a 1/2 mile or so, but never on my property and no packs I can hear at night. Believe me...I know coyotes!!!
The other possibility is Owls? I have a bajillion Barred Owls and some Eastern Screech Owls which I think are too small to tackle a chicken. There are plenty of Great Horned Owls in Fort Bend County, and although I hear them at night sometimes, it is rare. After a week of rain, they will sometimes hunt during the day...but crows will usually alert me to that possibility.
My best guesses are supposition, but based on my experience. I am a little bumfuzzled as to what actually happened, but I am glad to have my Girl back. My girls talk to me all the time, but I wished they could tell me the story from yesterday.
Sorry for the novel, but I needed to say it.
Good luck and all the best!
Joel
