Tragedy on our farm

[SallyF]

Beautiful rooster. I have two buff rock roos that look just like him. Glad to hear that he got good care from the vet and is hopefully on the road to recovery. They do get stressed out and fearful after an attack like that; I'm sure the caregiving will make him feel better soon.

 

[chooniecat]

So glad you've not responded as many would and hate the hawks. they are predators and chickens are prey(actually chickens are predators also) but anyhooo-so happy it sounds as if pete will recouperate. he is VERY handsome and it sounds like sweet also. GOOD LUCK.

 

[fledgling]

His wound looked much better last night. Scabbed over and dry. I pulled the last little feathers that created a damp area that flies would target and we put his cage out on our back porch. If I see the wound getting any worse he'll come back inside. We evicted him because his crow is LOUDER now that he's feeling better. It was too loud for inside because startled our baby boy when he was trying to nap and made him cry. The crowing from the back porch doesn't bother our baby at all.

Peter was feisty this morning. Tried to rush past me to get back to his hens.

We selected a few very lucky meat chickens to replace the lost laying hens. One is a barred rock that is already laying some nice eggs. The other is a big Orpington hen. We're back up to a total of five laying hens now. I think it will cheer Peter up when he returns to his ladies.

 

[fledgling]

BTW, if an administrator sees this, could this topic be moved to the appropriate place? Perhaps it will be more useful to folks if it is relocated to "Emergencies". Thanks!

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

Be careful that nothing can get to Pete out on the porch.

Happy to hear he's doing well in his recovery.

 

[fledgling]

Thanks, Sweet. He's in a metal dog crate. Very secure and he's close by for us to watch for trouble. At the end of this week, we'll be able to put him in the large part of the coop where he can be close enough to see and talk to his girls but still separate.

He was more cuddly tonight even.

Here's picture of his wound in the first picture. The bruising is better and the scabs are quite strong and hard. No soft spots. The white stuff is the Silvadene. I had him in a towel drying a bit after his bath in the second picture. There was a chicken program on PBS that he was watching (The History of Chickens, I believe).

 

[chooniecat]

SO glad pete is doing better. wonder if he will be more extremely nervous(as they are anyhow) when bird of prey is about.

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
so you have hens as meat chickens? I see them all the time at the live poultry processor but always wondered about it.

 

[AHappychick]

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[grannie b]

so sorry about your losing hens. Hope that it was not stray cats that got to them. I have that problem around here. BB guns work well for keeping them out!!