Was this a predator or rooster?

[okiemamachick]

I just went to lock up my group and I noticed one of my leg horns has the whole back of her comb bit off (what a bloody thing that is!)and right above her tail on her back appears bloody as well I will catch her in a bit and see if the blood on her back is from her comb but I'm 99% sure she has a wound there. Now as I'm peeking at her (she's not tame at all) I hear an owl in our tree line going crazy...did an owl just try and take my hen? I'm thinking claws into the back and beer grabbed the comb we do have a new rooster but I've witnessed him in action with other hens and he seems about as delicate as any other rooster idk what to think

 

[centrarchid]

Picture.

 

[okiemamachick]

Yes I'm going to take pics once I catch hhere in just a bit.

 

[jhm47]

Owl. They attack the head.

 

[okiemamachick]

I couldn't find the source of the blood on her back



what do yall think? She's missing at least half of an inch from the back of her comb and there is a gash above her ear.

 

[MrsBachbach]

I couldn't find the source of the blood on her back



what do yall think? She's missing at least half of an inch from the back of her comb and there is a gash above her ear.

I would hate to think a rooster did that, I would lean toward the owl, especially if there are wounds on the back also. Either way, I would get her cleaned up and put some antibiotic ointment on the wounds.

 

[attimus]

That looks way to extreme for a rooster. Sorry for your hen. Glad she made it through it.

 

[okiemamachick]

I couldn't find and actually wounds on her back so the blood MAY have been from her comb (from head shaking it's all over the walls of my coop) I guess I will keep them in the run instead of free ranging until I feel comfortable I don't think my run is big enough for 7 chickens though which makes me sad :/

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like chicken on chicken damage to head and not the find a rooster does to a hen. Verify gender of victim and make certain another "female" is not carrying out attacks. For now isolate damaged bird.

 

[aart]

Did you look for a bloody beak on any of your other chickens?

A rooster or another hen could have done that.....or the owl you heard.