Well so much for free ranging!!!!!

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

OH she was adorable! I'm so sorry this happened. :aww I had a lily who was attacked by a dog a few weeks back and it's just SO sad to find their poor lifeless bodies laying there.
I'm wondering if it was a weasel. They are so sneeky and quiet!

 

[Chickenaddict]

Thanks guys. It could have been anything really, I still haven't found her head so whatever it was took it with them. It happened during the day, around here in daylight there are no coons or possums around, There are a ton of eagles, hawks,skunks, weasels, mink, unruly dogs, who should be on leashes. Usually the crows keep the hawks away but lily was the type to run up to anything not knowing what could happen to her. I am thankful i still have one pullet just like her but not so fearless lol. The flock is taking it harder than me, My roo is looking all over for her this morning and her sister petunia is really depressed and wont come off the roost in the coop. I am keeping them on the patio in an enclosed run with the coop attatched for a few days at least. I think that what ever got her will be back and when it comes back as long as its not a hawk or eagle im opening fire on the thing!

ETA: I was just talking to my DH about how lucky we have been so far predator wise then this happened, If it was up to him he would have them in lockdown 24/7

 

[gumpsgirl]

I do hope you see whatever it was and send it to it's maker! I know that sounds harsh, but I have no patience for things (be it animal or human) that will kill another. I know animals do what they do out of instinct, it's just the smartness behind it. Once they seem to figure out where dinner is, they won't stay away. Grrrr... Good luck to you!

 

[AllChookUp]

Aw, that's terrible. Coincidentally, your little Lily looks just like our Lily, who died on us suddenly this last summer.

Sorry to hear the news.

 

[ZooMummzy]

I'm so sorry for your loss

I don't free range either because of this.

 

[iajewel]

Have you considered getting a dog to help watch the birds? I have one that I know has saved lives and the birds still get to free range

 

[Chickenaddict]

iajewel I have a 6 yr old female blue heeler we picked up at an animal swap this summer, I'm still working with her to protect the chickens, but she is not fixed yet so she has a tendancy to run. We can't afford to fix her just yet and i certainly don't need a litter of pups on top of all the chickens. I got my hands full already lol. I can put her out on a zip line but that only allows her to go so far and with all the irresponsible dog owners around here it wouldn't take long to knock her up. I do put her out on the zip line when i am home and that seems to help keep the riff raff away. Upon scouting the yard i looked under the deck and found the rest of lily, so it definately wasn't an airborn predator. Could have been a fox. I loaded the gun and am gonna let the chickens out for a bit to see if i can get whatever it was to come back and blow it away. I may just feed it to the chickens when im thru with it

 

[Cetawin]

aaaawwww I am sorry for your loss. Daylight, head gone, sounds like a hawk or other raptor.

It is hard to free range them and not lose one.

 

[PassthePeace1]

So sorry for your loss. Maybe you and your hubby could build some sort of chicken tractor for day ranging.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Thank you

. We move them up against the house in the winter to help as a wind block and allow me to run a heat lamp and heated water bowl in the run for them, They just had to move up a bit early. I will let them out when i am home and out there to watch them. Right now they are in the coop still crying out for lily, most of them won't set foot into the run. I think they are still shook up. Maybe some warm scrambled eggs are in order