- Sep 21, 2010
- 14
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We've had quite a busy week here...5 chickens attacked by an unknown predator. The first day, I noticed an abnormal amount of RIR feathers by the shed, leading UNDER it. I first blamed my rooster for getting a little too frisky with the ladies, but it was just too many feathers to be him. I looked under, and there she was. Her head was unattached from her body. The following day, I came home and found more feathers by the duck pond from a RIR hen, so I followed the trail about 25 feet into the woods and found a big pile of feathers and then her body face down with the head and shoulders eaten. While I was back there I noticed a white pile of feathers about 10 feet away from my white cochin bantam rooster. There was no body. I think he was killed the day before because the feathers were wet and it had rained that night. I did a head count and realized a Barred Rock hen was missing, so I went looking for her. I found a large amount of feathers on the other side of my property, indicating a struggle, and then found her about 10 feet into the woods with feathers all around her. She was alive but badly injured behind her shoulders. As I walked over to the shed, I noticed more Barred Rock feathers and wondered if my other Rock hen had been attacked. I found her hiding in the shed and picked her up to examine her. She had wounds between her shoulders as well, but not nearly as bad. I can't figure out what could be attacking them and leaving them lay. This isn't normal behavior for hawks is it? To keep attacking and leaving their wounded prey? I know a fox would just take the whole carcass away and not just leave a half-eaten one lay. I also didn't think a hawk could drag a chicken that far into the woods. And for a raccoon to get 5 chickens in the middle of the afternoon seems a little far fetched. There are no dogs around either. Whatever it was never bothered the ducks, even though their pond was right by the crime scene. This only happens when no one is home. Either way, the free range has come to an end after 20 years. Any suggestions to what we may be dealing with?