We have never had any problem with predators. We live in the city. That has all changed. We found 2 of our hens, a black australorpe and one of our oldest hens laying in the run with their heads missing and barely a drop of blood on the ground. We can't find the remains of Suzy, our speckled sussex. She was so sweet. No indication of her remains. Just feathers everywhere.
If that isn't bad enough,,,I am feeling VERY guilty because my dog was barking last night, but the neighbors back light was on and I thought he was barking @ them, I didn't hear the girls making a fuss, so I told him to hush and came back inside. I should have checked on them. I will listen to Barley next time and go check it out.
I only have 9 left now and it nailed one of the girls back and it's a mess, hence my question to you all. What do I do with her. She keeps pecking the her skin off. There are 3 deep gashes, the skin is peeled off and gone and just the meat showing below. Of course no feathers here. I have a cage to keep her in now in the garage with a heat source.
What else can I do for her?
Will she heal and how long?
Will, whatever ate the hens, come back tonight?
What do I do?
I heard it's probably a skunk with the heads gone but what about the entirely missing hen? Do skunks take them away. Can skunks climb?
Thanks for thoughts
It's a sad day....
Coons here take the whole body if they can drag it..and leave feathers only..
Dogs just kill for fun and leave the mess.
They will come back..I have dogs that sleep in the backyard and watches over them at nite..
Thanks Moodene,
Do the coons just eat the heads/necks too?
Found one of the dead ones drug clear across the yard and eaten more of breast, etc but it just left it at the fence. Maybe it couldn't get it over that first fence that's only 3 ft high.
I can think of several culprits that work like this. Owls, skunks, coons, opposum, dogs, & large feral cats.
Poultry need to be locked in secure shelters at night. They are defenseless on their own. Yes, the predator will be back until there is nothing left to kill.
I'm sorry for your terrible loss. Been there several times until we got a building secure enough. Even then we have hawks in the daytime and have had owls go right into the house at night.
So sorry, NowRot! That's really hard. Now you know to trust your dog. Bless them all.
I wouldn't think it would be an owl -- raptors generally snatch and take the whole critter away.
Keeping your 1 hen caged up is good. You can put a triple antibiotic on her. The skin will grow back and so will her feathers. Keep her quiet and not with the other girls because they will peck at her and her wound will not heal. Keep using the ointment and it should be healed enough in a week so she can go back with the flock.
I hope you find who did this Good Luck.
And I'm beaming pink healing light to her.
Think what you will. It sure couldn't hurt.
Hey Brig, the healing light must have worked. I had no idea this would happen but the large skin flap that had been pealed off over Lil' Reds' back,,,has flattened and now has feathers growing out of it. It's amazing. There is still a large area that has no skin, so we'll see what happens there. I've had to leave her out of the flock longer than I like. I still can't believe that she will peck her own flesh off of that area. Ouch! So far not infected and she keeps laying eggs. We take her out of cage and let her peck around in our front yard for exercise. Thanks for all of you guys' comments/support
look for Coyotes
Aren't animals wonderful, the way they adapt and heal? I've heard starfish regrow their arms because they don't know they can't.