asb17 Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Hi all, I have just registered here although I have been finding this a very useful source of information in our first month of chicken keeping. All seemed to be going really smoothly until today... We got 2 Miss Pepperpots and an egloo and run at the beginning of February. The chickens settled well, starting laying about a week ago, spend at least an hour a day roaming the garden while the kids and I play out there after school, and long hours at the weekend when we can all be around. So far so good. This morning I came out at about 6.45 to check all was well. We had left the door of the coop open overnight as it was a mild night and we'd been told this was fine as it let them come out at sun-up and not have to wait for us to come and open up in the morning. Both chooks were inside, which I thought was strange as it was a beautiful sun-drenched morning. When I called, Mabel, the smaller and more timid bird, came out to investigate as I put the feed out and changed the water. I could see Maud inside on the bars and figured she might be mid-lay. An hour or so later my daughter went out into the garden and opened up the run to let the birds out to play. Only Mabel emerged. Thinking this was strange, I went out after a bit to investigate and found Maud in the nesting tray. My husband lifted her and one of her legs was severed at the joint, a little bit of blood around and under her but no other signs of a struggle, feathers etc., and no sign of the missing leg... Clearly a horrible thing to find and we are totally flummoxed as to what has happened. There is no sign of any burrowing around the run, Mabel is fine. Can something (a rat???) have got in in the night? We remove the food at night, and why would a rat go into the coop, and surely the chickens are much bigger? Could Maud have been fine, have come out of the coop during a brief window when I was on the other side of the house, been horribly mauled by something, dragged herself back into the coop by the time I came back outside?? If anyone has any wisdom to offer I'd be truly grateful, as we clearly are really anxious not to let anything like this happen again. After a difficult day and taking advice from experts we had Maud 'culled' this afternoon, she was in a pretty bad way... My second question is, clearly Mabel now needs a new friend or she will be horrible lonely. A local poultry farm can offer a variety of breeds but no Miss Pepperpots. Can we mix breeds up together and how do we go about making sure they get on? Should we let Mabel recover from her trauma first (she has been looking for her friend all afternoon), or is it more important to find her a new friend quickly? Maud was a lovely bird, I was amazed how friendly and outgoing she was, I hope she had a nice, if far too brief, life with us and we will miss her. She left us a magnificent egg, which seemed an amazing act of generosity given her circumstances... The one lesson we have already taken on board is to shut the coop firmly every night from now on. Thanks for your time and very welcome advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Oh gosh, what a horrible experience. I'm so sorry to hear about poor Maud. I don't know what could have caused the leg injury, I'm afraid. Was the run securely closed? I know you'd left the Eglu door open but could anything have got into the run? I'm wondering about mink or ferrets? I'm not sure what else to suggest unless she'd somehow got her leg through the mesh and had it bitten by a fox. Whatever happened, you did the right thing for the poor little sweetheart - hard as it must have been to make that decision. I think introducing a new friend for Mabel would be best once you're ready as they're so sociable that they love to have another hen for company. Good luck with Mabel. I hope she's not pining for her friend and hugs to you for having such a horrible, horrible experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 So sorry to hear this Ditto what Kate has said..........I can't think what may have caused her injury. Mabel will need some new chookie friends.........they don't have to be the same breed. Best to get 2 new chooks if you can as this will help with the integration process. There will probably be a bit of squabbling but this will sort itself's out after a few days. Just make sure there are plenty of feeders/water so that each chook can get food and water easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 What an awful thing to happen! Poor you, and poor Maud! No idea what to suggest I'm afraid, but sending you hugs. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 So sorry to hear this. There should be no problem leaving the eglu door open overnight as long as the run is secure, so maybe she did get attacked through the bars or something got in. I too lost a Miss Pepperpot 2 weeks after they arrived (she was poorly). I got another within a few weeks. You can mix another breed of hen OK. I stuck to a similar kind of medium size bird because I don't think the eglu can cope with some of the larger breeds. And I found that you can quite happily buy just 1 hen from most places. There will be pecking order squabling at first but it sorts itself out. I bought a hybrid from a Meadow Sweet agent. http://www.meadowsweetpoultry.co.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 oh my goodness I've never heard of anything like that happening What a dreadful shock for you im so sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tara.F Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 blimey how awful! I once 'lost' two goslings over night. locked them in in the evening (wooden coop)....found them gone in the morning. No feathers and just one tiny spot of blood on an inch wide air vent and these were BIG goslings! I never found out what had happened, but suspected ferret or rat (this happened in london by the way) so all I can say is that it was almost certainly not as a result of anything you did or didn't do. If something could get thru the run bars, then it could get thru the eglu airholes whether the door was shut or not. Nature can be awfully cruel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 How horrible . Sounds like a small rodent has got in. Not really sure how Maud wouldn't have noticed something chewing her leg . I'm sorry I have no advice, just sympathy . xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Oh my goodness, how horrific for both you and Maud. Sending big hugs x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 I've been thinking about this and wonder whether Maud died from something like a heart attack or stroke during the night and something crept in through the door and nibbled at her leg while she was lying there dead? Mice or small rats could easily get through the mesh of the run and if she wasn't moving, it would be easy for them to do. It would also mean that Maud died quickly and painlessly and wouldn't have known anything about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 What an awful thing to happen - poor Maud and poor you . Kate, I think ASB said that Maud was put to sleep by a vet afterwards so it can't have been that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 I'm so sorry, you have had such a dreadful shock Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asb17 Posted March 9, 2008 Author Share Posted March 9, 2008 Thanks for all the replies, very comforting and what a nice forum. The run was securely closed, and Maud was alive until this afternoon, when it became clear that drastic action was needed, so if something was nibbling on her in the night she would have known about it! I guess it will remain a mystery, but we will investigate getting a Maud #2 as soon as possible. Rats or foxes I am sure are around, I don't know about other things, we are in a city surrounded by neighbouring gardens (although very large so there is lots of space). There are loads of squirrels, but I can't see one attacking, plus surely too big to get in? I guess our children are learning important lessons about nature and animal husbandry, they were a lot more pragmatic than I felt! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Kate, I think ASB said that Maud was put to sleep by a vet afterwards so it can't have been that. Yes, I'd forgotten that. Brain turning to turnips, I'm afraid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 9, 2008 Share Posted March 9, 2008 Could Maud have been fine, have come out of the coop during a brief window when I was on the other side of the house, been horribly mauled by something, dragged herself back into the coop by the time I came back outside??[/color] After reading your post again several times and the replies I now think the above happened. I dont think a rat would have attacked her in broad daylight when she was sitting on the nestbox, also if she was in the nestbox when it attacked then surely she would have kicked up a fuss and ran away. The more I think about it, if you say you have foxes in the vicinity then I think she was attacked - managed to escape (with injury) and then retreated to the safety of her "home" the eglu. I dont suppose you'll ever know but it is all very puzzling and upsetting for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 (edited) How dreadful. It would be unusual for a rat to get in through the mesh, and the injury you describe isn't likely to be caused by a mouse. Where abouts in the country are you? Weasels, stoats, and particularly mink would do this kind of thing. I am really sorry to read about this terrible experience. I think all you can do is close the Eglu door at night, and maybe have the Eglu on slabs to prevent any tunneling in. All the best. Edited March 10, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogduck Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 so sorry for you just been out to look at our girls after reading wot happened and its 2.30am, just thinking of you and maud Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindsay Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your lovely hen .... what a shock it must have been for you. I hope you manage to get another little friend for your remaining chicken soon. Lindsay x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 I don't think that a predator would choose to go for a hen's leg. It implies to me that the predator was outside the run, and that the leg was the only bit it could grab. And if the predator had been inside the run, it would have finished her off. I had a hen killed by a fox through the Eglu run. If my neighbour hadn't been out early having a smoke and seen it, I wouldn't have understood what had happened either. I was "luckier", as the fox managed to get her breast (which she used to push against the side of the run when she was interested in anything), so she died instantly. Someone else on this forum had a hen seized by the head through the run. It is dreadfully sad, and must have been an awful shock for you. Don't be put off keeping chickens: I would recommend two more. But if you have foxes in the area, you must not leave the Eglu door open at night unless you have a Foxwatch system etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Sorry to hear this - it sounds awful. I would get 1-2 new girls ASAP - Pepperpots are like Black rocks I understand if you want to get something similar locally, but as the breeder said to me when I asked about mixing breeds 'they are not fussed by what colour other chickens are' - keep to a similar size and you should be fine. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 How horrible for you. Sending hugs to you and Mabel, for the loss of Maud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 so sorry to hear your sad news, how upsetting for you, bless her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 What a terrible thing to discover. <> to you. I'm so pleased that you're going to be getting some new friends for Mabel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 Just wanted to say how sorry I am - what an awful experience. This sort of thing is very, very rare - don't be put off. I hope you manage to get some new friends for your other chicken soon, very glad to hear that your children have coped with this ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted March 10, 2008 Share Posted March 10, 2008 How awful for you, and your poor hen. I have to say it sounds like a rat to me though. Not sure where you are, and if you have rats around anyway, but a roosting hen would be really docile and easily attacked. She may have dragged herself to the nestbox for comfort afterwards. Was there any disturbance around the run at all? Is the drainage hole and bottom of the Eglu still intact? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
