Storms and chickens

[dipitybix]

Hello, 

This is my first post on the forum so i hope nobody minds, but i'm absolutely distraught. 

We got 3 Pekin bantams in January this year (Jennifer, Clarissa and Delia) and we soon fell in love with them and their individual characters.

However at around 10pm tonight i went outside to lock them in to find a trail of feathers, i looked in the coop and Clarissa and Delia were there but Jennifer was not.

I then followed the trail to the fence, we live in rural North Yorkshire and our garden faces onto a field. I found poor Jennifer dead, with her head hanging over the wire. 

It must have happened between 8.30pm and 10pm as i went to check on them after going shopping and then we had our tea and i went to put them to bed as usual. 

I examined her body and could see no signs of blood, but her neck was floppy. Does anyone have any thoughts on what could have killed her? Our neighbour suggested it could be a stoat or weasel?

Not sure i'll be able to sleep tonight thinking about how terrified the other two girls must be. 

 

R.I.P Jennifer (The hen in the forefront of this picture) 

Thank you for any help you can provide.  

 

[Lewis]

Sorry to hear about Jennifer

Sounds like it could be a stoat or weasel as you suggest because foxes usually kill multiple birds; a bird of prey will usually only kill one but pluck then eat it rather than dragging away.

[dipitybix]

Thank you, i keep thinking if only i had gone out earlier but hey nothing i can do now. 

We're going to make the garden extra secure and we're looking to buy an Eglu coop. Will definitely make sure that they are locked in earlier at night. 

If we were to get some more hens, would it be better to introduce two new birds to the existing two? Jennifer and Clarissa the two grey ones were best mates, Delia is definitely at the bottom of the pecking order so not sure how they will get on now. 

[Lewis]

It's always best to add two or more as that way one hen isn't singled out and bullied.

People do introductions in different ways. After suitable quarantine I free range the newbies with my flock an hour before dark and put them to bed together. Make sure there are several feed and water stations and let them sort out the pecking order.
Squabbling is to be expected but if they draw blood they need to be separated.

[SeramaSilly]

I'm so sorry! xx

[Natspringy]

So sorry xx

[GrannyTrish]

So sorry for this to have happened.

[stepnout]

Very sad,  so sorry for your loss. That is a beautiful picture you posted.  A memory to cherish forever.

my 2 biggest worries are #1 Racoons and #2 Coyotes.

Multiple time over,any years racoons have slaughtered my pigeons. They travel in family groups working in unison, they can force and or break into almost anything. The slightest opening they can get their paws in is an opportunity for them to pry a door, window or fencing open enough for the smaller members in the coop. These creatures will not stop until every last bird is dispatched. It is traumatizing to come upon this type of scene. I would not wish this on anyone.

Sincerely

Stepnout 

 

[Luvachicken]

That is a beautiful picture.

I'm so sorry to read about Jennifer though and hope your remaining girls stay safe.

Nature is so cruel sometimes 

[The Dogmother]

So sorry as well

could you post s picture of your set-up so that we can make suggestions about securing it?

The fact that the bird was found at the top of the fence, suggests a fox attack that was disturbed; they would normally kill all birds and take away as many as they could. Stoats etc will take only one, but they wouldn't be able to take a bird up and over a fence, even a ferret would be pushed to do that.

it would be worth reviewing the security of your coop and run, is there any obvious sign of entry?

[AndyRoo]

So sorry to hear that! As The Dogmother says, do you have pictures of the set up?