When the weather was warmer and we were all enjoying it, Mom decided that the ‘girls’ could go outside and peck around for a while. They had been really restless, pecking on the run plastic, trying to flap out the door whenever Mom went in to do something for them-gather eggs, refresh their feed, or bring in clean water.
After a very beautiful day, in which Mom and Dad were going to be gone, Mom promised the ‘girls’ if the next day was nice they could get outside, once all their eggs were laid, and have a really good dust bath and peck around.
The next day came, it was beautiful…all four eggs were laid by 11:00 in the morning so the ‘girls’ got to go OUT!
There was much joy, running and flapping and cheerful squawking as they made their way into the mud and snow of the farm yard.
Fuzz and I just watched, and then we decided they were not very entertaining so we headed back with Mom to the house and begged to come in.
We should have stayed outside.
Fuzzy and I feel really super bad, because we didn’t stay outside and guard those hens. Mom says she feels bad too.
But we didn’t.
So the deed was done.
(If you want to see a photo of the hurt, Mom would send it to you. Maybe someone out there could tell her who tried to eat her chicken)
But by whom..?
That is the Million Dollar Question!
Mom, Dad, Fuzzy and I rounded up the hens and put them away. They didn’t want to go. They had run into the lilac bush and were standing in there frozen in terror. Fuzz and I talked about whom or what could have done the deed.
So we sat out to find out…we sniffed here and there and everywhere.
While we were out looking for the culprit, Mom was doctoring the hen. First she cleaned the neck and shoulder wounds up really good with warm water, gave the hen a few drops of liquid baby vitamins, and a mashed up half of a baby aspirin.
The hen let her, I guess she was in shock, then she covered everything in salve, after which she placed the hen in a dog crate in the hen house in a warm location.
That was three days ago and the hen is doing well. The wounds are healing over and the stress is gone from the hen’s eyes.
She has even laid two eggs!
Fuzzy and I have been on the lookout, but we haven’t figured out what happened yet. Since the dastardly deed happened in broad daylight who knows—-hawk/crow/raven maybe?
Mom sat a live trap out with really yummy smelling cat food (I kept trying to get at it, Mom was NOT happy me about it. But GEEZ it smells GOOD) just in case it was a skunk.
Since all this happened our temperatures have dropped back down to typical January temps….the high is 22-29* and the lows -2-5* at night. If it was a skunk he/she went back into hibernation.
If it was a hawk/crow/raven…he/she WILL be back!
In the meantime…Fuzzy and I will be on guard and ready to bark all predators away!
Very Serious,
Boomer
Life on a Colorado Farm 
Glad to hear the hen is getting better and that you and Fuzzy didn’t chase the chickens. Our dogs used to do that.
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Oh NO! Glad you hen is doing okay. I can’t imagine what it was in the middle of the day???
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A fox might take a chicken in the daytime, but it wouldn’t have survived. Because the hens were hiding under a bush, I’ll put my bet on a hawk. Perhaps a Cooper’s, or another of the small ones whose eyes were bigger than it’s stomach, and its ability to haul off a hefty hen. Isn’t it amazing how chickens can heal so quickly? Their normal body temperature is 107° which is higher than most bacteria can live. All that Avian Bowl information is still stuck in my brain. If you decide a rooster might help guard your girls (I’m not really sure they do) I, of course, just happen to have one.
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A coyote or a fox?/ Hope the hen heals up good and Boomer and Fuzzy keep the chicken killers at bay:)
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Your animals are so lucky to have you as their “Mom”! I’m an animal lover too so your stories warm my heart. 🙂
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The ever vigilant dog brigade is on the job!!
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Go ahead and send me the photo. I’m thinking it was a hawk. A broad daylight attacker other than a bird of prey might be a red fox. Hiding under a bush makes me think something came from the air. A fox wouldn’t have given up. I’ve heard once a hawk figures out you have chickens, they’ll be back.
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Do you have weasels out there? And what an amazing hen to go through all that and still lay eggs!
I used to be able to let the poultry run outside at least in the daytime, but we are so surrounded by varmints now they can’t even go out for a few minutes.
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I am thinking hawk. Chickens will hide under things when hawk fly over. If they can’t carry it off they will tear it up trying to get part of it before flying off.
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Poor girl! Glad to hear she’s getting better!
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Life is really real sometimes. And really scary. Next time you’ll get the bad guy, Fuzzy. Glad the hen is getting better.
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I vote for a hawk, a young one or a small one. They swoop down so quietly that even if you had been close you might not have heard it. She’s a lucky chicken to have a mom that knows what to do. Have a good week, Boomer and tell Fuzzy that I like his picture in the header.
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Doesn’t sound like a skunk, they’re usually pretty deadly. Amazing that she laid eggs so soon too.
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I would also think it was a hawk or if you have eagles, like we do here in Colorado, maybe one.
We also have lots of foxes that will kill the chickens. So glad she’ll be o.k. and great job Boomer protecting the rest with your buddy.
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Hi Linda, I meant to say up here in the northern part of the state, not just Colorado. So sorry.
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Boomer, I hope you and Fuzzy will be careful when you are out on guard duty. I’m glad the girl is doing better, but I know Mom is glad that you two are on the job.
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I am so happy to read your poor little hen is on the mend. If anyone can find the culprit it is Fuzzy and Boomer! Have a good weekend, Julie.
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Oh My —so sorry about the hen –but glad it is doing better… If you find out what attacked the hen, let us know… Scary!!!! Could have been a hawk…
Hugs,
Betsy
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Hens have a tough life sometimes – glad she is getting better. I wouldn’t have known what to do, well done Mom!!
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You must have been a very good nurse if the hen survivied that attack.
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Have no idea how you set out a trap without Fuzzy and Boomer getting into it. Glad your hen is well.
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Oh what a sad post! What a delightful post! What a typical tragedy/glory of life on the farm.
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Poor thing! I hope she recovers quickly.
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I am so glad that the hen is recovering. My stomach got in knots just reading about it.
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It’s unclear whether the bird was taken away. Sound like 4-1=3. Time for double duty maybe.
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