Predator?

[labradors]

While we were eating our lunch we heard the hens making an awful racket. The new ones are rather rowdy so I didn't rush to see what was up, but it went on and on so we went out to check on them. Three were in the coop carrying on and the other three were underneath, vocalizing and all looking in the same direction - towards the bushes. It didn't look like a fight or a shouting match. I took a walk around their enclosed outside run and noticed a lot of feathers on the ground! Fortunately, everyone looked ok with no signs of blood.

I locked them in their covered run/coop which is predator proof. I really don't know if they were pulling out somebody's feathers or if it Was a predator that didn't get more than a mouthful of feathers!

Linda

[Kbr42]

Could have been a stray cat that got too close to your flock! Glad everyone is ok!

[Killerbunny]

Glad they're OK. I also think a predator of some sort because ours always look in the direction of concern.

[Ontario Chick]

Sounds like somebody had a go at them, we had a fox by couple of weeks ago, I find them very opportunistic,
If they can grab somebody without much fuss they will take them and run.
If the flock puts up a real alarm noise, they will just calmly walk away....as if really they didn't mean anything by it.
also this time of the year, the youngsters are being coached, so possibly an aborted attempt by Junior "something"
for some reason the foxes here favor weekends, not sure what that is about ?

[Jaye]

yeah ...sounds like this was a lesson to pay attention to when your hens are vocalizing something out of the ordinary. Most times it's nothing, but sometimes it's something big. Been there, and there have been times when it was a very good thing I looked out the window when I heard unusual vocalizations from my hens.

[kenya]

I agree probably a predator!

[Farrier1987]

You got dog? Mine often raise the alarm before the chickens. Or bark at a seriously irritating squirrel or other real and present danger. They are also very aware of bigger birds flying over, soaring and turning and raise the alarm. This includes buzzards, but also hawks. Don't think I have lost anything to hawks in several years.

[labradors]

Thanks so much for the feedback folks :).

I think it was. Instead of the usual ruckus at 6.30 am, everything was quiet this morning. Neighbours claim to have seen mink in the area .

[labradors]

Oh yes Farrier. I got two dawgs. Where were they? One is a real guard dog most of the time. I'm thinking of letting them into the enclosed outside run and tying dawg to a nearby tree, but perhaps we will buy a trap first!