Hi folks. I haven't visited the group in a long time. I learned so very much when I was beginning to care for chickens from this group. It is invaluable.
I have something to contribute now:
Twice I have foiled a fox attack in my yard and have found that if you run at a fox that is running away with a hen in it's mouth, it will drop it and run away. The hen should be alive, and just needs some Blu-kote applied to it's wounds until they heal, and gentle handling to get over the scare. I guess the fox reacts to save its own life by lightening its load so it can escape better. The main predator here is the fox, and my girls free range the yard & woods. If there's an attack every once in awhile, I'll round up the hens by calling them & throwing corn in the chicken run. Then I'll keep them enclosed in the run for about a week or so, until the new pattern of feeding behavior for the fox is over.
I saw a mink run up past my hen houses & run one day, but the chickens were enclosed at the time, and the mink hadn't bothered them. I think it was running on it's way somewhere. I hope that is the only other predator I ever see here.
Best to all,
Denise T.
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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