It was inevitable.
Late in the afternoon yesterday I released all the hens into the big yard to do their free-ranging. As daylight began to dwindle my intention was to personally escort them (especially the red hens) into the chicken coop. But when I went out to check on them they had already gone to roost! One of the little red hens was happily embedded with the rest of the flock. The other five had chosen perches high up in the magnolia tree. I left them there.
This morning I called and clucked to the trouble-makers. They gladly came running to follow me into the chicken yard where I spread their daily ration of two-grain scratch. Bad news. There were only four in that little parade. After I turned out the rest of the hens and secured all the birds in the chicken yard I went in search of the missing hen. I found her. What was left of her. Something had eaten her head and neck. I have read that hawks will eat the head. Here's what I found:
The red hens are certainly putting themselves at risk when they spend the night in the great outdoors, but their errant behavior is endangering the entire flock. Once a hawk decides there's good and easy food available in the area it will return over and over again.
Andrew and I were talking about what must be done. I think he has the right idea ... no free-ranging for a period of time. The red hens like to stick together in their own little flock. We must force integration with the original flock and force habitual roosting in the chicken coop.
The good news ... chickens are creatures of habit. Wonder how long it will it take to re-shape this habit?
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