Poultry saddles are obviously indigestible

[Margaid]

While clearing a fallen tree in the cottage garden, our workman found the saddle Henny was wearing when she disappeared. One of the straps had been ripped off the main part of the saddle. It was the stream side of the fence but there was no indication of hoe the predator had got through the undergrowth and tangle of branches and ivy.

It's been confirmed that both mink and otter are known to go further upstream than us, and I know we have badgers and presumably foxes. So the villain is still unknown and the other girls and Cocky are having to get used to life in an enclosure. There were no eggs today for the first time since the first attack but I'll keep a closer eye on them tomorrow in case the crows, magpies or squirrels are taking them.

 

[Marigold]

Oh, that's very poignant, Margaid. Poor Henny, what a sad end. I hope the others will stay safe in the enclosure.

 

[chrismahon]

You are having a hell of a battle there Margaid. Thought we had problems! It's only the flighty breeds that have any chance without an enclosure. And they need somewhere to jump to and hide under, depending on the predator -aerial or ground. It is the cockerel that spots predators. Hens on their own have no chance as they are too busy eating. Pity we are not over there as we have a very observant Leghorn bantam cock spare. Extremely defensive, which is good, and very flighty. Sounds the alarm if he sees a sparrow and all the hens in the other pens head for cover!

 

[Margaid]

Yes, I think Cocky (Welsummer) is a bit of a wuss in that respect, although I don't know whether he lost his feathers because he was grabbed or if he was defending one of the girls. He was near the caravan but half of the girls seem to have been down at the cottage which is 150 yards away at least, in a dip, and with all the buildings in between. It's the Exchequer Leghorns and the CLBs (plus Cocky) that have avoided/survived the attack and they all stay very close to Cocky now. The trouble was I think Henny may have wandered down to the cottage on her own as she was tucked up in the nest box during the previous attack. The leghorns and CLBs were a bit more cautious.

They have started laying again, except the 2nd leghorn that went broody. I just hope the electric netting is adequate protection and maybe the fact that it is well out in the field away from hedges and fences will help. We've increased the number of guy ropes and also pegged the bottom where it might have been possible for something to wriggle under it. There isn't much more I can do here at the moment.

We did see some evidence of where she was dragged through the sheep netting around the garden - that's probably what tore the saddle off. There was also apparently some evidence of something having come through the undergrowth (I was out when the work was done) but as it's right on the edge of the bank which is very overgrown it's impossible to tell what it was. I just hope whatever it is/was doesn't venture this far from the stream again.