UPDATE ON TODAY’S POST
Remember that robot from Lost in Space?
That’s what our rooster, Benedict, was calling…”DANGER, DANGER, DANGER!!”
In all seriousness though, he was calling out for a reason! As I looked out the window to see what all the commotion was about, I saw one of the adult hens, Don Pedro, was outside the enclosure. She was running with wings flapping toward an outside covered area. Then I saw it…a huge hawk inside the chicken yard, trying to escape. She was getting caught up on the chicken wire fencing that kind of bends in.
I ran outside with my Great Dane, Penni,…..
Penni the Great Dane! Protector of all things chicken!!
…..who caught site of the large bird now sitting on the ground outside of the enclosure. Penni ran at the hawk. Although beautiful, it is a natural enemy to my flock. The hawk had an easy exit and flew to a nearby tree. I didn’t see anything within her grasp.
It appeared everyone was inside…there certainly was enough noise coming from the house. I opened the door and started counting…1, 2, 3, 4…..with the one hiding outside all 8 adults were accounted for. Time for the Chicken Littles…1, 2, 3,….7…7…wait where’s #8? I counted again…still 7. Quickly exiting, I started looking for #8. This was deja vu to when we lost our little rooster, Gretchen (post from July 2013, A Sad Reality.) At the backside of the hen house, huddled in a corner was my little #8!! Was she alive? I opened the gate and she got up walking away from me…then I as called to her, she came back to me and let me pick her up. It was my little Austin Healey…the little chicken born lame! (See my previous post in December 2013 – Premature Chick Hatch)
Young Austin Healey
She cuddled her head under my chin and sat quietly, shaking. I tried to reassure her, as much as you can reassure a chicken, checked her over a bit, and not seeing anything, brought her back to the flock.
As i walked back to the house, I saw this…
My little Austin was injured by the hawk!
Oh nooo, she was injured! I went back and found a puncture hole through the skin layer of her chest, under her right wing. She was no longer bleeding, and I could see the lining under her skin. It seemed intact. My poor little Austin…but she is strong, she had to be to survive the beginning of her life. She will be fine, and a little smarter. Thank goodness for our rooster, Benedict, who always keeps his eye on the sky!!!
This guy is an AWESOME rooster!!
Build Me a Dream 
Comments on: "DANGER, DANGER, DANGER" (8)
Good boy, rooster! A little iodine and your Chickie should be just fine. We lost two adult hens, and two CX to hawks this past year. Not cool. 😦
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Sorry about you hens and CX (not sure what that stands for :o) Definitely not cool. 😦 Our rooster sure is a good guy! Whenever he sees those hawks overhead, he calls the alarm! The older hens are smarter now, but the young ones don’t know what to expect. They have a lot to learn.
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Cornish cross meat chickens. 😛 Big bugle birds. The hawk could only do anything because they were just a month old!
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Ohhhhhh…that makes sense! Those meat chickens do grow fast!
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Thanks…iodine makes sense. She/He seems to be doing great. 🙂
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Omygoodness! Poor l’il Austin..I am so thankful he’s ok and all is well again in The Coop. Huzzah!
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Ellen, I know the poor little guy/gal…probably guy. The coop is still in a bit of unrest as they try to figure out these new boarders..haha.
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WOW. There’s alot of action up there in the country. You tell a great story Sis. Glad your pets are all OK, I LOVE that picture of Penni that is awesome.
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