lucky escape

beautiful evening yesterday had hens out and they were loving it, racing the skies even though they are moulting. Most dropped then immediately scattered in all directions. Though hawk attack and when they eventually trapped was one down, probably best the breeding hen I have.

No sign for an hour and half, then it was dark. 7;30 pm she was sat on the board in the dark. Picked her off and sure enough talon holes in her wing and some feathers plucked out her neck. So that'll be them confined to barracks for the next few months. Plus no doves or little birds hanging around the gardens today.

barnie wrote:

beautiful evening yesterday had hens out and they were loving it, racing the skies even though they are moulting. Most dropped then immediately scattered in all directions. Though hawk attack and when they eventually trapped was one down, probably best the breeding hen I have.
 
No sign for an hour and half, then it was dark. 7;30 pm she was sat on the board  in the dark. Picked her off and sure enough talon holes in her wing and some feathers plucked out her neck. So that'll be them confined to barracks for the next few months. Plus no doves or little birds hanging around the gardens today.

Sods Law barnie.

At least she is back and it will not interfere with her breeding capabilities.

As if we have'nt enough problems.

Pity you have to keep them in.

Regards.

that's the sad bit about the sport now locking them up for 6 months

sorry to hear this colin, thats what i used to hate about exercising my birds, always on the look out for them ...... glad to hear the hen came back home, and can heal .

its always a worrying time when this happens as its always on your mind then when you exercise your birds .....

she's up off the floor today, but still in shock not eating and her wing is hanging a bit. might put her in a nestbox for a few days, rest and repair

im sure she will heal with rest, food and water colin.......... a few years ago our dog opened the loft door asnd got in, she killed 2 or 3 outright and badly injured a couple more, i put them in the nestbox and made them comfortable with food and water and they made a good recovery, i think rest and quiet is the main thing .

Only had two involved in sparrowhawks around the loft and got them both.

One of my best breeding hens was involved, had her back feathers and skin completely removed, you could see the blood being pumped through the veins.

Put Germaline thick over the whole area in the hope it would build back the skin no chance of feathers me thought, Wrong, grew a back full of feathers and was in the loft when I packed in and bred as usual.

Animals have a determined means of survival and fanciers can help in many cases.

Just had two problems with hawks around the loft and it is two,two.

Have photos of the demise of both.

Regards.

hows the bird doing colin ...?

sorry to hear hopefully she will make full recovery,i always had to keep mine in from october til early spring

she's still in shock, just picking at food and shy's away in the corner. going to take a while. She's dam and GDam of some decent pigeons up to 2nd fed this year so want to keep hold of this one.

barnie wrote:

she's up off the floor today, but still in shock not eating and her wing is hanging a bit. might put her in a nestbox for a few days, rest and repair

One very fortunate/lucky pigeon etc Colin it appears I would say. Fine line some times in a pigeon sense with these type of outcomes.

barnie wrote:

she's still in shock, just picking at food and shy's away in the corner.  going to take a while. She's dam and GDam of some decent pigeons up to 2nd fed this year so want to keep hold of this one.

Sods Law barnie, the villains always seem to pick the best to injure.

Seen some very badly injured pigeons recover after a while, sure you know what is best for her recovery and good luck.

Regards.