Chicken Attacked by Fisher Cat: Survived

[Kwimmer78]

This morning I heard lots of commotion outside near my coop, I ran out there and found feathers scattered everywhere. I chased off the fisher but it had been in there with one of my chickens for a little over 30 seconds. There was no blood she just lost a bunch of feather including a big patch off her back. She was pacing and clucking for a couple of minutes until I picked her up and tried to get her to eat some mealworms. She went up and laid an egg and came back down to the open area where I couldn't convince her to eat any food. She used to be energetic and jump but now she is sluggish and uninterested. I patched up the hole where it got in, so it shouldn't be able to get in the same way it did before.

The fisher came back about 2 hours later, but I was able to scare it off before it could do any more than just give the chickens a spook.

Will my hen's feather grow back and will she return to her normal playful personality? What should I do to stop the fisher from coming back? I've just been checking on them every couple minutes to make sure it won't come back for the third time. Any other advice?

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Awe. She's stressed. She will be back to her normal self. I think you have to wait for her to molt for her feathers to come back though.

 

[Trish1974]

Her feathers should grow back rather quickly, at least they did on a hen I saved from a fox. She was bare right in front of her tail and lost a lot of tail where the fox grabbed her. I put her on Feather Fixer and higher protein treats (mealworms, BOSS, and scrambled eggs). Here is a pic of her right after the attack:

And 2 months later:

I was amazed at how quickly her and her feathers recovered.
I don't know what to tell you about the fisher cat. I've never dealt with them and have no idea if they are considered endangered or protected. I know if it were my situation I'd be waiting out there with my .22 LR and blow it away!

 

[aart]

Will my hen's feather grow back and will she return to her normal playful personality? What should I do to stop the fisher from coming back? I've just been checking on them every couple minutes to make sure it won't come back for the third time. Any other advice?

If her feathers were fully plucked out, they should start to grow again soon.
I'd think about some hot wire, fishers are formidable predators.
Did it get inside the coop or just the run?

 

[hayley3]

Her feathers should grow back rather quickly, at least they did on a hen I saved from a fox. She was bare right in front of her tail and lost a lot of tail where the fox grabbed her. I put her on Feather Fixer and higher protein treats (mealworms, BOSS, and scrambled eggs). Here is a pic of her right after the attack:
View attachment 1439000
And 2 months later:
View attachment 1439004
I was amazed at how quickly her and her feathers recovered.
I don't know what to tell you about the fisher cat. I've never dealt with them and have no idea if they are considered endangered or protected. I know if it were my situation I'd be waiting out there with my .22 LR and blow it away!

That is a beautiful chicken...what breed is she?

 

[Trish1974]

That is a beautiful chicken...what breed is she?

Thanks! She is an Easter Egger, ameraucana x brown leghorn to be exact. She lays a pretty blue egg.

 

[hayley3]

I have enough predators to deal with, I'd not want to deal with one of those Fishers...I've heard bad things. They must not be in my area because no one talks about them.

 

[Kwimmer78]

If her feathers were fully plucked out, they should start to grow again soon.
I'd think about some hot wire, fishers are formidable predators.
Did it get inside the coop or just the run?

The run is attached to the coop, so it squeezed its way through the wire and started to attack Buffy (our chicken). We patched up the hole after, but if the fisher had eaten Buffy, it would have been able to attack the rest without a problem.

 

[mowin]

Fishers are relentless. It most likely will be back. I am surprised it attacked in the daylight. They mostly hunt at night. Might be a younger fisher recently on it's own and looking for a easier meal. There strong and fast. Reenforce the coop as best you can.

 

[Kwimmer78]

Fichers are relentless. It most likely will be back. I am surprised it attacked in the daylight. They mostly hunt at night. Might be a younger ficher recently on it's own and looking for a easier meal. There strong and fast. Reenforce the coop as best you can.

It came back again this morning, but when I came out it wasn't on the coop. It was on a tree near the coop scowling at our terrified chickens. It came at around 7:45... similar to last time. I think the coop is strong enough now.