5OneChick
Chirping
Our first casualties ever. Flock (9 hens now 7) 1.5 years old, 4 different breeds. Out of town for first kill, our favorite, was a black silkie
Housesitter said she was mostly eaten. I didnât look at her yet, (had them put her in freezer). Two days later, an almost 1 year old egger just coming out of molting, was killed at the neck. She was good size. Rest of the flock was hunkered down deep in low shrubs. They had never not come out to greet us. They were all affected some more than others. We gave electrolytes with their vitamin water for several days.
Now they only are let out to free range while one of us are in the yard (2-3 hours) as opposed to 7 AM to dusk, at least until we figure out an alternative way to protect. Entire yard is fenced 6â high. For about a year we had a wavyman air dancer going during the day and thought it worked wellâŚuntil it didnât.
Why wouldnât hawk or falcon eat its kill? We have many hawks around, even had a hawk nest in the large ash tree shading the coop last spring.
Iâm guessing a coyote would have taken out the entire flock.
Could it have been something else?

Now they only are let out to free range while one of us are in the yard (2-3 hours) as opposed to 7 AM to dusk, at least until we figure out an alternative way to protect. Entire yard is fenced 6â high. For about a year we had a wavyman air dancer going during the day and thought it worked wellâŚuntil it didnât.
Why wouldnât hawk or falcon eat its kill? We have many hawks around, even had a hawk nest in the large ash tree shading the coop last spring.
Iâm guessing a coyote would have taken out the entire flock.
Could it have been something else?