We were taught a hard lesson in chicken keeping yesterday when our rooster attempted to notify us of a predator and we ignored the warning. Our neighbors had come over and we were talking and my wife and son said they saw our rooster run across the back yard (the chickens were out of the covered pen) clucking and flapping his wings. We were too busy entertaining and all of the chickens but one had run into the pen. The neighbors left about 10 min. later and my son made his way across the back yard to the chicken pen and the wife and I had gone inside. He said he counted the chickens and noticed one was missing. About that time he said he saw the hawk about 20 ft away standing on top of the hens body and looking directly at him. He immediately ran to the house screaming and when I heard him I ran out and the hawk flew away as I approached but it was too late for our best layer (Barred Rock).
I was talking to my wife and son when I returned to the back porch and spotted the hawk on a limb in a tree in the woods about 50 yards from the chickens. They are now confined to the pen and are not happy about it.
My son, was extremely upset for the rest of the day. I was afraid he might have nightmares about it but I guess he slept ok. I felt so bad for him having to see all of that. I felt bad for letting it happen too.
I was talking to my wife and son when I returned to the back porch and spotted the hawk on a limb in a tree in the woods about 50 yards from the chickens. They are now confined to the pen and are not happy about it.
My son, was extremely upset for the rest of the day. I was afraid he might have nightmares about it but I guess he slept ok. I felt so bad for him having to see all of that. I felt bad for letting it happen too.