Can't handle the hawk stress!!!

[kayri]

Hawk attack today, everyone alright, but the $##@!! hawk went under the deck after the chickens and pinned poor Adele (Barred Rock)in a corner and she tried to escape out of a hole, but was too fat and she was screaming bloody murder, I ran over and at first thought she was just stuck, but when I tried to push her back in the hole she screamed more and I crawled under the deck (20 ft of hands and knees crawling over rocks) and I couldn't really see what was going on and I finally realized it was a hawk under there with her and they were in the really skinny tight spot - 3-5 in tall and I had to crawl through a really tight spot to get them and I couldn't fit so I started throwing dirt and stones at the hawk and tried to miss Adele and I starting screaming at the hawk and crawled back out and almost crawled over the body of our our cat who has been missing for 5 months! Horror upon horrors!!!! Anyway I screamed to my daughter that I needed her help and got a broom and crawled back under and pushed the hawk away from adele and scooped Adele up and carried her out and she was OK and then the kids came out and the hawk went out the hole and flew up into the tree and we pelted it with snowballs, but it didn't seem to care, just shrugged them off and hopped up to a slightly higher branch. We tried to find the other chickens who had scattered to the four corners of the neighborhood and then the $%%##@!!! hawk flew and landed right on top of the chicken hoop house and I threw more snowballs at it and it flew into the little maple tree right by the deck, and then into the cypress tree and I made Lucas go and get his pellet gun and he hit it a bunch of times but it didn't seem to care and I got the orchard ladder and put it right up next to the tree and that scared it away and it finally flew away! Tilt (our remaining easter egger) was missing until about 5 and I was worried sick about her, but she finally showed up thank goodness. This is our fourth attack in 3 months, the other 3 times, it killed one of my girls. I'm done to 7 now and I really want to keep all 7 of them. I went back to check under the deck and it was our poor cat's body, I'll get her tomorrow and wrap her in a cloth and give her the burial she deserves, poor thing I don't know what happened. From now on I'm only getting pet rocks, I don't think I can handle the emotions. . .

 

[gardenergirl]

I totally understand! The hawks have been relentless this winter. I had 5 little bantams and am down to 4 because of a hawk. My husband has rigged a microphone so we can hear the chickens first warning clucks and run out to chase off the evil predators. Our dog has even learned to bark and run outside if the hawk alarm goes off!
There have been so many close calls that we are always on pins and needles. We took away the free ranging rights and contained the chickens, but the hawks land and walk around the pen trying to figure out how to grab the screaming chicks. I never thought that there would be so many hawks in a Chicagoland suburb.
I do worry about my little banties, but put up with the stress 'cause I love them so much!

 

[coastaltx]

Although folks dont like to hear it, all these "nasty" predators were around long before any of us decided to keep chickens. It is not their fault if you offer them an easy meal. If a person cant, or wont contain their birds, they should accept losses and deal with it. Only fault of bird loss is the owners. Second, shooting a bird of prey, with anything, is a FEDERAL offence. You get HUGE fines, and if they dont like you or your attitude, jail.

 

[Brindlebtch]

Definitely sounds like a big traumatic event! Especially the cat aspect (but at least you know what happened to your pet).

I really like hawks. I really do. But I did have to literally pull one of my hens out from underneath a hawk just recently. She survived. It is what hawks do so don't hate them for it. They can't help it and are just trying to make a living. You just need to keep your chickens safe.

 

[gsim]

Coastaltx is correct. Be careful what you do and who knows or sees it. Seems you need a protected run and only allow them out of that when you can be outside with them.

My run is large and open to the sky. One thing that has kept my birds safe so far could be the large resident crow population here.

 

[TeriNick50]

Karyi:
I'm sorry about your cat.

Happy to hear your chicken is OK!

CoastalTX:
You are right ... we are responsible for protecting the poultry.
My husband built a fortress for a coop and run.
The girls are safe ... as long as they stay within those boundaries.
Once we let them out ... and walk away ... we become irresponsible.
I like to give the girls the option of roaming the yard, even though I'm well aware of the danger.

GardenerGirl:The hawks in NW Ohio (Toledo area) are voracious right now too ... with 10+ inches of snow on the ground ... they're hungry.
We just had a hawk "scare" and will keep the girls contained in the pen. I've read on these forums that some hawks will even attack while you're
outside WITH your chickens. Now that is scary!

 

[scooter147]

I've had red tails make swoops while I've been out. I have two small roosters and they always seem to see them coming and give the warning call and the girls head for cover. If the hawk lands on the ground my two roosters walk side by side towards it hurling terrible language towards it.

I too keep my chickens in an enclosed run while I am not able to supervise free ranging. They do seem to be more bold and less afraid this time of year when their natural prey is less numerous. I see maybe one or two rabbits and two or three squirrels a day this time of year but come April and May I will be overrun with them.

 

[chicken@thebeach]

I've also had trouble with hawks. Yesterday one of my largest marans was missing, and today i heard all the hens screeming and went out to find a hawk sat on the fence. luckly i got out there before any more were taken but its really sad because they wont be able to free range any more.

 

[dfchaser]

I am in the same boat! We were thinking weasels, but in todays mess of feathers I found some that do not belong to any of my chickens. I have lost 3 birds since friday, a total of 5 or 6 this winter (hard to keep track when i sell some and add chicks). We have NEVER had a problem like this. In the past we have lost 5 birds a year, not in one season! I feel helpless at this point, because if it is weasels I can set traps, with Hawks, haa! Our chickens free roam in our goat pastures and their current coop locations do not lend themselves to have runs built on. I am thinking that maybe the dog will be outside with everyone for the next few days. This is so crazy and frustrating (and yet the cycle of life!) Thank goodness the roo the over looks my other coop is AMAZING! Last night he was guarding the coop door, now I understand why!

 

[gsim]

Can only put them in an enclosed run or place lots of objects around for them to duck under for cover. (More darned obstacles to mow around)