CAUGHT A HAWK IN THE COOP!

I went outside to clean out an old suitcase, I noticed the chickens were acting scared. When I opened the door, I immediately saw my poor little silkie mama dead, her three little chicks scattered on the floor, also dead. She must have fought back as best she could, her feathers were everywhere. My bantam ameraucanas were crammed underneath the x-mas tree that I put in there sideways for scenery.

Then I saw the hawk up in the corner, trying to get out. I ran into the house, grabbed a towel, and went back in, grabbed him and wrapped him up, put him in a pet crate.

Then I had the heartbreaking task of digging the hole and gathering the little bodies. I rubbed each one on my cheek before I laid it in the hole next to it's mama. I was crying so hard I could barely see to shovel the dirt back in the hole.

It was my fault, I had noticed a space in the run, I kept saying to my husband, we need to fix that...well it got fixed today.

But the hawk was also really scared, he is kinda cute. We are going to release him tomorrow, away from the house a little bit. I know he will probably come back, but my coop is secure now. I love birds of all kinds, I can't help it. This picture was taken in my living room, right after he got loose and flew around. Finally caught him when he landed behind the couch. If the parrot only knew that a hawk had stood on his cage! And was loose in the house, if only for a moment!

 

He was released at dawn this morning, flew into a tree and began preening. Grabbing him was the only way to get him out of the coop, he was flying around tired and confused, I was afraid he would hurt himself. And I was not going to release him at night when he couldn't really see.

The hole he got through was fairly large, maybe 12"x12"? The wire had fallen in and was not immediately noticeable. I don't think they could get through chainlink.


"All wild birds, with the exception of exotics (birds, usually non-native species, legally sold as pets), are protected by state and federal law. It is illegal to harm them in any way. (Game birds may be taken according to state hunting laws.) It is also illegal to keep wild birds as pets or to sell them, or their parts, including feathers. Furthermore, the law states that they cannot be held in captivity without authorization from both state and federal wildlife agencies. Obviously, the laws were enacted to protect wild birds from being killed, harmed or exploited in any way. They were never intended to preclude or discourage the public from helping a bird in need."