chickens afraid to leave house after hawk attack

[worrall235]

My 6 Gold Lace Wyandottes were free ranging near their pen and were attacked by a hawk. They all got away but one stayed hidden overnight but returned the next morning. There were lots of down feathers everywhere but no one was injured. This happened about 10 days ago. Now they are afraid to leave their house...won't even go into their fenced pen area. How long will this go on...Can I do anything?

 

[panner123]

Lock them out of the house for a couple of hours, keeping a watchful eye on them. Feed them out there and they will forget all about the hawk, that is until it comes back. Then you might need to do it all over again.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Is their pen covered? If so, is it a solid cover or wire? They may be seeing the hawk flying around at times during the day. In that case, hiding is the smart thing to do. In an open top pen or free ranging, it's what keeps them alive.

If your pen is safely covered and you want to encourage them to use it, I would give them more cover inside the pen. Find or make things for them to hide under. That will make the pen feel safer, instead of exposed. If it's only covered with wire, you could cover the part closest to the house with something solid, even a tarp, to make it feel safer and less exposed. If your chickens trust you as their protector, then I'd also hang out in the pen for a bit, so they know they'll be safe there. Act relaxed and talk in a calm, happy voice. If you normally talk to your chickens, say whatever you normally do, in the tone of voice you normally use. Definitely bring a favorite snack as a bribe and a diversion.

If their pen isn't covered, I would either cover it or leave them to come out on their own. If you have an open pen and an actively attacking hawk, staying inside the coop is helping keep them alive.

 

[Mattemma]

My hens are very scared the day after the hawk attack. It was sad to see but at the same time I am glad they did not forget that killer trying to eat them. The hens stay closer to the shed,and walk along the fence line. I just have a plastic fence run and bird netting on top.

 

[gmachicken]

I had a similar experience and was wondering when they start laying again. 2 of the 4 survivors are OK but the other two, an EE and a Coshen Bantam are both still so scarred. They get out of the coop now where the first three days that was a no go. The two laying are a BO and a CB.

When would it be OK to add new buddies?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Mattemma]

Mine laid right away.In fact one of my 3 layers was NOT laying,but since the hawk attack I am getting 3 eggs a day.We joke that the hawk *scared the egg out of her*.

 

[Frannabelle]

I posted last week about my hen killed by a red tailed, my others stayed in their house for 3 days, and even though they are venturing out, they are still spooky

 

[Eraser81112]

After a daytime (I think raccoon-because I have seen it in my fenced in area before eating cat food and I tried killing it with a bb gun) attack that took a way a polish hen, my teenage hens and rooster won't venture too far out underneath my garden shed. It took 2 days until they ventured out of the coop and I had to be there supervising. I think it was a raccoon(s) attack because it tried to grab every chicken I had...so it tried multiple attempts...actually while I was home and had multiple visits to my house. That thing was bold. I could tell it moved around heavy blocks last night, I had protecting the coop. The chickens are terrified.
2 of them survived by hiding under the shed, so I think they communicated to the 3 ladies who escaped under holes in the fence(they returned home after 3 hours) that survival meant staying under the shed. It is sad to me because I want them to have freedom. I am going to try and trap the raccoon(s).

 

[Eraser81112]

After a daytime (I think raccoon-because I have seen him/her in my fenced in area before eating cat food) attack that took a way a polish hen, my teenage hens and rooster won't venture too far out underneath my garden shed. It took 2 days until they ventured out of the coop and I had to be there supervising. I think it was a raccoon(s) attack because it tried to grab every chicken I had...so it tried multiple attempts.
2 of them survived by hiding under the shed, so I think they communicated to the 3 ladies who got under our fencing to run away (they returned home after 3 hours) that survival meant staying under the shed. It is sad to me because I want them to have freedom. I am going to try and trap the raccoon(s).

Also want to add that it is a total bummer I have a great fenced in area (it was built for dogs so is way too large for a wire roof) for them to feel safe, and now I have to keep them in the coop until I can supervise...or snatch the raccon(s)

 

[Marthajo]

Lock them out of the house for a couple of hours, keeping a watchful eye on them. Feed them out there and they will forget all about the hawk, that is until it comes back. Then you might need to do it all over again.

Thanks!