Christmas chicken loss

[theoldchick]

Game cameras set up in strategic locations can often answer what kind of predator is stalking your flock.

 

[cmom]

So sorry for your loss. I have lost birds free ranging so I don't anymore but it's a risk you take. Every time when I have lost a bird I was either away or distracted. Predators will lurk and look for an opportunity. I have several game cameras up on my property. I was surprised at the predators that roam here especially at night. I do see hawks and eagles now and then. My pens are covered so they are protected from aerial predators. I'm sure whatever it is it will be back looking for another opportunity since it's made a kill. Good luck...

 

[CMcGrath71]

So sorry.

https://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care...deal-with-trauma-death-and-mourning-1-5510239

Thank you for the link. A friend just purchased that book for me a few days ago.

 

[jreardon1918]

We have a small flock. Currently three hens all 3 ½ years old and 3 pullets 30 weeks old. We have a 4’x8’ raised coop. An 8’x12’ very secure run. And a fenced area 20’x 50’with a 5’ high welded wire fence. A few months ago we lost 3 of 6 chicks they were in the auxiliary run, fenced with no roof. It was probably a hawk. Earlier this week, we lost one of the hens. This was to a hawk. We saw the hawk feasting and chased it away. We have long believed that the risk of predators during the day was not great enough to keep the girls in the high security run. It is time to reevaluate. With such a small flock, even an occasional loss eliminates a large percentage of the girls.

We are thinking that it is best to expand the coop a bit. Probably 8x8. Then make the run, 12 x16 as secure as our current run. The girls will be pretty safe, but not quite as free. It is a matter of risk tolerance and right now we are going to eliminate some of the risk.

 

[CMcGrath71]

We have a small flock. Currently three hens all 3 ½ years old and 3 pullets 30 weeks old. We have a 4’x8’ raised coop. An 8’x12’ very secure run. And a fenced area 20’x 50’with a 5’ high welded wire fence. A few months ago we lost 3 of 6 chicks they were in the auxiliary run, fenced with no roof. It was probably a hawk. Earlier this week, we lost one of the hens. This was to a hawk. We saw the hawk feasting and chased it away. We have long believed that the risk of predators during the day was not great enough to keep the girls in the high security run. It is time to reevaluate. With such a small flock, even an occasional loss eliminates a large percentage of the girls.

We are thinking that it is best to expand the coop a bit. Probably 8x8. Then make the run, 12 x16 as secure as our current run. The girls will be pretty safe, but not quite as free. It is a matter of risk tolerance and right now we are going to eliminate some of the risk.

I'm sorry about the losses you've also experienced.

My girls have gotten very used to free ranging in the yard and they will be pretty unhappy to be confined to the coop/run. It's hard to balance out their need for natural behaviors with the need to protect them from predators.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

That's terrible I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Losses like that can never be anticipated and it wasn't your intention at all. No way you could've known and mistakes happen.

Not sure what kind of animal that would be, but I would think a hawk would be a good probability - they are pretty brutal and often seem wasteful leaving most of the bird there. Hawks are annoying as well, they know where the food is and will come back. We have hawks out here that are huge, and they will try to prey on our chickens. They've never been successful, but it's probably only a matter of time. Our neighbor has 4 dogs and a rooster for this reason - he lost most of his flock one year to a hawk. They will sit on our fence or in our large tree out back trying to pick a chicken off.

What generally works here is if there is a hawk trying to prey on them, put them in an enclosed run for 3-5 days and the hawk usually gives up and goes somewhere else. They can only wait so long before they must move on. Then you let them free range again, but if you see the hawks then put them back in their enclosed run. Although, if your dog is able to keep the hawk away then just make sure the dog is out with them. I don't think owl decoys would be effective against hawks - they wouldn't be at least out here where we have hawks that are absolutely huge.

The only thing I can think of is get a rooster, leave the dog behind, or put the chickens in their run before leaving.

 

[CMcGrath71]

That's terrible I'm sorry to hear of your loss. Losses like that can never be anticipated and it wasn't your intention at all. No way you could've known and mistakes happen.

Not sure what kind of animal that would be, but I would think a hawk would be a good probability - they are pretty brutal and often seem wasteful leaving most of the bird there. Hawks are annoying as well, they know where the food is and will come back. We have hawks out here that are huge, and they will try to prey on our chickens. They've never been successful, but it's probably only a matter of time. Our neighbor has 4 dogs and a rooster for this reason - he lost most of his flock one year to a hawk. They will sit on our fence or in our large tree out back trying to pick a chicken off.

What generally works here is if there is a hawk trying to prey on them, put them in an enclosed run for 3-5 days and the hawk usually gives up and goes somewhere else. They can only wait so long before they must move on. Then you let them free range again, but if you see the hawks then put them back in their enclosed run. Although, if your dog is able to keep the hawk away then just make sure the dog is out with them. I don't think owl decoys would be effective against hawks - they wouldn't be at least out here where we have hawks that are absolutely huge.

The only thing I can think of is get a rooster, leave the dog behind, or put the chickens in their run before leaving.

Thank you for your kindness, Aquatic_Blue.

That's the plan--I'll be leaving them in their run for a while. They weren't super happy about it today, but I think I need to add more in there to keep them entertained/engaged. In the future, they'll just have supervised outings only.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

So sorry you lost your little hen, and on Christmas Day yet.
I am afraid to let mine free-range for just this reason.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

Thank you for your kindness, Aquatic_Blue.

That's the plan--I'll be leaving them in their run for a while. They weren't super happy about it today, but I think I need to add more in there to keep them entertained/engaged. In the future, they'll just have supervised outings only.

A head of cabbage or some type of busy chicken treat should hopefully help =P

 

[Mountaintop Homestead]

Hello Folks,

I didn't anticipate losing a chicken--I guess no one does--but I lost one of my flock of six today--on Christmas, of all days. I'm heartbroken.

My flock has an enclosed run, but I let them free range in my fenced in yard when I am home with my dog. This afternoon, I went out to drop off gifts at some friends' houses locally, and because I was not going to be out long, I left the chickens out. I took the dog with me. Big mistake.

When I came back home, I noticed my littlest girl missing. I looked all around the yard, the coop, the run, etc. and couldn't find her. I did see a number of feathers near the house, but that was it. Eventually, my dog found her--she was inside the hedges on the ground, ripped open. The front of her body and the food from her gullet eaten.

Does this sound like a raccoon? Fox? Hawk? Whatever it is, I want to have a better idea so I can take better precautions in the future. Obviously, free ranging when me and the dog are not with the girls is now off the table.

Also--I'm imagining this may have traumatized the rest of the flock. Other than keeping them in, is there anything I can do to minimize the stress on the rest?

Thank you.

It seems that the census here is that hawk is your problem. Being in the mountains I haven't had this problem yet myself but I have done some research anticipating this exact problem.

First I'm sorry for your loss, I actually loss 8 of 12 during Christmas due to a Mink in the coop. So I definitely feel sympathy for the loss of any feather baby.

But a Hawks natural predator is an Owl. So I have read and been told by other chicken owners, that getting a realistic owl decoy and placing it around where your flock free ranges, could keep the hawk at bay. Now hawks are smart however, so every few days you will have to move your owl decoy around to a different position or the hawk could figure out that the owl is fake. But a hawk or most hawks will not enter the territory of an owl. You can buy very realistic Owl decoys on Amazon and I've been told that the owl could also deterr smaller critters that like to snack on your chicken feed.
I hope this helps