Darn those Hawks

[Will Robinson]

I had my chicks outside for some play (3 New Hampshire Reds and 3 Golden Comets) (age3 weeks) and was sitting right there with them when a hawk DOVE in and grabbed my Gyda. She was a spunky and adorable Golden Comet. Don't underestimate hawks. They are SILENT & SNEAKY. I never saw or heard it. It was unafraid of me, and flew inches above my shoulder. Sad. I cried most of the day.
by Will's Mom.

 

[Apples]

How terrible!! I am so sorry!!

 

[Will Robinson]

Thanks

I am now only letting them out in the screen house on the deck to play now. Live and learn. This is the first time I had chickens. I had NO idea how brassy hawks were.

 

[Alaskan]

Hawks and eagles both.

Horrid

I was reading a couple posts how those raptors had grabbed chickens through the wire fence and torn them up through the wire!

 

[Reurra]

I had a bald eagle land on the top of my coop the first week we had chickens. It was a young one with still some brownish feathering. What a huge bird! Luckily I ahve a family of crows, which I dont care for much, but they swooped in and chased him off. I have a love ahte relationship with the crows, because they can be just as bad, but they keep the larger birds of prey away.

Im soooo so so sorry for what happened.

 

[Will Robinson]

What kind of wire should I use? I guess now that my 'chicken wire' is too 'open weave'. Anybody know the is the name of the kind of wire I should order is? I'm a wreck. We have hawks and eagles here.

 

[Reurra]

Chicken wire is fine, I have it on mine. It should stop their dive. I dont think hawks will bite through stuff just to get one bird. Usually if they miss, they try again elsewhere.

 

[BrownwayChick]

I lost 2 of my beautiful chickens in 3 days because of a hawk. It's a horrible feeling, especially when hawks are something you NEVER thought you would have a problem with and feel so mad at yourself for "shoulda known better". Caught the hawk in my pen with my poor frizzle cochin roo....ugh hurts to even think about it.