Delaware hen killed graphic description

[yellowbee0110]

I let my 3 girls out all day long today. I went to close the coop right at dusk but one was missing. I looked for her and called her thinking she may have gotten separated from her sisters and roosted somewhere outside of the coop. I found her dead at the edge of the yard in some light underbrush.
I'm pretty sure it was either a hawk or an owl. We have plenty of both around. The girls are really good about hiding when they see birds overhead. We have lots of squirrels and birds and I hoped my big fat hens would be less attractive to the predators. But I guess not.
Anyway I want to describe the gruesomeness and get some feedback on what you guys think it was:
Her head was still attached but head and neck were down to bone. Basically a dangling spine and skull with thin red flesh left. Some bone exposed around shoulders as well. The rest of her body seemed intact.
Thanks for your help. Girls are going to be on lock down for a while. I also probably need to get another bird soon.
I'm sad for clementine because juniper was her hatch mate and they slept together. Rosie probably doesn't care.

 

[sourland]

Were there feathers scattered around the body ? Sounds like a hawk kill to me.

 

[yellowbee0110]

Yes there were feathers scattered around, but very nearby.

 

[CntryBoy777]

I agree with @sourland it sounds like a hawk.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... but one was missing. I looked for her and called her thinking she may have gotten separated from her sisters and roosted somewhere outside of the coop. I found her dead at the edge of the yard in some light underbrush....

Were there feathers scattered around the body ? Sounds like a hawk kill to me.

Yes there were feathers scattered around, but very nearby.

Well so much for the old wives tail that trees, brush, and bushes are an effective deterrent against hawks. Hawks don't just drop out of the sky like an ICBM to attack your chickens. They normally perch in one of the trees or bushes to "case the joint" before selecting a target. Hawks are also very adept at using brush, fences, hedges, fence corners, and in the video below the coop itself to hem up or corner their prey before they rush in to make the kill. This is why so many of you post about seeing hawks sitting in trees and seemingly scoping out your chickens, they are in fact scoping them out. My condolences for the loss of Jupiter.

Here is how hawks normally make a kill.

 

[barn206]

This video made me realize that it’s not just about swooping down on a flock, but actually entering the coop/ run.
Funny how my dogs jumped up out of a dead sleep when they heard that chicken in distress! That tells me a lot. These dogs get along with the chickens , they haven’t had an encounter with a predator yet but I’m confident the chickens will be safer with them around.
I didn’t enjoy the video but I did appreciate it
Thanks for posting

 

[yellowbee0110]

Thank you everybody, especially @chickengeorgeto
That video is something.

 

[CntryBoy777]

That video is an excellent example why it is important to remember that the word "Hawk" is representative of a very wide variety of birds with totally different routines and habits. Many assume the word refers only to Redtails, but there are many that hunt for squirrel and birds in and amonvst the trees. Their wings are totally different from the broad winged Redtail and can manuever quite readily amongst the limbs and branches. It certainly was surprising to me that the hawk went into the coop in search of its prey....I'd have thought it to be a very rare occassion. Thank you @chickengeorgeto for sharing that and bringing awareness that there are many birds that are and should be thought of when the word "Hawk" is used.....

 

[centrarchid]

Well so much for the old wives tail that trees, brush, and bushes are an effective deterrent against hawks. Hawks don't just drop out of the sky like an ICBM to attack your chickens. They normally perch in one of the trees or bushes to "case the joint" before selecting a target. Hawks are also very adept at using brush, fences, hedges, fence corners, and in the video below the coop itself to hem up or corner their prey before they rush in to make the kill. This is why so many of you post about seeing hawks sitting in trees and seemingly scoping out your chickens, they are in fact scoping them out. My condolences for the loss of Jupiter.

Here is how hawks normally make a kill.

Alright George, you cranky old gueezer.

The cover some structure in the form of plants provide is not an absolute deterrent against raptors. It offers a measure of protection increasing odds chickens will survive. Losses will still occur although at a reduced rate unless you do not have other systems at play.

Free-ranging / yarding hen-only flocks should be against the law.

 

[yellowbee0110]

Alright George, you cranky old gueezer.

The cover some structure in the form of plants provide is not an absolute deterrent against raptors. It offers a measure of protection increasing odds chickens will survive. Losses will still occur although at a reduced rate unless you do not have other systems at play.

Free-ranging / yarding hen-only flocks should be against the law.

Against the law? That seems a bit illogical, considering that the roosters themselves aren't always kind or gentle to the girls they guard. Not to mention most chickens in the world have it a lot shorter and worse lives than an unprotected free ranging hen.