Devastated

[Folly's place]

Many of us started with our chickens roosting outside; mine were in the rafters of my pole barn, and they got killed one by one, until I finally wised up. Get them in a safe coop at night, at least!!! We now have a very safe coop and smaller run, so they can be in comfortably every night, and all day when there's snow, or a visiting daytime predator.
Chicken is on everyone's menu! The birds are wonderful to have as pets, their eggs are great, but they need a safe place to live, today.
Silkies often do best in their own coop, separated from the standard birds. That sounds like your best solution, unless you move someone elsewhere.
I have both bantams and standard birds who get along, but no Silkies.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and hope you can move forward with your flock.
Mary

 

[Sricher91]

Since a predator found your birds sleeping in the trees it will be back for the others. Get them trained to go into their chicken house ASAP. Hopefully their house is secure. You'll have to figure out how to keep them from flying into the trees.

It was probably an owl, so you can still let them free range during the day.

No they didn’t find them in the trees. This happened at 3pm in the afternoon broad day light. My birds were just free ranging in the yard. I saw the bird fly away. It didn’t look big enough to be a hawk (I’ve never seen a hawk near our house). But I’m guessing maybe it was a juvenile. I’m not sure what other birds would take out a chicken that quickly.

 

[Sricher91]

Many of us started with our chickens roosting outside; mine were in the rafters of my pole barn, and they got killed one by one, until I finally wised up. Get them in a safe coop at night, at least!!! We now have a very safe coop and smaller run, so they can be in comfortably every night, and all day when there's snow, or a visiting daytime predator.
Chicken is on everyone's menu! The birds are wonderful to have as pets, their eggs are great, but they need a safe place to live, today.
Silkies often do best in their own coop, separated from the standard birds. That sounds like your best solution, unless you move someone elsewhere.
I have both bantams and standard birds who get along, but no Silkies.
I'm so sorry for your loss, and hope you can move forward with your flock.
Mary

Thank you. I only had 2 bantams (one that passed which was a duccle and my silky) now I only have one. Even if I built something for her she would be alone now our coop is safe they just hate it. It’s hard because I’m in school at night and by the time I’m home they have already flown up. I’m going to have to figure something out though.

This happened in the middle of the day. Even my boyfriend is shocked. We don’t live out in the middle of nowhere so we figured if we ever lost a bird it would happen at night while they were up in the trees. Not in the middle of the day =\

 

[Abriana]

I lost my first one to a hawk December 23rd of last year. It was so difficult and sad
I would keep them in the run to make sure they stay safe, and when you let them out you should keep a very close eye on them or hang out outside.

 

[Folly's place]

Then it was a hawk, who will return, maybe in three or four days. Keep them in!
Most of my losses to hawks have been bantams, especially young bantams. the survivors learn to be more careful, but still, keep them in for maybe ten to fourteen days, until this bird moves on.
Is your coop large enough? How about posting some pictures, and dimensions?
Your little bantam survivor could be in a dog crate in the coop, safe, or totally separately housed, but not outside.
Mary

 

[Sricher91]

I lost my first one to a hawk December 23rd of last year. It was so difficult and sad
I would keep them in the run to make sure they stay safe, and when you let them out you should keep a very close eye on them or hang out outside.

Thank you so much. We’re all very sad. I thought I was prepared because I know that chickens are the type of animals that are occasionally lost to predators... but now that it actually happened I’m way more upset than I thought I would be

 

[Sricher91]

Then it was a hawk, who will return, maybe in three or four days. Keep them in!
Most of my losses to hawks have been bantams, especially young bantams. the survivors learn to be more careful, but still, keep them in for maybe ten to fourteen days, until this bird moves on.
Is your coop large enough? How about posting some pictures, and dimensions?
Your little bantam survivor could be in a dog crate in the coop, safe, or totally separately housed, but not outside.
Mary

Thanks for the great advice. I will take pics of the coop. It was a tractor supply one that said it holds up to 12 chickens (we have 8 currently). I’m not sure if it’s big enough, like I said were new to this. Our only bantam is inside with us right now in a crate. I honestly thought the one that survived would be the first to go. The one who got attached was actually the smarter/faster/better flyer of the two. I have no idea how it happened

I put all my birds in the coop right away after it happened. I want them all to be safe.

 

[Sricher91]

So, this was our Christmas card photo. The black one in my sons arms is the one who died. The white one my daughter is holding is our other bantam (silky).

 

[Sricher91]

Does anybody know if a small hawk would take a full sized chicken? My boyfriend says no way, but I’m pretty sure I read on here that it does happen?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Smaller accipiter type hawks will still kill and eat a chicken even if they can't carry it off.