Devastating loss. Graphic pictures please help!

[HeatherTheMommy]

I'm so upset my husband put pallets and mesh down in the run because it has been pure mud and now they have no access to the ground

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Going to make this as short and sweet as possible. I have 12 girls and let them free range during the day. This evening at 4 pm i went to lock them up and found my dominique had been killed. She was in the corner between the coop and shed. Whatever it was left her body and head intact. My other girls are fine. What did this in broad day light? Rip girl

There seems to be a lot of feathers pulled out in an obvious attempt to denude the area were the predator was feeding. Feathers pulled out in this fashion is the classic way that a hawk feeds.

There also seems that there was a pretty good tussle at the point of the kill. Because hawks are poor killers of standard size hens, once she is in the hawks grasp it very often takes 15 to 30 minutes just to make the kill so feeding can begin.

I must agree with my fellow flock keepers.

 

[HeatherTheMommy]

Yes the wood from building the run was all knocked over and some on top of her. I cant believe I didn't hear any of this i feel so bad and guilty. Ive raised all of my hens from day old chicks I'm super sad and can't get the images of finding her out of my head. We are thinking of puttingup fencing and covering it to extend the run because i dont want to lose anymore of my girls :*(

 

[HeatherTheMommy]

Today my husband is going to extend the run with a big chair linked fence that his dad had for his emu. Its quite large and I'm not sure how to go about covering it for cheap? Chicken wite? Im just worried about keeping hawks out. Also how long do hawks hang around? Will it ever be safe to let them free range again?

 

[HeatherTheMommy]

Well it was definitely a hawk. Hes back in the trees watching my other birds. We left the dead chicken in the yard to see what came back for it and sure enough this morning the hawk came back for seconds and now is watching my other birds but they are all hiding in the coop.

 

[enola]

Chicken wire on the top of the run will keep out Hawks and probably cats. But coons will be able to get in. But, so far you haven't had problems with coons.

You have a lovely coop and run.

 

[crazyfeathers]

Our run is large, we covered one section of it with bird netting, btw we have no problems with coons or possums, we do see hawks and many eagles and although our run is not completely covered it is covered enough so a bird cannot swoop into the run and the flock can hide. We had one loss to an eagle last summer, a muscovy duck who was free ranging. We were lucky enough to get the bird netting for free. Caution: make sure netting is tight and there are no loose ends or flaps hanging down. I learned the hard way finding a pullet hanging by her neck on some netting that wasn't fastened securely. Problems fixed now. Sorry for your loss. Another idea is adding some shelters inside of the run. We have a calf hutch, a metal tent, and a long metal overhang that was originally made for shade purposes. Good luck.

 

[HeatherTheMommy]

I will have to look around for netting. Money is tight so we can't afford wire mesh right now but i hate that my girls have no access to the ground now until the extended run is put up but at least i know they are safe from the hawk.

 

[HeatherTheMommy]

Hes back again

 

[centrarchid]

Coopers Hawk. Fully adult standard sized rooster in good feather can repel those with ease. Rooster would go after hawk on ground like that and thump it good if not taking situation seriously. My game hens will even give it a go.

Hen / pullet-only flocks particularly vulnerable to Coopers Hawk. Juveniles and chicks without adults even more vulnerable.