Guess I got my right of passage as a chicken owner :(

[MINDANAO DAVE]

You need to get that area secured immediately if you are planning on keeping any chickens . The hawk will be back until there is no more chickens to eat. Get a secure screen over the top of the fencing and sure up the fence so that it is tight all around. That hawk will return that is for sure.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Because the hawk knows there's a meal to be had there it's coming back and going to try harder to grab a chicken. Have you considered an actual roofed run? Plastic or a tarp or even netting over a run isn't going to be hawk proof, it's just a deterrent. If this hawk is really that determined you might need an actual roof.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I am so sorry to hear that! I wouldn't have guessed hawks could squeeze into small openings either.

Watch the following link to see how well hawks can get into tight spaces. If a hawk can manage the small openings in this video, how easy will it be for a hawk to avoid fishing line or shiny Compact disks?

 

[ehoneybee]

Watch the following link to see how well hawks can get into tight spaces. If a hawk can manage the small openings in this video, how easy will it be for a hawk to avoid fishing line or shiny Compact disks?

That's terrifying! I feel badly because I was just thinking I wish it was this chicken instead of the other chicken that was killed last week. I think I know how it got in. It's a hoop house covered on the top and sides in chicken wire, HOWEVER, the chicken wire isn't zip tied very close around the pipe (tied every foot or so), so I bet it landed on the top and created a gap to fly right through :/

 

[Morrigan]

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you are figuring out remedial measures -- and, yes, you have to take care of every gap. Both up high, for hawks, and down low, for everything else that likes chicken. You truly can't be too careful.

You may already know this, but once the coop security is figured out, you should plan on getting at least one more hen. Chickens are flock creatures and it is very hard on them to live alone.

 

[ehoneybee]

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you are figuring out remedial measures -- and, yes, you have to take care of every gap. Both up high, for hawks, and down low, for everything else that likes chicken. You truly can't be too careful.

You may already know this, but once the coop security is figured out, you should plan on getting at least one more hen. Chickens are flock creatures and it is very hard on them to live alone.

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, we plan to buy a proper chicken run at TSC and get a few more hens from a friend of my husband's (who also has been losing chickens at an alarming rate so maybe the hawks are especially persistent this year?). The children are sad to lose yet another hen so we may pick up some chicks at TSC, too. Funny how I only wanted a few and now, with the recent deaths, I want even more. We enjoyed almost 5 months of free ranging. So odd how the hawks JUST started to show themselves. We just got too complacent.

 

[Morrigan]

We just got too complacent.

It's easy to do. Live and learn.

 

[ehoneybee]

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like you are figuring out remedial measures -- and, yes, you have to take care of every gap. Both up high, for hawks, and down low, for everything else that likes chicken. You truly can't be too careful.

You may already know this, but once the coop security is figured out, you should plan on getting at least one more hen. Chickens are flock creatures and it is very hard on them to live alone.

How long should one hen be alone? It may be a few more weeks before we get this all settled and get more chickens.

 

[Morrigan]

The sooner the better. Being lonely won't kill a chicken, but it is my understanding that it is hard on them nonetheless. In the meantime, try to spend more time visiting the coop and hanging out with her, if possible. Some people actually bring a lone chicken inside to become house chickens, but that is pretty unique and not for everyone.

I've never had to deal with a solitary chicken -- you might want to start a new thread on the Chicken Behavior forum to get more input from those who have dealt with similar situations.

 

[ehoneybee]

The sooner the better. Being lonely won't kill a chicken, but it is my understanding that it is hard on them nonetheless. In the meantime, try to spend more time visiting the coop and hanging out with her, if possible. Some people actually bring a lone chicken inside to become house chickens, but that is pretty unique and not for everyone.

I've never had to deal with a solitary chicken -- you might want to start a new thread on the Chicken Behavior forum to get more input from those who have dealt with similar situations.

Thank you. Yes, we visit her often and bring her treats. Today it was my 2nd grader's leftover yogurt and a worm I found under a rock