HAWK Attack! I'm SOOO distraught. *UPDATE #2 re: Survivor* see post#1

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
No thanks. Not going there.

 

[Mattemma]

If I caught a hawk I would want to take it to my relatives home over an hour away.There is a nice wooded area and plenty of wildlife to eat.

 

[Sjisty]

I have been going on Craigslist every day to try and find inexpensive dog houses. We have lots of bushes and even a bridge (over nothing) that the chickens hide under when the hawks are out and about. Every now and then we will have an attack. I totally agree with you about not shooting them, as much as I want to when I see one! I looked out my bathroom window one day last week to see a hawk land on the ground where my chickens like to dust bathe. The chickies just melt into the bushes and under the bridge until the threat goes away.

I am so glad some of yours came home!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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The attack happened about 5 feet from the coop. I think the hens were just out-numbered by the hawks and not all of them were quick enough to get into the run.

You can see from these photos where the coop is in relation to the woods. The chicken tractor in the first picture is sitting in the location where the attack took place. Of course, there are no leaves on any of those trees anymore (see second photo), which is part of the problem.

 

[cottage19]

just came in from a similiar scary event - walking back from the mailbox and saw a big Red Tail swoop down right in front of the barn door - The girls, thankfully, are all okay. My little "runt" was hiding under the nest boxes and it took me a while to find another girl who was hiding near a bush and trying to make herself disappear. She trembled all the way back to the barn. They're locked in now but these darn hawks are a constant source of worry. We're wondering if we should think about getting a dog...Does anyone have any insights about whether or not a dog would help sound the alarm or keep the hawks away???

 

[tinychicky]

i'm so sorry about your poor hens! i think hawks are the very worst chicken killers there are because they take so many lives and they're so hard to keep away.

 

[BooBear]

I hear the Dominique roosters are crazy enough to take hawk on.
A well behaved (trained) dog can make a really good deterant.

You cope is adorable. Just add some creative lawn ornaments that also work as hidy spots for the girls .
Soynds like you have already been covering the bases after the attack. Glad more of the girls made it home.

 

[BonnieJean]

I just read your post... I'm soooo sorry. I lost one of my girls to a hawk about 2 months ago. It was devastating

I only let them out in the afternoon now and our dogs are almost always with them to keep the hawks away. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[6littlechickies]

As others have said, I'm sooo sorry to hear this!

I know it won't make up for the loss, but I'll be sending as many BCM and Amer as I can and hopefully that will help replace some of the losses. Won't bring your babies back of course and any new ones won't ever replace them either, just hope the eggs will get you a good head start on spring. Pretty sure you are up on the lineage from my FB posts but if you want any other info just let me know.

and if you do find anyone willing to transport some chicks to you, let me know!!!

 

[ADozenGirlz]

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You're the best, Jen. Thanks a million! Your hats are on the way. Please take a pic with all of your cuties in them for me!! Merry Christmas!