Hawk attack. Injured silkie hen, help

[TerrasCritters]

Hawks......

We recently set some bait stations for rats, while standing on one of my hen houses to look on the back side of my coop where no chickens go, for a rat tunnel, I saw a pile of feathers, and then I saw the body mangled up of my ONLY sweet blue frizzle hen, I only ever hatched 2 blue frizzle hens from a particular pair which I do not have the full pair anymore. I was so angry, but earlier, I found one of my other frizzles one of my chocolate speckled frizzles on the back side of another coop, upside down wedged between 2 peices of ply wood and chainlink fence.
We set a live trap thinking it was a racoon that had got my birds, it all made more since the next AM when I checked the trap to find one mad hawk in the trap.
I called Fish and Wildlife and they would NOT help give me a number to relocat the bird legally, they said they cant do it this time of year because the bird would starve and die, so I asked, am I suposed to sacrifice more of MY birds to this hawk? They told me to protect my birds better. My birds HATED not being able to free range.
The hawk finally gave up, but I am sure come a couple months, one will be back. So I have to keep a VERY close eye on my birds while free ranging now.

It made me so mad I went out there yelling waving my arms banging 2x4's banging 2x4's on metal the stupid thing just looked at me, flew one tree to another, swooping right infront of me, eye level with me in a tree just looking at me. Attacking my other birds while I was out there, (before I locked them up)


Anyway, I hope your girl is ok, my girl I found is ok, she couldnt walk for a bit, I guess because she was upside down for who knows how long. But shes well now, and the other girls are also well and will get there feathers back soon. The blue frizzle, I hope I can replace her with atleast another blue frizzle, will never be the same as my other girl though.

I hope your girl pulls out of this.

You have to do what you have to do to protect your birds, if you live out where no one will see, I couldnt living right infront of businesses and close neighbors.

 

[CarriBrown]

Julie- Mark my words. That hawk WILL be back and he won't care if you're out there or not. Now that he knows he can cruise past your place for a meal, you'd better keep your girls in, no matter how much they hate it.
That hawk came and tried to pick Buddy, my Buttercup hen, up a few months ago. They didn't free range for months but the day they did, the hawk was back, almost getting Elvira. It kills me to keep them in the run but it's for their own good.
I'm sorry the hawk got your girls, Terra.

But I would really think hard before letting them out again.

 

[pollysmum]

go to your pet shop and see if you can pick up some electrolytes... put this into her water.. it really helps the birds with shock... read the directions carefully a little goes a long way

it goes into the drinking water

Also make up her usual food.. but add some hot water and grated apple to the mix to make it into a wet warm mash for her and the other bird... with shock their digestion capabilities drop... this will help her

Can you describe her droppings to me... details please.. color consistency etc

Is she eating
Is she drinking

Does she have any open wounds or gashes on the head, neck. under wings ?

 

[Juliechickens]

Terra, I think you are a better person than me. Had I found my birds like that, I believe my temper would have gotten the best of me and hawk would have died. I feel exactly like you about having to stop my birds from free ranging. They love to free range. For the first 4 months, all summer long that we've lived here my birds had no trouble with hawks. I figured once it got winter we might run into this problem as we live on 5 acres of heavy woods. My chickens are in a fenced area of about 1-2 acres back by my pool off of my covered back porch. They spend a lot of time on my porch and also in the yard around this area. We have our dogs in another fenced area on the other side of the house so the dogs can't chase the chickens. There is a fence that runs right down the middle of the yard dividing them. It's amazing my dogs and birds are so used to this they sniff each other through the fence and neither one seems to mind. I wish I had a dog who I could let run with my chickens so maybe the dog could protect the birds from hawk attacks. I would have to raise a puppy to do this and I got my dogs years before my chickens and I just don't trust them not to chase my birds around.
Anyways,,,I have to do something now to protect my birds. I hate to give up their free range area but I can't sit and let a hawk take them out one by one. The dark brahma was killed in the 30 minute time I brought my son to his Grandmother's house. Like I said, when I found her, Baby was close by. The dark brahma was actually completely flattened in the leaves on the ground. The hawk must have stomped her to death, I don't know. It was awful. She was my largest bird in the pack and I can't help but wonder if maybe she was out there with Baby and trying to protect Baby. The first of my bird's to die by hawk was another white silkie hen. Her name was "Momma Bird". She was my first egg layer ever. So the hawk has killed 2 birds of mine so far and was after Baby today.
I should have not ironed today and kept a better eye on my birds. I kept hearing them all day off and on giving the alarm but every time I went out there , I saw nothing. I should have realized this was a red flag day and I should have stayed out there to protect them. I feel awful but I'm so glad Baby is alive and survived. I amazed hubby went out at the very second attack was happening. Thank goodness he was in living room right by where my chickens were hanging out. He said it wasn't the norma alarm call,,,it was a screaming alarm call. I've gotten a little used to this alarm as sometimes the hens during the day as they come out of the barn from laying an egg will start this alarm call only trying to get a rooster to come escort her over the yard on to the patio so she doesn't have to walk alone. They do this a lot and the roosters come a running when the hen does this. It's so cute. When one bird starts the alarm,,,they all get into it. Today, the alarm was worse though. A screaming loud alarm like a peacock sound almost. Very loud! Sounded like a bunch of geese flying over head but louder! Anyways,,,I will post in the morning and let yall know if Baby is still with us. Maybe I can take a few pictures of her with her new little hair do the hawk created for her. Maybe also we will see the hawk again tomorrow. I'm ready to return the favor to him!
Chat more later, Julie

 

[Juliechickens]

Carrie, I'm so glad Elvira was alright. Her and Baby are so lucky to survive hawk attacks! Amazing! Both silkies. Julie

 

[Juliechickens]

By the way,,,me and my daughter have both run outside at times when chickens are giving the alarm call waving and flapping our arms and making as much noise as possible to chase away a hawk. I'm just sick of this. I think I will fence the chickens in a large area during the day with netting over it. I think I will use that orange plastic fencing you get from home depot. This would be okay for day only. At night, all my chickens go into their barn where I lock them up safe from any preditors. They have their red heat lights in there along with their new heater to keep them warm.
I hate to stop them from free range but I believe this is the only way. They must be protected. Even if one hawk dies, more will return so I will just have to fence them in a covered area. They will probably be sad and wonder why I did this to them but it IS for their own good. Sweet birds. I love my chickens. Julie

 

[jjthink]

Crossing fingers and toes that Baby will be alright. Rest and warmth and quiet and her feathered buddy will hopefully in time bring her out of shock, and with any luck there are no internal injuries. So sorry this happened - hawks are such a worry.
JJ

 

[TerrasCritters]

Honestly, the bird was relocated about 15 miles away, after a couple days it returned, they are territorial birds and they WILL come back, just when you think they give up and you let them out, they WILL be back.
My hawk issue, is taken care of for good, for this one. I did not touch the bird nor did a bullet or a 2x4. I dont know for sure what happened maybe it got a poisoned rat.
Next year I am sure there will be new juvinals around. I plan to set up netting and a fence so they are more protected.
After I posted that post above, I went out to lock my pens, later then I usually try to get out there, and boy am I paying for it now. I found feathers, finally tracked down one of my two blue cochin body silkie crest and toe and skin colored hens. OHHHHHHHHHH I could spit bullets!!! I set the trap, it is not a hawk this time, as the body was under a small trailor we have packed with recycle stuff. I think a coon, it WILL be finished!
RRRRRRRRRRRRR I just sold 7 silkies today, to get some better stock later, and so I think my pens are less crowded now and coule let them stay locked up for awhile. Sad, but its for there own good until I am able to get some of the yard netted.

I hope your baby pulls through this, how is she doing now? Good luck!!

 

[hoosierhen]

I remember another hawk attack thread and someone said "shoot, shovel, and shut up." I wouldn't kill a hawk for sport, but to protect my flock...I might. Sounds like decent advise to me.

 

[Juliechickens]

Hey I just posted an update on another thread topic. Baby's neck has a swollen lump under her beak. She off and on looks like she is hick upping. I think she may be having trouble swallowing. I will take her to vet tomorrow. If Baby doesn't pull through I'm going to freak out. We love her very much. Will update in morning, Julie