Hawk Attack?

[Patinas]

@Imthe1whoquacks Exactly! Now I am thinking I won't let them out for awhile. Makes me nervous. Problem for me is the weather is really nice these days and I always let them out when weather permits and they (the hens) know it. Maybe hubby's idea of a blind and injured rabbit call will work. I don't have the patience to lie in wait but apparently he does.

 

[Reno]

Unfortunately, one of my hens was killed the other day and all that was visible was a pile of feathers. No body parts or even signs of blood.

In the week before this happened there has been a huge hawk hanging around the yard and circling low about 2-3 times a day. So while the hens were out ranging, either I or our dog was always out with them to keep an eye out.

The day of the chicken kill, I was out of town so DH let the hens out but then he went to a function he had planned and was gone for about 4 hours. When he returned he saw the pile of feathers and I'm down one hen.

I am assuming it was the hawk that's been lurking but on the other hand, I have a hard time believing a hawk could carry off an 8-9 lb chicken in one piece. The hen killed was one of the largest in my flock. I think an eagle would have no problem carrying off a chicken but a hawk?

In the two years I've lived here, I've seen a raccoon and a couple possums but no coyotes, foxes, weasels, skunks, etc. We do have lots of hawks and eagles but they tend to stay in the lower elevations in the agriculture valley below. On occasion we've had random dogs in the yard that have gotten loose.

So anyone know if a hawk can completely carry off such a large chicken? We've looked everywhere and cannot find a carcass, just feathers.

I had a full size hen carried off by a large Red -Tail hawk. Check the trees near your coop , that's how I found mine. I looked every where for my Orpington hen. I finally just happened to look up and there she was spread open on a large branch with a Red-Tail hawk plucking away at her. My bird weighed about 3lbs. An 8-9lb bird was probably taken by something larger . I had a Brahma hen killed by a Hawk but it never flew away with it , was just eating it on the ground .

 

[Trish1974]

Glad you figured out who the culprit was, @Patinas ! Best of luck shooting your predator!

 

[Reno]

Glad you figured out who the culprit was, @Patinas ! Best of luck shooting your predator!

I've had plenty of opportunities to shoot that hawk but I won't. For years growing up here in NWI I rarely saw a hawk due to DDT pesticides being used causing their numbers to plummet. Now they are everywhere , besides they are protected and I just take extra precautions. Now Raccoons , opossums , skunks , feral cats , those are dealt with. Haven't had a fox or coyote problem yet although I've seen one from time to time in the neighborhood.

 

[Trish1974]

I've had plenty of opportunities to shoot that hawk but I won't. For years growing up here in NWI I rarely saw a hawk due to DDT pesticides being used causing their numbers to plummet. Now they are everywhere , besides they are protected and I just take extra precautions. Now Raccoons , opossums , skunks , feral cats , those are dealt with. Haven't had a fox or coyote problem yet although I've seen one from time to time in the neighborhood.

That was meant for Patinas about her coyote.

 

[Reno]

That was meant for Patinas about her coyote.

OK

 

[Patinas]

@Reno Just to clarify...I would not shoot a hawk. For one thing...I think that's illegal and secondly, I don't have any desire to shoot any kind of bird. Coyotes on the other hand are considered nuisance animals and it's not illegal to shoot them... and they just give me the creeps!