Hawk attack

[cmom]

I got tired of loosing birds to predators so now they have nice large covered pens with electric wires around the coops and pens and concrete under the gates. Lessons learned the hard way. There are way to entertain the birds even in their pens. Hang some cabbage heads or heads of lettuce around. They love to peck at them. Good luck...

 

[JustZuri]

I lost a hen to a Coopers Hawk yesterday (first time losing any kind of animal). I’m devastated
Keep an eye on your chickens

 

[tjmb1414]

Hi everyone! Just a heads up for hawks. Either a Coopers hawk or a red-shouldered hawk just killed our Black Copper Maran hen and is on the lookout for more. He tried to get one of our ducks yesterday, so I thought everyone should be warned because they lurk out there. I hope you're chickens stay safe! And feel free to post any other preditor that you have encountered. Here is what these hawks look like.View attachment 2950674View attachment 2950675

So sorry you lost a hen We also have a Cooper’s hawk and he is very bold. He literally perched on top of my chicken coop, twice! I put up a fake owl statue and I also hung hologram owls that are reflective in the trees along with some bird tape. I also have a marine air horn I blast. So far so good.

 

[Jenn1018]

I have reflective tape too….everywhere. Don’t rely on it. I lost a girl this week. Also have 2 roosters and a dog who chases hawks away and it still killed one of my girls literally right next to the coop. Last week one of my girls was screaming and there was a hawk sitting on top of her underneath the coop! Sadly, They are ruthless and don’t let any of the things we think are deterrents stop them.

 

[lillyahoo]

I lost a yearling Novagen hen to a huge red-shouldered hawk in the middle of the day a few weeks ago. He got her up at the edge of the woods, and came back several times until he was able to fly away with the body. I only figured out she was missing at dusk when was lockup time. I later saw the attack in the distance when I went back and watched my security camera footage.

I was home when it happened, but had no idea of what was going on, as I usually only keep an eye on the camera early and late in the day. I also have a border collie who was outside who generally barks the alert & goes after any predators, but apparently she didn't think that the chicken-looking bird up at the edge of the forest was a predator! (She did once knock a small bobcat off its feet as it was chasing down a chicken but failed to see the dog while in hot pursuit.)

I have 2 very large roosters, but one ran for the coop and the other ran away into the woods when the hawk attacked. I miss their dad, who would have fought the hawk and probably won, but he lost his battle with a (large) bobcat a couple of years back...