Hawk attack

[saysfaa]

Well, I didn't find a body, blood, or feathers so I hope Nutmeg is hiding.

I was weeding the garden while the chickens were ranging in the little patch of woods next to the garden. I didn't realize it would be so loud! It was a big womp! The explosion of the hens scattering. Coco and Mocha beelined for the coop and I saw the hawk fly off - pretty sure empty- taloned. Thankfully in the direction opposite the coop. I have only the three.

Mocha missed the door of the coop and went behind it. The hawk circled the coop but Mocha scooted back around and in safely.

Unless there were two hawks, I think Nutmeg is hiding.

They got very lucky. Nutmeg is a brown leghorn. She is smaller, much quicker, and much more alert and reactive than Coco or Mocha (both black australorps). If the hawk had gone for one of them first, I think it would have gotten her.

Or if the hawk had tried while they were in the open instead of in the woods.

It is currently perched in the tree over the coop, calling.

This is just fyi for people considering letting their chickens out. I was out with them (I am not always; I know being out with them is not much protection- I just happened to be this time). I let them out irregularily - not the same time of day, not every day - sometimes a couple of days in a row, sometimes not at all for a few weeks. This time, they have been out for about two hours; it is now late afternoon.

 

[igorsMistress]

I hope Nutmeg is ok! Your lack of a free range schedule is excellent; that hawk will be back repeatedly for a while.

 

[123RedBeard]

My guess it went after the smallest one, not realizing that it also was the quickest!

She'll be back when she feels it's safe ... Maybe a few hours , or dusk ...

They all got a valuable lesson to keep a better eye on the sky, in the future when they are out, they will be much more cautious I'm sure.

 

[ChicNmom]

If the hawk is still around it probably knows where she is hiding and waiting for her to come out.

I have a very small hen that is an excellent hider. I use a small rake to poke around the hostas and shrubbery to find her after they have had to hide.

Or I shake the treat cup.

 

[saysfaa]

Nutmeg is safe. I waiting until now, then went to the coop and called her. She came right way. She is obviously still very rattled but she isn't damaged.

Coco and Mocha are moving around the coop and acting pretty normal.

They will all stay inside for ... I don't know how long.

The hawk is back on the other side of the field where it isually is. I assume it is the same one; I stayed around outside but didn't watch the tree all the time.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I have a funny story.....
One time a hawk attacked, couldn't find my hen Phyllis, turn out she was buried underneath some leaves To this day I still wonder how she got buried under there.....

 

[igorsMistress]

So happy Nutmeg is safe!

 

[saysfaa]

The day after the attack, I saw the hawk flying very low over the coop, garden, and little woods. Since then, I've only seen it across the field where it used to spend most of its time.

 

[saysfaa]

It ends well this time too.

Yesterday morning, dh asked about letting them since we were both working outside. I said, no, the hawk is too much danger and I didn't want to try to get them back in before we left for an afternnoon event. Evidently, he just heard the part about the event.

Last night, he let them out. I wasn't home. They beelined it for the back deck and scuttled under it. But later they came out some. Dh said cautiously.

Dh saw the hawk soar over from its favorite lookout post across the field toward us. At that point the chickens were at the compost pile, dh was in the garden.

Then the hawk called. Dh said all three hens ran for the coop. Coco and Mocha both made it around the garden and in the door. Nutmeg skipped the "around the garden" part and fled full speed straight into the "open" side of the coop. It has metal lath that is attached securely enough that a 65 pound pitbull that was visiting hit it full speed without phasing it.

Dh said she bounced off it. Then scooted around and in the door.

 

[saysfaa]

Sigh. He meant well but I wanted to wait long enough for the hawk to write us off as a likely dinner option. I didn't want to just keep them save today. Besides, I know hawks will take chickens even when a person is out with them.