A few days ago one of my silkies Budonkadonkbutt, laid her first egg. That night one of the other silkies Smokey was not in the coop. There was no sign of her. Today I let out the chickens in the morning. I ended up seeing several hawks. Then the Budonkadonkbutt was missing. I found a bunch of silkie feathers in the bushes. Then a few hours later I found Bdbutt. She is missing a lot of feathers on her back. She had all of the feathers in the morning. I have not witnessed a rooster mounting her before. When I was shutting them in for the evening I saw a rooster mount her. Are the feathers from a possible hawk attack or from the roosters?
Sounds like a hawk attack. I wouldn't let them out with being watched the whole time. Once a hawk gets a meal it will keep coming back. You have to make it so that it can't get a meal before it will move on for a while. Matt
My plan was not to let them out for a while. I built the coop area large enough that they do not need to go out for space. We have not had problems with hawks before. I heard that they are in the midst of migrating, thus the extra hawks in the area.
Sounds like hawks. Sorry for your loss! I keep my hens in for most of the day now.When I do let them out it is in a smaller run I set up with plastic fencing around the shed. I stay with them the entire time now,because last attack I was just up the drive locking our gate.Yesterday we saw the hawk come back and it actually HOVERED over the run like a helicopter! Most of my hens ran into the shed or into a corner till it flew off. Our hawks live here for the winter. Hope you can prevent further loss.
