Hawk Attack

[Missa Chickabee]

Wow! I will wait til tomorrow to choose. Thank-you! all for helping in this. Makes some fun out of a bit of a tough day. (DH had a very tough day at work, too.+)

Some will laugh at me or think I'm crazy but last night at dark,once they had done nightly jostling for position I petted each one, all 19 of them as they were bedding down on their new roost and I prayed a blessing of 2 things for each one individually......# 1 was that they would be healthy and 'fruitful' and #2 that God would protect them from predators. And I know He must hear me because I saw that flying nasty do a boomerang when I just "happened" to step out to the coop at that moment.

I know we still need to be diligent and protect them better but I'm rejoicing and I'll keep praying that blessing over them every night I'm able.

Here they are watching me help DH put up their new roost and poop board.

And below...their first night on the new roost. (the flash make their eyes look weird)

 

[CAjerseychick]

I recently posted almost your exact same scenario. I am only letting mine out when I am in the backyard with them. I am counting on the fact that the hawk will be back!

Mine are not full grown...I may try again to let them free-range when they are fully grown. We have LOTS of hawks and osprey around since I live on a small lake. However, many of my neighbors have chicken and the hawks don't bother them.

It' scary to see a hawk coming for your chickens. Glad they're okay

Thanks! I am glad GL and MC's birds made it too-- I just feel that it is worth the risk to have them "free range" (my backyard) in the area behind my house....
Maybe "Flash" for the chicken name?

 

[Missa Chickabee]

OK. So far we have Hendley, Hilts, Ruth, Naomi and Flash.

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Still waiting for my neice to get her name submission to me. She's a city girl who recently spent a week with us and kind of learned to like chickens.

 

[lisababes]

Ive got a red tailed that just moved into the neighborhood and am a little worried too. I am always home when I let the girls out, but am not out with them. I am somewhat comforted by the fact that I only know there's a hawk around because they notify me of it! They go into defense clucking mode and hide in the bushes. The crows chime in too. Its a tough call - they love being outside free ranging, but I dont want them to get nabbed either. Hopefully the sheer number of rabbits in my yard will keep the hawk busy for a while...

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Was thinking a new name for Boaz could be 'Luke SkyWatcher" and the little hen " Princess Lay-ah".

 

[Missa Chickabee]

Sometimes you just look at the bird and a name hits you between the eyes. That happened this morning, so the escapee who evaded the hawk shall be...........drum roll please................
GRACE!!! Thanks for all your suggestions! But 'Grace' it is.

 

[yo burrill]

The Hawk here dive bombed me and the covered chicken tractor a couple weeks ago. I was not 15 feet from the tractor when it flew in!!! No wonder my adult birds who free range always stick to the bushes!!!