Hawk attacked 7 week old chick

[aldanfac]

I woke up to a the worst, a hawk killed my favorite baby chick and injured another (why do the most friendly sweethearts always die) anyway, the survivor is not in good shape im not even sure how she survived as she’s in worse shape then the one who died. What can I do I’m afraid one of the air sacs has been punctured, she has about 5 puncture wounds but despite the blood it doesn’t look all that bad.. she isn’t doing well tho and has clicky breathing and I think she’s in shock. Currently she’s cleaned up as much as possible, got vetricyn and is in a little box back with the other chicks to try to help her not go into shock. What can I do, I know it’s illegal to mess with hawks but this is like the 10th attack and the sadistic b isn’t even eating them just killing them

My picture isn’t as good but I didn’t wanna stress her out more you can see the damage tho, the puncture underneath her moves as she breathes

 

[aldanfac]

I woke up to a the worst, a hawk killed my favorite baby chick and injured another (why do the most friendly sweethearts always die) anyway, the survivor is not in good shape im not even sure how she survived as she’s in worse shape then the one who died. What can I do I’m afraid one of the air sacs has been punctured, she has about 5 puncture wounds but despite the blood it doesn’t look all that bad.. she isn’t doing well tho and has clicky breathing and I think she’s in shock. Currently she’s cleaned up as much as possible, got vetricyn and is in a little box back with the other chicks to try to help her not go into shock. What can I do, I know it’s illegal to mess with hawks but this is like the 10th attack and the sadistic b isn’t even eating them just killing them View attachment 4137627

My picture isn’t as good but I didn’t wanna stress her out more you can see the damage tho, the puncture underneath her moves as she breathes

Sorry my typing is confusing I’m just upset, I don’t need advice on what to do with the hawk but what can I do for this little baby I’m just mad the hawk isn’t even eating them

 

[alinas2010]

I’m so sorry about the attack and your loss. For this chick, immediately treat for shock. Get her someplace warm, dim and quiet. Try to get her interested in water with electrolytes and a bit of sugar mixed in. Even Gatorade or pedialyte will work. You can find homemade recipes easily for electrolytes, also. You might have to gently dip her beak in to get her interested or dribble some onto her beak.

For the wounds I am tagging the educators bc I do not know about air sack injuries. @Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive

Also, I know hawks are frustrating, but you cannot do anything about them. You can only control things from your side - meaning your flock. The hawk knows they’re there now, it will keep returning. Can you keep them in a covered run? How about bird netting? There are threads here, maybe we can try to look and find some ideas for you.

They’re magnificent in their own right, and we do a lot of harm to them, also. I know it really, really sucks, my heart goes out to you. If you have a moment, go look up videos from raptor wildlife rehab centers, it will break your heart to see what the hawks go through to get a meal, too. Something may be frightening it before it gets a chance to take off with its food perhaps

 

[aldanfac]

I’m so sorry about the attack and your loss. For this chick, immediately treat for shock. Get her someplace warm, dim and quiet. Try to get her interested in water with electrolytes and a bit of sugar mixed in. Even Gatorade or pedialyte will work. You can find homemade recipes easily for electrolytes, also. You might have to gently dip her beak in to get her interested or dribble some onto her beak.

For the wounds I am tagging the educators bc I do not know about air sack injuries. @Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive

Also, I know hawks are frustrating, but you cannot do anything about them. You can only control things from your side - meaning your flock. The hawk knows they’re there now, it will keep returning. Can you keep them in a covered run? How about bird netting? There are threads here, maybe we can try to look and find some ideas for you.

They’re magnificent in their own right, and we do a lot of harm to them, also. I know it really, really sucks, my heart goes out to you. If you have a moment, go look up videos from raptor wildlife rehab centers, it will break your heart to see what the hawks go through to get a meal, too.

Thank you so much! I actually am a bird lover so I understand hawks pretty well, I’m working towards getting my apprenticeship in falconry, this one hawk tho just struck a nerve because I’ve never had them kill for fun and I have no idea how it managed to get them… they are in a very very secure run it makes no sense. The chick section of my run even has more wire and mesh to prevent any small gaps in the regular wire.. I’ve had hawks kill chicks free ranging and that I understand but this was different. It was like just torturing them, picking them up and dropping them.. I honestly wouldn’t have been so mad if it just ate them or at least tried to eat them. This felt personal lol I know that’s silly but I just have never dealt with them being so murderous.

The chick is seperated now, she wants to be with her friends so I have her in a box with her friends I gave her electrolytes and vitamins immediately, I’ll try some sugar water too and see if she likes it. But she cant walk at all so I’m worried the injuries are more severe ..

 

[aldanfac]

I’m so sorry about the attack and your loss. For this chick, immediately treat for shock. Get her someplace warm, dim and quiet. Try to get her interested in water with electrolytes and a bit of sugar mixed in. Even Gatorade or pedialyte will work. You can find homemade recipes easily for electrolytes, also. You might have to gently dip her beak in to get her interested or dribble some onto her beak.

For the wounds I am tagging the educators bc I do not know about air sack injuries. @Wyorp Rock @azygous @Eggcessive

Also, I know hawks are frustrating, but you cannot do anything about them. You can only control things from your side - meaning your flock. The hawk knows they’re there now, it will keep returning. Can you keep them in a covered run? How about bird netting? There are threads here, maybe we can try to look and find some ideas for you.

They’re magnificent in their own right, and we do a lot of harm to them, also. I know it really, really sucks, my heart goes out to you. If you have a moment, go look up videos from raptor wildlife rehab centers, it will break your heart to see what the hawks go through to get a meal, too. Something may be frightening it before it gets a chance to take off with its food perhaps

It’s almost impossible but I’m assuming it had to of pulled them through the wire which means they went through a 2inch gap which that alone makes no sense, I’m just lost for how this is possible, it also all occurred within 10 min it just makes no sense, I was convinced those chicks must have been locked out but I checked my cameras and they weren’t… of course the exact moment of attack wasn’t recorded…

 

[alinas2010]

I’m so sorry, that does sound very very frustrating. There has to be some way it’s getting in. Sometimes people here can be helpful in pointing out what could’ve happened if you want to post pictures of your run? Is there any point up above that is open or loose maybe? Sorry, you said it’s happened before, right? There has to be something somewhere…Two inches seems small for her size but you’d be the best judge of that.

She may not be walking because of shock. Once she comes out of that, it’ll be a bit easier to tell how her injuries may be affecting her. Make sure she is kept very warm and not overwhelmed by the other chicks. Sometimes it can be good to keep them around their flock after an injury to reduce stress. But essential to try to get that electrolyte sugar solution into her. Here is homemade one if you need it:

https://www.theprairiehomestead.com/2017/02/homemade-electrolyte-recipe-chicks.html

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I woke up to a the worst, a hawk killed my favorite baby chick and injured another (why do the most friendly sweethearts always die) anyway, the survivor is not in good shape im not even sure how she survived as she’s in worse shape then the one who died. What can I do I’m afraid one of the air sacs has been punctured, she has about 5 puncture wounds but despite the blood it doesn’t look all that bad.. she isn’t doing well tho and has clicky breathing and I think she’s in shock. Currently she’s cleaned up as much as possible, got vetricyn and is in a little box back with the other chicks to try to help her not go into shock. What can I do, I know it’s illegal to mess with hawks but this is like the 10th attack and the sadistic b isn’t even eating them just killing them

Sorry my typing is confusing I’m just upset, I don’t need advice on what to do with the hawk but what can I do for this little baby I’m just mad the hawk isn’t even eating them

I’ve never had them kill for fun and I have no idea how it managed to get them… they are in a very very secure run it makes no sense. The chick section of my run even has more wire and mesh to prevent any small gaps in the regular wire

It’s almost impossible but I’m assuming it had to of pulled them through the wire which means they went through a 2inch gap which that alone makes no sense, I’m just lost for how this is possible, it also all occurred within 10 min it just makes no sense, I was convinced those chicks must have been locked out

Oh thanks so much! When I searched the forums I saw a lot of “you might want to post in your local area thread here” posts so I didn’t realize it was taboo - sorry all! Thanks for the thread link, will post it there.

I'm sorry about your chick

I agree, keep her fairly warm and get electrolytes or sugar water into her.

The wound needs to be cleaned. You can use Saline, Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine. Trim feathers away from the wounds so you can see them better and the wound will stay cleaner. Once cleaned, apply triple antibiotic ointment.

Is she having difficulty breathing?

Hawks can be very tenacious and will work/worry chicks and adults to corners and cause a great deal of stress. Once chicks especially get into a corner, the Hawk will reach in with talons and beak and grab whatever part they can. If your run is 2", a Hawk can reach in.

If you have photos of your coop/run we can try to offer suggestions to hopefully help deter the Hawk or at least prevent it from reaching through wire. A barrier of chicken wire or hardware cloth from the ground up to 2' can help stop them from reaching in. Racoons are also known to grab through wire and pull, you can imagine what happens there.
You're right, Hawks are protected and there's not much you can do except provide a more secure area to keep them out.

 

[aldanfac]

I'm sorry about your chick

I agree, keep her fairly warm and get electrolytes or sugar water into her.

The wound needs to be cleaned. You can use Saline, Chlorhexidine or Povidone Iodine. Trim feathers away from the wounds so you can see them better and the wound will stay cleaner. Once cleaned, apply triple antibiotic ointment.

Is she having difficulty breathing?

Hawks can be very tenacious and will work/worry chicks and adults to corners and cause a great deal of stress. Once chicks especially get into a corner, the Hawk will reach in with talons and beak and grab whatever part they can. If your run is 2", a Hawk can reach in.

If you have photos of your coop/run we can try to offer suggestions to hopefully help deter the Hawk or at least prevent it from reaching through wire. A barrier of chicken wire or hardware cloth from the ground up to 2' can help stop them from reaching in. Racoons are also known to grab through wire and pull, you can imagine what happens there.
You're right, Hawks are protected and there's not much you can do except provide a more secure area to keep them out.

Sorry for the late response, she ended up passing a few hours later. I believe her lung was slightly punctured not just the air sacs. She seemed like she would maybe recover but then quickly declined within a couple minutes and died. I am rewiring sections of my coop just to close the small gaps. I’m so upset but the hawk hasn’t come back I do see it flying around though. It’s sad but it happens I’m a lot less angry now, I just wish it would’ve eaten them honestly

 

[alinas2010]

Im so sorry for your loss. It’s sounds like such a frustrating experience. I hope in time you can find comfort in knowing you gave the chicks that passed good lives.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry for the late response, she ended up passing a few hours later. I believe her lung was slightly punctured not just the air sacs. She seemed like she would maybe recover but then quickly declined within a couple minutes and died. I am rewiring sections of my coop just to close the small gaps. I’m so upset but the hawk hasn’t come back I do see it flying around though. It’s sad but it happens I’m a lot less angry now, I just wish it would’ve eaten them honestly

I'm sorry to hear she didn't make it.

It can be upsetting to losing them. Sounds like you have a plan on fortifying gaps which is always a good idea.
Everything seems to like chicken, so it's a lifetime struggle of keeping them protected. Predators in general are always lurking/watching to see if they can find a weak spot in defenses.