Yesterday, while cleaning my coop, I let my 5 3 month old chickens out to free range. I never let them out unless I am near them thinking my presence will keep away predators. Boy, I was wrong!! A huge hawk swooped down and picked up my chicken that was 3 feet away from me. I screamed and chased the hawk across the street into the woods. I saw it fly to the top of a tree and realized it didn't have my chicken in its talons. I figured he dropped it in the woods and I began to call for her and search frantically. I then realized that my other four babies were still out. I ran back to the coop to only find two chickens remaining. I quickly picked them up put them in and ran back to search for the others. When i made it back to the woods across the street I saw the hawk on top of one of my silkies and I literally dove into the prickers and grabbed the leg of the hawk. It scratched me up pretty bad and got away. I picked up my chicken and brought her back to safety. After careful inspection I was only able to see a few small puncture wounds from the hawks talons. I ran back into the woods and searched and called for the other two. My heart sank and I knew they were gone. After hours of searching, I closed up the coop and put the netting back on. Just as I was doing this I heard a tiny peep and from out of the woods my two babies emerged. They ran over to me and laid down (they have never done this before). I scooped each one up in my arms and actually kissed them. THey must have been hiding pretty well while I was off searching. I have never in my life wrestled with a hawk before and despite the few battle wounds we all received, we are okay. My problem now is that they are all scared to death and refuse to come out of their coop into their netted pen. Do you think they will ever get over this? I guess I can't let them free range anymore. Any suggestions would be appreciated....THanks!!!
