Hawk IN the coop... it had to WALK UP THE RAMP to get in there...

[thistlewick]

hawks have actually flown over (and swooped in for a good look) for awhile. All my girls have typically run for cover and been safe. This was just one wily hawk, clearly LOL little &*&(($#$* lolol

My older flock has grown up outside free ranging from 4/3/2 weeks old until now (they are 12/11/10 weeks old today, the larger 13 bird flock)

BUT I did notice how the younger flock just isn't as sensible/aware as the other girls.

Since they have separate coops, they do NOT integrate, no matter how close I put those coops lol They don't bother each other, they just have nothing to do with each other. It's fine. At the end of the day, one coop is stationary (too big to move a lot) and the other will be moved every few days. So it works out.

I HATE that I lost Rose, but I was aware of the risk vs. reward of free ranging. I think it's weird she just straight up disappeared though, don't hawks usually.... eat them right there?

 

[tlcmurphy]

hawks have actually flown over (and swooped in for a good look) for awhile. All my girls have typically run for cover and been safe. This was just one wily hawk, clearly LOL little &*&(($#$* lolol

My older flock has grown up outside free ranging from 4/3/2 weeks old until now (they are 12/11/10 weeks old today, the larger 13 bird flock)

BUT I did notice how the younger flock just isn't as sensible/aware as the other girls.

Since they have separate coops, they do NOT integrate, no matter how close I put those coops lol They don't bother each other, they just have nothing to do with each other. It's fine. At the end of the day, one coop is stationary (too big to move a lot) and the other will be moved every few days. So it works out.

I HATE that I lost Rose, but I was aware of the risk vs. reward of free ranging. I think it's weird she just straight up disappeared though, don't hawks usually.... eat them right there?

She could be hiding somewhere…

 

[thistlewick]

She could be hiding somewhere…

I did think this!! But I went walking all over looking and of course they know exactly how to be quiet.

I figured by now, its been about 7 hours, she'd try and come back to the coop???

Im gonna go look around again

 

[Canadian Wind]

I did think this!! But I went walking all over looking and of course they know exactly how to be quiet.

I figured by now, its been about 7 hours, she'd try and come back to the coop???

Im gonna go look around again

Took two days before one of my OEGB hens came back after a fox attack, in winter. How she survived two nights out in our winters absolutely floors me!

Once they're spooked, it can take them a bit.

 

[tlcmurphy]

I did think this!! But I went walking all over looking and of course they know exactly how to be quiet.

I figured by now, its been about 7 hours, she'd try and come back to the coop???

Im gonna go look around again

I’ve heard of many folks that have their birds come back in a day or 2 after hiding out who knows where. I hope that’s the case for you!

 

[Luv Ducks]

hawks have actually flown over (and swooped in for a good look) for awhile. All my girls have typically run for cover and been safe. This was just one wily hawk, clearly LOL little &*&(($#$* lolol

My older flock has grown up outside free ranging from 4/3/2 weeks old until now (they are 12/11/10 weeks old today, the larger 13 bird flock)

BUT I did notice how the younger flock just isn't as sensible/aware as the other girls.

Since they have separate coops, they do NOT integrate, no matter how close I put those coops lol They don't bother each other, they just have nothing to do with each other. It's fine. At the end of the day, one coop is stationary (too big to move a lot) and the other will be moved every few days. So it works out.

I HATE that I lost Rose, but I was aware of the risk vs. reward of free ranging. I think it's weird she just straight up disappeared though, don't hawks usually.... eat them right there?

The one that tried to take my neighbors chicken had it and was flying away with it so they must take it to maybe their nest or off some place to eat it alone. If he had not thrown his shoe at it I don't know how far it would have gotten with it. That shoe made it drop it. It ended up okay but theirs free ranged all day and that was enough for them to decide they needed to rehome all of them. I am so sorry that you lost Rose. It seems when something happens it oftentimes happens to one of our favorites.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I did think this!! But I went walking all over looking and of course they know exactly how to be quiet.

I figured by now, its been about 7 hours, she'd try and come back to the coop???

Im gonna go look around again

Mine that disappear tend to be 'lost' until the following morning

 

[ChicNmom]

I did think this!! But I went walking all over looking and of course they know exactly how to be quiet.

I figured by now, its been about 7 hours, she'd try and come back to the coop???

Im gonna go look around again

If it's a chick it may not know what to do. Or could be hurt.

I've been trying to train my latest group to come to me for treats using a dog training clicker.

So far some of them are smart enough to come. The other just see those girls running and start running to me too. They just haven't made the connection yet. LOL

 

[thistlewick]

Okay just went and beat around the tall grasses at the fence edges on about 4 acres and no luck -- but there are numerous places she could be hiding and my property is 24 acres in whole. I will hold out some hope, because you never know!

My big girls are in for it tomorrow morning when I don't let them out LOL they are really too many for that run, even though they are still sub-adults, they only have 60 square feet of coop + run for 13!

We have an additional 64 square foot pen we can rig up to attach (kinda) so we will have to do that soon.

Gonna keep them up for awhile and keep my eyes out for that hawk to give up!

 

[Ecarroll]

If it's a chick it may not know what to do. Or could be hurt.

I've been trying to train my latest group to come to me for treats using a dog training clicker.

So far some of them are smart enough to come. The other just see those girls running and start running to me too. They just haven't made the connection yet. LOL

Mine are completely trained not really on purpose to come running when I bang on there food container and to follow me when I bang on a bowl I’m holding or hit my chest.