Hawk just took my daughter's chicken :(

[kees]

I never thought that this would happen. My 6-year old daughter was planting flower bulbs in her first "garden". I was preparing soil to plant veggies. The chickens were happily in the yard, scratching around, eating grass and looking for little critters to eat.

All of a sudden, I heard a voice yelling, "Hello! Hello!". A man said that he had seen a hawk dive down and grab one of our chickens with it's talons. The man was so scared that he almost had a car accident.

My daughter started screaming hysterically, saying that she had also seen the hawk but thought it was a "regular bird". Then she saw the chicken feathers scattered on the ground.

I didn't know what to do. So I suggested that she collect the feathers, some chicken feed, grass, and a worm and bury everything in her "flower garden". We said a prayer and that seemed to calm things down a bit.

This was especially upsetting because the darn hawk took my daughter's favorite chicken. I know that no other bird can replace the one that was killed today. None of my chickens are broody right now, so I can't even try to hatch some eggs for my child. Is there anyone who might have an available duck, goose or turkey of any age to help alleviate her sadness? I would be more than willing to pay for any shipping fees.

Suzy

 

[chickenannie]

Where are you located?

Also, take precautions because the hawk might come back again for another chicken. Some people put a large plastic owl on the roof to scare hawks away.

 

[Ec_Prokta]

I am so sorry.

 

[EllyMae]

I have ducks! are you close to me?

 

[kees]

We're in the lower Hudson valley of New York. I didn't even think about the hawk coming back for another bird! I have to calm her down first. Thanks for making me aware of this.

Suzy

 

[The Chicken Lady]

I am soooo very sorry for your loss. I had the same thing happen to me as a child...even worse, it was an especially warm Christmas Eve so I had let all my chickens out because the snow had melted. It was the WORST Christmas ever. I understand how she feels completely.

After that terrible experience, I kept my birds locked up in their Fort Knox coop unless I could be right beside them every moment. The hawk will be back looking for another easy meal, unfortunately.

 

[kees]

We're not close, but I can pay for shipping or whatever you would think is fair. I just want to help her to feel better if though we had a talk about how the hawk needed to eat before the "funeral".

Suzy

 

[chickenannie]

That is a tough lesson for a loving little girl. But pets do die. And maybe this is a chance for her to learn about the cycle of life -- one death feeds another's life.... maybe someone else on here has a better suggestion than I.

 

[kees]

Oh, no...I have to get some netting or something to protect the remaining birds. I didn't know that anything would hurt them because they were in the yard with us.

My daugher left most of her dinner on her plate, said that she wasn't hungry.

Suzy

 

[what was i thinking]

Quote:
i am in syracuse, i will be hatching blue/black swedish and cayuaga i got on the auction threads. it will be a little bit still but you are more than welcome to them when they hatch.