Hello from Oregon

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terihen

terihen

Hatching
9 Years
Jun 23, 2010
2
0
7
I live in Eugene, Oregon and have had two Jersey Giants for two years now. Just added to the flock with two Buff Orpingtons, made it through the dicey introduction period, but came home today to find one of my Buffs, Gin-Gin, had been attacked and eaten by what, I don't know. Husband thinks it must have been a hawk. Poor hen.

So, I'm here to learn more about how to keep these sweet girls safe, happy, and productive. Thanks for all of your collective and valuable information in advance.
 
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from west Michigan!
Sorry to hear about the loss of your hen.
 
Hi from Silverton, Oregon.

Short of caging up your hens full time, and thus killing their quality of life, there is no way to guarantee 100% that you won't have any predator problems. You might try looking for prints around the chicken run. If it looks like a child left tiny handprints, then you have racoons. There could also be skunks, hawks, coyotes, neighbors dogs, etc.

If it's a four legged critter, then you can try to catch them in a live trap and move them elsewhere. If it's a hawk, maybe you need a rooster to warn the hens to get under cover, and a place for them to hide. (If roosters are allowed where you live.)

Good luck!
 
Sorry to hear about your girl.

I live in Vancouver, WA... maybe we will meet someday. I think there will be a "sway" at the end of Sept down that way somewhere
.... sorry about your girl.
 
Ohhh, too bad. I can't let my hens out unless I'm out in the garden. There are too many predators waiting for an opportunity. We've made their henhouse and run very comfortable. They get greens and kitchen scraps everyday and while they would, I'm sure, like to free range, I just can't let them do it. My BO would probably be the first to get it because she is so sweet and tame. Best of luck. Sorry you had to go through that. You do get attached, don't you? And, by the way,
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!
 
Thanks everyone for the welcome and the advice. Obviously I have not taken their security seriously enough. They have a house and coop, but we have let them free range even when we are not home because we live in a busy neighborhood and our dog Chloe is usually on the case. I was out of town and my husband was running late for work and didn't let her out. Don't know if the presence of a dog will deter a hawk or not, but we did leave them locked in the coop today with the dog in the back yard. Will only let them out now when we are home and in the garden. Was getting quite a lot of flack out of them from the coop before I left today. My ears are burning.

Thanks again!
 

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