Help!! Hawk got my broody hen.

[JaneenT67]

I joined BYC yesterday and shortly there after my son called and a hawk had gotten my broody hen. She had left the nest with 10 eggs to eat. I've brought the eggs in, put them in the incubator but I am concerned about the hawk returning. I have no idea if it will come back or what type of safety measures I can put into place in order to protect them. Suggestions???

 

[picklestheduck]

I joined BYC yesterday and shortly there after my son called and a hawk had gotten my broody hen. She had left the nest with 10 eggs to eat. I've brought the eggs in, put them in the incubator but I am concerned about the hawk returning. I have no idea if it will come back or what type of safety measures I can put into place in order to protect them. Suggestions???

Are they free range? Yes a hawk who strikes once will always be back if the opportunity presents itself. I would suggest putting them in a run with a cover or hawk netting. How many birds do you have?

 

[nuthatched]

Sorry about your broody, as long as they are uncovered. They're a chance of raptor loss

 

[JaneenT67]

Are they free range? Yes a hawk who strikes once will always be back if the opportunity presents itself. I would suggest putting them in a run with a cover or hawk netting. How many birds do you have?

No, they aren't. She would just fly out because she liked to free range and after she made a nest behind the shed and was sitting the eggs we decided to leave her alone. I have a lot of different chickens, geese, ducks, quail. I probably have around 50 in all

 

[JaneenT67]

Sorry about your broody, as long as they are uncovered. They're a chance of raptor loss

There are a lot of trees but there is an area that is uncovered.

 

[picklestheduck]

There are a lot of trees but there is an area that is uncovered.

Trees actually give the hawk an easier entry. I studied it a bunch when a hawk was after my birds, and the raptor will sit up in the tree and wait until the perfect moment, swoop, snatch, and fly out before anyone notices, or just when it’s too late to do anything.